Most of you (if you have been following my blog for awhile) know that George and I love succulents. Our Autumn Joy Sedum is one of our favorite succulents. BUT--even better than that is our Sempervivum. We have LOTS of Semps in our yard.
The name "Sempervivum" has its origin in the Latin semper ('always') and vivus ('living'). Sempervivum are called "Always Living" because this perennial plant keeps its leaves in winter and is very resistant to difficult conditions of growth.
These little succulents are also called Hens and Chicks. The main plant (hen) creates lots of babies (chicks). Typically, each plant (hen) grows for several years before flowering. After flowering, the plant dies, usually leaving many offsets (chicks) it has produced during its life. I think I read that there are over 40 different species of Semps.
I have done blog posts several times showing our Semps ---but since there are new people, I decided to show some again to you today. I hope you will enjoy my pictures!
Choose your colors!!!!! There are several choices.
This purple ones are so pretty in our yard.
They are all different colors and varieties. Some are large and some are small.
This picture is perfect to show you the chicks growing around the hen. See the little babies expanding from the Mom???
Semps love to grow in rock gardens...
The chicks will even grow on the rocks --since they are attached to the hen.
This Hen is blooming... She grew UP before blooming. After she blooms, she will die. As you can tell, each Semp is a little different from other ones.
Pretty little flowers on this one; Note how different this Semp is when she bloomed, when comparing her to the photo above this one.
I'll close with my favorite photo of our Semps.
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the Sempervivum in our yard.
Happy April 1st. We are going to Hendersonville (TN) today to check on George's parents.
Hugs,
55 comments:
What beautiful semps! I NEED a rock garden! Wish these guys would do better here in south Florida! They are just gorgeous!!! Thanks for showing!
I love succulents too. These are lovely, all those different colours. I can't believe how they survive the snow. Thanks for the info about the hens and the chicks. I wonder if they grow in the tropics. If they don't grow well in Florida I guess they wouldn't do well here. have a safe trip and a Happy Easter.
Very interesting plant! Thanks for all the information!
Beautiful colours, Betsy! ☺
I think they are precious. Did not know they came in such a variety of colors. Quite the visual circle of life.
Enjoy your visit in Hendersonville with George's parents.
You know it's your fault I am trying to grow them because of beautiful posts like this one!! Everytime I check on mine I think of you...
Those are gorgeous, Betsy. I especially love the way they look amongst the rocks. Interesting derivation of the name. They do indeed live through very brutal weather. Our little patch was about the only bright spot in the seemingly endless assault of winter.
Now I am wishing to be in my garden this morning! :) Thanks for sharing your photos Betsy!
xo Catherine
I love hens and chicks. Have a Blessed and happy Easter...m..
Very beautiful.I have not seen before.
Beautiful...I love these and have never been able to grow them successfully!!! I'm just plain jealous:-) Have a wonderful trip!!!
They're very pretty, Betsy. I like the red and green combined---neat patterns.
I'm so glad you did another hen and chicks post for us newbies! I did not know the derivation of the name. Nor did I know there were many kinds, I thought only the one. My, but the tall skinny one is strange looking. It reminds me of sone creatures that die after giving birth, I think the octopus is one. So many wonderful pictures, each different! My very favorite is the last one, as well. I also learned something from your comment to me today. Neither Phil nor I have heard of a Tenebrae service. But on Good Friday evening,our chuirch is reinacting Sedar, and our service usually ends with the lights all out and the loud sounds of the hammer and nails on the cross.
My gosh. My mother used to talk about hens and chicks and I'd forgotten all about them. Cute plants.
Great plants - I don't do well with those!!! The cabin by the waterfalls is near Chimney Rock - phone is 828-275-8580 or visit http://fallsbranchchalet.shutterfly.com/. If you do come - let me know - we live close by!
Cheri
Thank you SO much for sharing these wonderful succulents. Bill's Uncle, bless him, gave me hundreds two falls ago. It still breaks my heart that the terrible 40 below zero temps early that winter, killed them all but one. They did not have time to set root. Yours are simply lovely. Thanks for sharing with this newbie to your wonderful site.
BlessYourHeart and Happy Easter
they are all goregous Betsy. you would love Selby Gardens here, they have a succulent garden and it is beautiful, just like yours.
Hi, I love your Semps, they are so happy looking and colorful! I'm going to try some in my rock garden. Your last photo is my favorite also. Thanks for sharing your succulents. :)
Happy April 1st to you too! Have a great day visiting! Loved your post about the semps! When I had a garden I had those among the rocks too, but not such a great variety as you have! It's wonderful how they survive the cold weather, but the cover of snow must be a warm blanket!!
