Growing Hens and Chicks

Hen and Chicks are interesting, low-maintenance perennial plants that are rarely troubled by pests. They make wonderful houseplants, yet because they grow best in poor soil conditions, they are also suitable to almost any outdoor garden environment - especially the rock garden. Here's what you need to know to start growing them.

A Little History

Not everyone looks at these self-perpetuating plants and sees a central hen surrounded by tiny peeping chicks, but nonetheless, they are fascinating. There are over 100 species of them, all of which form low, succulent rosettes of leaves. Some varieties grow only a couple of inches wide, while others spread into mats several feet across.

The leaves may come in a multitude of shades from gray to green to burgundy, many with edges tipped in bright red, pink, purple, or even black. A few hairy varieties look as though a spider has spun its web over the top of the plants.

Hen and chick's botanical name "Senpervivum tectorum", is more logical (and interesting). In Latin, Senpervivium means "always live" (i.e. evergreen) and tectorum means "on roofs". These plants are native to southern Europe, where they were (and still are) grown tucked into the corners of rooftops on Roman houses (without any soil) to hold the slate tiles in place.

This explains the origin of their other common name "houseleeks." In the days when thatched roofs were common, houseleeks were thought to protect houses from lightening and subsequent fires. This idea isn't far-fetched given their succulent nature. Today, some green roofs are planted with these small plants to prevent runoff of rainwater, insulate the building, and encourage energy conservation.

Plants At-A-Glance

Life cycle: Evergreen perennial.
Hardiness: To zone 3 (depending on variety).

Site: Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Well-drained soil is a must and they will also grow readily in alkaline soil.

Height (without flowers): 1 to 3 inches.

Spread: 2 to 36 inches.

Foliage: Forms clumps of fleshy-leaves, rosettes. They can be gray, rosy pink, or bright to dull red in color; some varieties are covered in silken white filaments called "cobwebs".

Flowers: Upon maturity (usually around 3 to 4 years old) plants send up a single stalk from 2 to 8 inches tall with a cluster of star-shaped flower buds 1 to 2 cm. in diameter. Colors range from red, pink, or yellow and bloom for several weeks. Bloom time is from spring through fall depending on variety. After blooming, the "hen" dies and leaves behind many offsets ("chicks").

Watering: The succulent leaves of these plants are equipped to survive in dry conditions. Watering is only necessary in cases of extreme drought.

Fertilizing: Do not fertilize hens and chicks. The foliage colors are most vivid when these plants are starved for nutrients.

Propagation: Division. Seeding is not recommended as these plants are very slow-growing and the seed is not readily available.

Starting New Plants

Hens and chicks are readily available at garden centers in the spring. They are often sold featuring several different varieties within the same container. When setting out new plants, grow them at the same depth they grew in the pots.

Contact with the soil should be sufficient for transplanting since hens and chicks root readily. Space plants 4 to 6 inches apart to start (large rosettes will require more room). If you misjudge the spacing and your chickens become overcrowded, don't worry! They are easy to divide.

Easy Propagation

Unlike most perennials, hens and chicks can be divided at any time during the growing season. As tiny new plants (chicks) appear in a circle around the mother plant (hen), divide existing clumps by separating the rosettes and replanting them (the chicks will have their own roots).

To transplant, just press the "chicks" gently into the soil in a new location. As the mother "hen" dies out, young "chicks' take its place and perpetuate a new crop.

Hens and Chicks in the Garden

Hens and chicks thrive in hot, dry locations where other plants fail. They are ideal for rock gardens, trough gardens, edging borders, and wall crevices. They also grow well in containers. Once established, hens and chicks are extremely drought-tolerant. And while they make interesting ground covers, they will not tolerate any foot traffic.

Look-Alike Cousins

There are two other perennials that so closely resemble hens and chicks in both appearance and growing needs that you will probably only notice the difference when they are in bloom.

1. 'False houseleeks' (Jovibarbas spp.): These plants are easily distinguished by their lovely fringed petals. Some produce side-shoot offspring; with others, the rosettes divide themselves but remain attached to a central root stalk. These plants are known as "rollers", because during heavy rains, small rosettes often breakaway from the mother plant and roll off to another part of the garden. Wherever they stop, they will root and grow into another plant.
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2. "False Hens and Chicks" (Orostachys spp.): This plant bears bizarre, pale yellow, elongated flower stalks, from 2 to 12 inches tall, that rise above the rosettes.