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Hens And Chicks

Sempervivum tectorum

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Hens And Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) at Platt Hill Nursery

Hens And Chicks

Hens And Chicks

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  4 inches

Flower Height:  8 inches

Spacing:  10 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Other Names:  Roof Houseleek, House Leek

Description:

This variety produces dense rosettes with symmetrical lime green leaves with dark red edges and a butter yellow cast near the center; ideal for indoor container gardens in bright areas

Features & Attributes

Hens And Chicks features unusual clusters of pink star-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive succulent pointy leaves remain lime green in color with distinctive dark red edges and tinges of buttery yellow throughout the year.

This is a dense herbaceous houseplant with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its extremely fine and delicate texture is quite ornamental and should be used to full effect. This plant should not require much pruning, except when necessary to keep it looking its best.

Planting & Growing

When grown indoors, Hens And Chicks can be expected to grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This houseplant requires direct sun for optimal performance, and should therefore be situated in a room that gets bright sunlight for a good part of the day; it is not a good choice for rooms lit only by artificial light. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and may die if left in standing water for any length of time. This plant should be watered when the surface of the soil gets dry, and will need watering approximately once each week. Be aware that your particular watering schedule may vary depending on its location in the room, the pot size, plant size and other conditions; if in doubt, ask one of our experts in the store for advice. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soil. Contact the store for specific recommendations on pre-mixed potting soil for this plant.

There are many factors that will affect the ultimate height, spread and overall performance of a plant when grown indoors; among them, the size of the pot it's growing in, the amount of light it receives, watering frequency, the pruning regimen and repotting schedule. Use the information described here as a guideline only; individual performance can and will vary. Please contact the store to speak with one of our experts if you are interested in further details concerning recommendations on pot size, watering, pruning, repotting, etc.

-- THIS IS A HOUSEPLANT AND IS NOT MEANT TO SURVIVE THE WINTER OUTDOORS IN OUR CLIMATE --

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features

This Plant Finder tool is an online catalog representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact your nearest Platt Hill Nursery store for current availability. It does not include our entire inventory of plants, so be sure to visit us to see varieties that may not be represented on this list.