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Hens-and-Chicks
4 plants
Sempervivum
tectorum var. 'Black'
$12.99 Description
of Hens-and-Chicks plants for sale
This particular variety
of Hens-and-Chicks plants is called Sempervivum tectarum 'Black'. Each plant is
a beautiful star-like rosette of fleshy lime green leaves which terminate in pointed
burgundy tips. Hens-and-Chicks are hardy alpine succulent plants from mountainous
regions across Europe from Spain in the west to Turkey and Iran in the east. They
are extremely cold hardy and keep their leaves all winter. They
are also drought resistant. Sempervivums
are well adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of drought and poor soil found
in their high altitude rocky habitats. They are sometimes mistaken for cacti,
but in fact belong in the same family as Sedum, Echeveria, and Kalanchöe.
The parent plant is the 'hen' which sends out smaller rosettes that are the 'chicks'
or 'chickens.' These offsets root quickly and become independent plants lending
to an easy method of propagation. If left alone many forms of Sempervivum will
spread quickly to form dense cushions or hummocks of attractive growth. After
the parent plant has put forth it's chicks for several years, it will send up
a 1 to 2 foot tall flower stalk. The
flowers are pink.
Although these plants are perennials, they are monocarpic which means they will
flower, set seeds, then die like most annual plants do. The parent plant will
die after it flowers, but it's little chicks will carry on in its place to continue
the plant colony. They are a delight in the rock garden along with your Egyptian
Walking Onion plants! Hardiness
zone: 3-10 What's
in the name?
The
plant 'Hens-and-Chicks' is also called 'Hen-and-Chicks', 'Hen and chicks', 'Hens
and chickens', or 'Hen and chickens', etc., 'old-man-and-old-woman'
The Latin
name for this variety of Hens-and-Chicks is Sempervivum tectorum ('semper' = always,
'vivum' = living). They are called "always living," or "live forever"
because they are such prolific perennials and can thrive in difficult growing
conditions. Tectorum = roof. These plants were traditionally grown on roof tops
to ward off evil spirits and also to protect the house from lightening strikes.
Hens-and-Chicks plants are also called 'houseleeks.'
What
you will receive when you place an order for Hens-and-Chicks plants
Four Hens-and-Chicks plants. Plants range in size from approximately 2 to 4 inches
across. Plants are bare root.
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