How to plant hens and chicks in your garden

It's hard to resist the succulent, fleshy rosettes of hens and chicks, properly known as sempervivums, which manage to be tough and cute at the same time. Their long lives and dependability are reflected in their botanical name, which translates as "live forever." They are called hens and chicks because the round offshoots on short stems crowd around the mother plant like chicks around a hen. These sun-resistant plants form wonderful patches of texture and foliage colour in rocky or dry, parched places. They can take a beating, with very little water or even soil. Here are some tips on adding hens and chicks to your flower beds and gardens.

Commonly called houseleek, Sempervivum tectorum is a popular, easy-to-grow species, with big green or bronzy pointed rosettes that need almost no care and increase quickly. This and several other old favourites are often shared among gardeners because of their prolific habits and willingness to be transplanted.

• Of special interest are spiderweb houseleeks, S. arachnoideum, with white hairs covering the reddish rosettes in a "spiderweb."
• The species S. octopodes has long, chick-bearing stems, creating an unusual effect.

• Set plants in a site with full sun and sandy, well-drained soil.
• In heavy clay soils, plant them on slopes to maximize drainage.
• The only time hens and chicks need extra moisture is when new plants are set out. Keep them barely moist for a few weeks, then they can fend for themselves.
• After a rosette matures and flowers, it dies, so simply remove it and fill the space with a younger offset.
• When removing a chick from its mother, take at least a 2.5-centimetre-long (one-inch-long) stem along with it.
• Bury the stem stub under 2.5 centimetres (one inch) of gritty soil, and use pebbles to hold it in place until the chick develops roots and can hold its own.
• While virtually pest- and disease-free, hens and chicks can succumb to root rot if they are exposed to waterlogged soil, particularly in hot, humid climates.

Attributes: Low-growing green or bronze foliage rosettes; for edging, pots, beds

Season of interest: Evergreen foliage has year-round appeal

Favourites: S. tectorum, S. arachnoideum, S. octopodes

Quriks: Leaves resist fire; one species was once grown on roofs to retard fire

Good neighbours: Mugo pine, sedums, sun rose

Where it grows best: In sun to partial shade and gritty soil

Potential problems: Excessive moisture and shade can cause rot

Renewing plants: Lives years; remove damaged plants and flowering stems as needed

Critter Resistance: Good

Source: Plant offsets

Dimensions: Less than 10 cm (4 in) tall; clumps spread to 30 cm (1 ft) wide

Hens and chicks do well on slopes, in rock gardens, and in other sites that offer excellent drainage. With a little encouragement, the clumps will carpet wide swaths, filling every nook and cranny with their many "chicks." Where winters are too cold to grow sempervivums outdoors, containers can be kept through the coldest months in a cool garage or enclosed porch.