A grouping of Hens and Chicks with reddish foliage.
Pronunciation
(sem-per-VEEV-um)(tek-TOH-rum)
Plant Type
All Plants, Perennials Hardy
Hardiness Zone
3-8, AHS 8-1
Sunlight
full to partial sun
Moisture
average, dry
Soil & Site
any type of soil as long as it is well drained
Temperature
cold hardy
Flowers
produced in clusters on the tip of a leafy flower stalk arising from the center of a rosette, after flowering the base rosette will die
Leaves
clusters of small reddish rosettes of succulent leaves
Roots
fibrous
Dimensions
foliage is low, flower stalks arise above the foliage
Propagation
seeds, division, rooting the rosettes
Misc Facts
The common name House leek comes from the fact that it was believed that these plants prevent lightening from striking a house, so they were planted on the roof of houses. Sempervivum literally means live for ever and tectora means growing on roofs. The Hen is the larger rosette and the chicks are the smaller. Hence the name "Hens and Chicks".
Notes & Reference
#04-Herbaceous Perennial Plants (Allan Armitage), #40-Herbaceous Ornamental Plants (Steven Stills), #79-Perennials For Every Purpose (Larry Hodgson)