Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Assorted Mix Hen and Chicks: A Patchwork Edge for Lavender Beds
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Assorted Mix hen and chicks are tough little Sempervivum succulents that grow as a large central rosette, the hen, surrounded by smaller offsets, the chicks. This is an unnamed assortment, so each plant is a surprise: green, blue-green, red, burgundy or bronze, often with darker tips. Over time the chicks fill in around the hen into a tight, patchwork mat.
Hen and chicks at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Sempervivum, assorted |
| Foliage | Varies: green, blue-green, red, burgundy or bronze |
| Rosettes | 2 to 4 inches across, spreading by offsets |
| Size | 3 to 4 inches tall, 6 to 8 inches wide per cluster |
| Flowers | Occasional star-shaped flowers on a short stalk in summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
Small rosettes, big contrast
Lavender is upright and airy. Hen and chicks are flat, round and sculptural. Put them together and each one looks more interesting. They also share the same appetite for lean, gravelly, sun-baked ground, so they can live right along the edge of a lavender bed, in the cracks of a stone wall that holds up a lavender terrace or scattered through gravel mulch between lavender plants.
Because this is a mix, a grouping makes a patchwork of colors that changes a little through the year, as rosettes close up and fade in the hottest weeks and color up again in fall. Keep them a few inches from lavender crowns so the lavender gets airflow. Plan an edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: poor to average with sharp drainage: gravel, sandy soil, rock crevices or a shallow container.
- Water: very little once settled. Constant wet causes rot.
- No mulch: do not pile mulch over the rosettes. Gravel is the best topdressing.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan and evergreen through winter.
- Pests: watch for mealybugs and vine weevil larvae.
When a hen flowers
Every so often a mature rosette sends up a thick stalk with star-shaped flowers. It is a fun show, but that rosette dies afterward. Cut off the spent stalk, pull out the old hen and let the surrounding chicks fill the gap, or tuck a spare chick in its place. You can also pop chicks off at any time and plant them elsewhere. A few chicks in a shallow dish make a nice gift for a fellow gardener, and you will still have plenty.
Frequently asked questions
What colors will I get?
It is an assorted mix, so colors vary from plant to plant. That is part of the fun.
Can they grow in containers?
Yes. Troughs, shallow pots and strawberry jars with gritty mix are ideal.
Do they need winter protection?
No, just excellent drainage. Wet soil, not cold, is the usual cause of loss.
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