Hens and chicks (Sempervivum 'King George')

Overview

Sempervivum ‘King George’ is a highly valued succulent prized for its durable, evergreen rosettes and extremely low maintenance requirements. Known widely by the charming name Hens and chicks, this cultivar features foliage that shifts between green and russet red tones, often highlighted by finely hairy webbing, making it an excellent year-round textural addition to rock gardens. As a classic succulent, Sempervivum ‘King George’ forms dense colonies, spreading via offsets (“chicks”) that replace the central “hen” rosette after it flowers.

This hardy perennial is exceptionally resilient, tolerating poor soils and significant drought once established. Its shallow root system and tolerance for sharp drainage make it perfect for challenging, dry locations where many other plants struggle. Gardeners appreciate the structure provided by Sempervivum ‘King George’ throughout the cold months, as these plants deepen their color for winter interest.

The plant reaches a diminutive size, keeping landscaping tidy while offering a delightful contrast to coarser-textured plants. Its primary display in summer includes sprays of star-shaped, pink flowers before the flowering rosette gracefully dies back, allowing the surrounding chicks to take over the space.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Crassulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.25-0.33 ft
  • Spread: 0.75-1 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: Pink
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Sempervivum ‘King George’ in the spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Ensure the planting location receives full sun for the most vibrant color, although tolerance extends to part shade. The most critical requirement for successful cultivation is sharp soil drainage. If your native soil is heavy clay, amend heavily with gravel or sand, as this plant demands lean, well-drained conditions—prefers sandy or gravelly soils and tolerates poor soils. Avoid overwatering at all costs, as this leads quickly to rot issues.

Watering should be infrequent; allow the soil to dry completely between watering sessions, adhering to the dry to medium moisture requirement. Fertilization is generally unnecessary; excessive nutrients can decrease hardiness and encourage overly lush growth that is less resilient. The main cultural task involves tidying up the plant. Individual rosettes of Sempervivum ‘King George’ die after they bloom; simply remove the spent flowering stalk and the rosette base shortly after flowering to maintain a neat appearance and prevent bare spots.

These plants are evergreen and offer excellent winter performance. In regions experiencing harsh winters (lower end of Zone 4), ensure they are planted in an area protected from heavy winter ice or prolonged saturation. The hardiness and evergreen nature of Hens and chicks make them reliable structural elements throughout the year.

Landscape Uses

Sempervivum ‘King George’ excels in designs where structure and texture are paramount. Its low, mat-forming habit makes it an outstanding ground cover for small, dry areas where turf grass is impractical. Consider using this easy-care succulent in rock gardens or alpine arrangements, positioning rosettes naturally among stones where sharp drainage mimics their native mountainous habitat.

These succulents thrive along the edges of stone walls, filling rock crevices, or serving as tidy edging along flagstone paths or foundation beds. Because they adapt so well to small pockets of soil, they are ideal subjects for containers, mixing beautifully with trailing sedums or small ornamental grasses for xeriscaping projects. The dense clustering effect of the Hen-and-chickens foliage is perfect for creating a living tapestry effect against muted stone backdrops.

Standout Features

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sempervivum is a genus of roughly 40 species of rosette-forming succulents found growing on sunny and rocky slopes in mountainous regions of southern Europe and northern Africa. Rosettes vary in size from 0.25” up to 10” in diameter. They also display a range of colors, from chartreuse greens to purples, reds, and bronze tones. The color of the rosettes can also change throughout the year, usually deepening during the winter. Once a rosette has reached maturity it will send up a flowering stalk with star-shaped blooms before dying back, allowing the offsets to fill in the resulting space.Genus name comes from the Latin words semper meaning always and vivus meaning alive or living.In Europe, sempervivums were once planted on roofs of houses for a number of reasons, including warding off lightning/fire, holding slates in place or providing emergency food in winter (the leaves were eaten). The common name hens and chick comes from the ability of the mother rosette (hen) to spread in all directions by horizontal stems to form offsets (chicks).’King George’ features green to russet red foliage with finely hairy webbing. Rosettes will reach between 2-4” in diameter. In summer, mature rosettes will send up a flowering stalk with dainty pink blooms.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Drought
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

Sempervivum ‘King George’ is notably free of serious insect or disease problems when grown correctly. The primary risk gardeners face stems from improper cultural care, specifically insufficient drainage. Rusts, leaf/stem rot, and root rot can quickly destroy colonies if the soil is consistently wet or poorly drained, which often happens in overly rich garden beds. To prevent these issues, always ensure sharp drainage and avoid overhead watering during humid periods. Deer rarely pose a threat to these fibrous succulents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Hens and chicks suitable for?

Sempervivum ‘King George’ performs best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.

How large does Sempervivum ‘King George’ grow?

Mature rosettes generally reach a height of about 0.25 to 0.33 feet, spreading between 0.75 to 1 foot wide as they form colonies.

What sun exposure does Hens and chicks need?

This variety prefers full sun but tolerates light shade; however, in climates with very hot summers, providing some afternoon shade can prevent scorching.

When does Sempervivum ‘King George’ bloom?

This Hens and chicks variety blooms over the summer, typically from June into August, producing clusters of dainty pink flowers.

Conclusion

Sempervivum ‘King George’ is an indispensable, durable succulent offering year-round texture and exceptional drought resistance for minimal effort. The reliable division of its offsets ensures this resilient plant continues to fill in gaps, making it a fantastic low-maintenance choice for challenging garden spots. Check your local hardiness zone and ensure sharp soil drainage before planting your Sempervivum ‘King George’ this season.

Companion Planting

Because Hens and chicks require extremely sharp drainage and dislike competition from aggressively thirsty neighbors, companion plants should share similar xeriscape needs. Pair Sempervivum ‘King George’ with other low-growing, drought-tolerant species such as trailing Sedum varieties or low creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum). These combinations create beautiful, low-profile mats perfect for hot, dry retaining walls or the foreground of sunny borders. Avoid using fertilizers near these alpine natives, as richer soils benefit aggressive weeds more than the slow-growing sempervivums.

Propagation Tips

Propagation is incredibly easy, aligning perfectly with the low-maintenance profile of Sempervivum ‘King George’. The plant naturally reproduces through offsets, commonly called “chicks,” which grow on short stolons from the mother “hen” rosette. Once the chicks are roughly half the size of the parent—usually by mid-to-late summer—they can be gently detached using clean fingers or scissors. Allow the base of the detached chick to dry out for a day or two until a small callus forms; this prevents rot when planting. Plant the calloused offset directly into very gritty, well-draining soil in a partially shaded location until it roots, or place it in a suitable container for future use. This offsets method ensures genetically identical plants are readily available for expanding your Hen-and-chickens display.