Black Hens and Chicks

Black Hens And Chicks (Sempervivum 'Black')

Black Hens And Chicks is a tough, low-growing succulent perennial that brings bold, near-black rosettes to sunny gardens and containers. It is built for real-world conditions, staying tidy in heat, wind, and lean soils once established. This plant spreads by producing offsets, so a small start can quickly become a textured, living carpet. If you want high-contrast color with minimal watering and minimal fuss, it is an easy win.

Distinctive Features

Each plant forms a tight rosette with dark burgundy to purple-black tones that can deepen in cooler weather, often showing a subtle green to maroon center when actively growing. Rosettes multiply through stolons to create clusters of "chicks" around the original "hen," gradually forming a dense mat. In midsummer, mature rosettes may send up a bloom stalk with small, starry flowers, after which the flowering rosette declines while offsets continue. The overall look is clean, geometric, and evergreen in many climates.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun for best color and the most compact rosettes.
• Soil: Very well-drained, gritty soil, and it tolerates poor to average soils once established.
• Water: Low water needs after establishment, and let soil dry between waterings in containers.
• USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 4 to 6 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide, spreading wider over time by offsets.
• Habit: Low, mat-forming rosettes that slowly spread into colonies.

Ideal Uses

• Rock Gardens: Tuck into sunny, fast-draining beds for durable color and crisp texture.
• Edging: Line borders and paths with low rosettes that stay neat and defined.
• Containers: Use in pots and troughs where drainage is excellent and color can be enjoyed up close.
• Crevice Planting: Plant between stones and pavers where soil is shallow and drainage is sharp.
• Focal Point: Mass a small patch of dark rosettes in a gravel bed so the near-black color becomes the main visual punch.
• Groundcover: Fill sunny, dry spots with a living mat that holds its shape and color.

Low Maintenance Care

• Drainage: Keep roots out of soggy soil, since excess moisture is the fastest way to cause rot.
• Watering: Water sparingly in the ground once established, and avoid frequent light watering in containers.
• Winter Performance: Leave plants in place through winter, since cold hardiness is strong when drainage is good.
• Bloom Cleanup: Remove spent flower stalks and the old rosette after bloom if desired, letting offsets fill in.
• Propagation: Gently separate and replant offsets to expand coverage or start new pots.

Why Choose Black Hens And Chicks?

• Dark Color: Near-black rosettes add strong contrast that makes neighboring plants look sharper.
• Cold Hardy: Handles cold winters well when planted in well-drained soil.
• Drought Tolerant: Thrives with minimal watering once established.
• Evergreen Texture: Holds a tidy rosette look for year-round structure in many gardens.
• Easy to Multiply: Offsets spread naturally, making it simple to fill gaps and build a colony.
• Generally Deer Resistant: Often avoided by deer and rabbits, especially compared to softer-leaved perennials.

Black Hens And Chicks is at its best in sun and sharp drainage, where it stays compact and deeply colored. Give it a gritty home and resist overwatering, and it will reward you with a durable mat of dark rosettes that looks designed in every season.