What are the perfect hen and chicks that do not require high-priced feed, need only limited water, and tolerate warm weather? Answer – the Hen and Chicks plant! Sorry – not the hen and chicks animals.
In 2019 while wandering through the garden section at a local store, I spied Hen and Chicks plants layered in a pot with side holes. Little did I know it would turn out to be the perfect plant for a hot, dry summer and fall. No wonder, as I discovered, it is native to southern Europe and northern Africa. But they can grow in zones 3-7.
Hen and Chicks is a low-growing succulent plant having leaves in a one-to-two-inch wide, rosette formation that function to store water. The “Hen” is the main, or mother plant. The “Chicks” are offspring that start as tiny buds on the Hen and will soon sprout their own roots. The “Chicks” can be pulled or cut off and transplanted. This removal of offsets is beneficial to the mother plant as it reduces the loss of energy.
Hen and Chicks are hardy, thriving in harsher conditions such as rock gardens. A word of advice – don’t overwater them as the outer leaves will rot. Plant them in succulent or cactus soil and use a pot that has drainage at the bottom to prevent root rot. For best results, place them in full sun. They can multi-task as they grow equally well outdoors and indoors.
Colors of Hen and Chicks range from green to red or a mixture of these colors. Their flowers may be red, pink, purple, white, green, or yellow. While grown for their foliage, Hen and Chicks may flower once. After flowering, the Hen will die – leaving the smaller Chicks to take her place. Those plants that do not flower usually grow back yearly and are considered a perennial.
History states that Hen and Chicks were originally planted on roofs in Europe to reduce fire caused by lightning on thatch roofed houses. The water stored in the leaves was able to slow down fires. Given our current drought and wind, one could speculate if they might serve a similar purpose in our landscapes.
Bottom line: Hen and Chicks thrive on neglect, do best when watered occasionally, and should be repotted only when absolutely necessary. Little wonder they are a plant for me!