- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 3 - 10
- Height: 2 - 4 inches
- Bloom Season: Summer
- Bloom Color: Mix
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Environment: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 5.5 - 7.0
- Deer Resistant: Yes
- Latin Name: Sempervivum Hybridum
- Temperature: 70 - 75F
- Average Germ Time: 7 - 21 days
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: Cover seed lightly with peat moss
- Sowing Rate: Approximately 1000 seeds covers 20 square feet
- Moisture: Keep seeds slightly moist but not wet until germination
- Plant Spacing: 24 inches
- Note: For detailed directions for indoor and outdoor planting, please Click Here
- Care & Maintenance: See: Sempervivum
Sempervivum (Sempervivum Hybridum) - Commonly called Hens and Chicks these unique ground cover plants are mat-forming succulents that produce clusters of rosettes. These Sempervivum seeds produce foliages of varying shades of green, gray, and even reddish shades. This low-growing ground cover has parent rosettes that are called the "hens" and the smaller rosettes that grow from the parents are called the "chicks." Sempervivum ground cover plants are grown for the succulent foliage, but it does produce 12 inch flower stalks in the summer with blooms of pink and lavender.
Grow Sempervivum succulent plants in full sun to partial shade and in well-drained soil. In the South, Sempervivum Hens and Chicks can profit from partial shade. The rosettes die after flowering but are replaced by new rosettes on lateral runners. Sempervivum is an old-time favorite used in concrete planters on either side of the front entry or as a great ground cover plant. Great in window boxes or niches. It needs little water or attention to thrive.
How To Grow Hens And Chicks From Seed: Sow Hens and Chicks ground cover seeds indoors in peat pots. Use a well-draining starter mix and press the Sempervivum seeds into the mix. Cover the seed very lightly with peat moss as the Hens and Chicks seeds need light to germinate. Keep seeds moist but not wet. If germination does not occur within 3 weeks, seal peat pots inside a zip-lock bag with plenty of air and refrigerate for 1 - 2 weeks. Following the cold treatment, place the pots back in 70 - 75F temperatures. A cold treatment is not usually needed, but sometimes the Sempervivum seeds need the treatment to break germination.
Shaker Bottle With Seed Starting Matrix
Shake 'n Seed - We are now offering shaker bottles filled with our seed starting matrix: rich soil, gardening sand, water absorbing crystals, and starter fertilizer. This not only helps dispense your seed, but it gets it off to a great start! Simply remove lid from shaker bottle, add seed from packet, put back on lid, shake the bottle vigorously for 15 seconds, and then shake your way to beautiful new plants! Use Shake 'n Seed over good quality soil, and then gently water to keep seed moist until it sprouts. Great for ground covers or mass planting flower seeds.