The coarse name " hen and chick " refers to several metal money of succulents — works with fatheaded , overweight parting — that grow in rosettes and produce offsets capable of becoming new flora . Because of their drought tolerance and want for well - drain soil , these perennials are often used inrock garden .
While these plant life are up to of anthesis , it is rare to see hen and chick bloom .
Do Hen and Chicks Flower?
Species ofsucculentsin two distinct genus are commonly known as " biddy and chicks . " They are both in theCrassulaceaefamily . Hen and bird plants in both genera flower .
works in the genusEcheveriaflower multiple prison term during their lifetime cycle . biddy and doll plants in the genusSempervivum , however , are monocarpic . This stand for that once the female parent plant of this biddy and chicks flowers , it dies .
plant life in the genusEcheveriaflower multiple times during their life wheel .
A " biddy " rosette of aSempervivumhen and chick plant can take a very farsighted time—20 years even — to flower . However , if the plant is under stress , such as from overcrowding , it may bloom sooner than expected . After flowering , this rosette dies and should be removed from the garden . The offshoots subsist and finally fill in the space left by the female parent plant .
Tip
biddy and chick plant in the genusSempervivumare monocarpic . That think of that the mother plant give way after flowering .
Hen and Chicks Plant Types
Let ’s go over some of the other remainder between blooming biddy and chicks plant life in the generaEcheveriaandSempervivum .
Sempervivum Species
Hen and bird plants in the genusSempervivumare aboriginal to southern Europe . Therefore , they are winter hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 , though they are not as tolerant of heat as other succulents . The genus name is Latin for " forever animated " because the production of offsets stool it seem like the plant life lives eternally .
There are roughly 40 species in the genus that can be up to 10 inches in diameter .
Hen and chicks mintage in theSempervivumgenus let in the vulgar houseleek ( Sempervivum tectorum , zones 3 to 8) , which can be used as groundcover . When it does blossom , this species sends up a flower stalk that is about a metrical foot tall and bear cymes with reddish - purple flowers , each with six or more petals .
Echeveria Species
succulent in the genusEcheveriaare native to the Americas , with a range that extends from Texas to South America . There are approximately 200 specie . Because they are native to deserts , Echeveriaplants are only stalwart in USDA zone 9 to 11 and can handle full sun . Therefore , they are most often mature as houseplants in container .
Species in this genus include the Mexican biddy and chicks ( Echeveria elegans , zones 9 to 11 ) . This species blooms in winter and give , when it charge up a efflorescence stalking that boast tubular pink flowers with yellow tips .
Hen and chick plants in the genusEcheveriaare not as winter hardy asSempervivumspecies .
Hen and Chicks Propagation
To propagate a hen and chicks works , all you have to do is take away the offsets , replant them in territory and allow them to form root .
In fact , it ’s a skillful estimate to remove the kickoff , which leave the mother plant to thrive , since it can put less energy towards grow the " chicks . "
