The illustrated growing guide
Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum tectorum
Family Crassulaceae
Est. zones 3-8
The cold-hardy succulent — it survives zone-3 winters in a rock crevice, roof, or gritty trough, spreading into a mat of rosettes. Each 'hen' eventually blooms on a tall stalk and dies, but she's already surrounded by 'chicks' that take over, so the colony is immortal. The gateway to succulent collecting outdoors.
Full Sun
Low water
Slow growth
Attracts bees
None winter chill
From the print shop
The closest print we make
Our Alpine & Rock Garden collection carries Sempervivum tectorum — the same species as hens and chicks — but the print shows “Houseleek,” a different cultivar of it, not hens and chicks itself.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will hens and chicks suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what hens and chicks actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-8Hens and Chicks at a glance
Common hens and chicks problems
- Almost none
- Rot in soggy soil
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow hens and chicks: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate hens and chicks
When to spray hens and chicks
Growing season. Drainage.
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The year
What hens and chicks asks for, month by month.
The hens and chicks year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for hens and chicks — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Hens and Chicks in the garden system
- Groundcover layer succulent
- Living mulch
What hens and chicks is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of hens and chicks, ruled as a catalogue.
Best hens and chicks varieties & cultivars
Hundreds — 'Red', 'Cobweb' (webbed), giant and tiny forms; endlessly collectible
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to hens and chicksyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Hens and Chicks questions, answered straight.
Is hens and chicks safe for kids and pets?
Hens and Chicks is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate hens and chicks?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where hens and chicks sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hardy Ice Plant