Blessings!
Love all your hens and chicks! When I get a chance I want to clean out my rock garden, see what survived and add a few hens and chicks to enjoy. thanks for the idea! Have a safe trip!
Love the Hens and Chicks. I have some in my yard too. I guess most of us do. They are so faithful and try so hard to keep us all happy. I got some from my daughter and they just loved my yard too.
Nice post. MB
I never realized that they came in so many different colors. Very pretty.
Sunny :)
Betsy, I love the succulents and especially since they are low maintenance... actually no maintenance. ;) Your red one is of particular interest - beautiful!
We hope you and George have an Easter filled with blue sky and many blessings.
I love the hen and chickens, too, Betsy. My neighbor gave me a plant which struggles through our cold winters. Diane Yours are so beautiful.
I have a few too but not nearly so many different kinds as you do. Aren't they fun and easy? I wish more varieties were hardy in my area.
Marnie
These are Beautiful pictures of your lovely plants! I don't have any of these but I do like them and hope to get a place fixed where I can grow them.
Beautiful photo's. What a fun plant!
What a beautiful plant! I have a rock garden; it grows weeds in between the rocks. Perhaps I should try growing semps.
Hi Betsy!
We had a little garden full of hens and Chicks and Asiatic Lilies. It surrounded a HUGE on tree stump. Well, J realized nothing was coming up (lilies are his passion!) and he investigated. It seems a mole ate ALL of them! Roots and all :(
We just cannot get rid of those critters! Any advice?
Have a wonderful day! xo, misha
What beautiful plants. I am just getting into these and plan on putting some in my yard. I have never seen red hen and chicks before.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Betsy these are wonderful shots!
I think the first could even be used as a Christmas card in so many with the traditional red and green. Your last and favorite shot has a great angle to it I like.
My Mom grows these in those little pots. I like yours in a rock garden thinking they would look good around my pond but I'll have to check first and see if the deer like them. :)
Have safe travels today.
I had no idea there were so many different kinds of hens and chicks! Love the purple one!
Very pretty.
Love your succulents. In our climate, I have to grow many of min indoors. They are a favorite of my youngest son.
Have a safe trip.
I've always wondered what that green stuff was growing in rock gardens - Now I know, thanks to you, Betsy!
I'd heard of hens & chicks before, but never knew how that came to be called by that plant - Now I know that too! I'm learnin lots today! Thanks!
AND....you inspired my post today.
I just love the thought of Hens and Chicks all over your yard..
quiet ones though.
Betsy,
Great shots of some wonderful plants..just from looking at your photos one would think you live in a desert area and not the hills of Tenn. lol!! You really have captured some nice shots...just love that new camera..you must be having a ball with it!!
I love hens and chickens...
I had some in a stawberry pot that was started by my dad.
Long story short....while we were building our house, we lived in hunting cabin that my husband belonged to. After we moved in house, I went back to cabin and my pots were not there......broke my heart....why would they get rid of them....they had to know they were mine....just don't understand some people!
Your pictures are just beautiful!
I don't have any but I enjoy y neighbors. Yours as beautiful ...
Happy Easter!
TTFN ~ Marydon
I love your beautiful gardens! Gosh they are simply stunning. I wished I could get my small patch of hens and chicks to look even somewhat like yours. Have a Happy Easter and a nice visit with George's folks!
Wow, Betsy!! What beauty! The colors are gorgeous - especially the purples! My favorite pic is the blooming hen, I think.
Your new camera takes such clear photos. Of course, the photographer deserves praise, too!
Hope your in-laws are doing well.
I enjoyed these pictures.I love the Hens and chicks,but right now have none in our gardens.
Blessings,Ruth
Well, I've learned some things I didn't know about hens and chicks. I like the reddish colored ones and the ones in the 3rd from last picture.
These are gorgeous!! Wonderful colors and I love the flowers on the second to last one.
Oooh Betsy, I just love them all !
They are just taking over the place, the colors are gorgeous, I didn't know they came in different colors.
I have one pot of Hens and Chicks, they are in a large strawberry pot, and used to belong to my son-in-laws grandmother. Each year when the come alive, I always smile, and say "Granny, your babies are back ".
They are all gorgeous but I especially like the purple one. I really like the way you have them growing between the rocks. I have looked at them in past but for some reason I didn't think they were that hardy.
Have a safe trip.
My grandfather got me interested in Hens and Chicks when I was a little girl...yours are beautiful!
Very nice, especially the lascivious blooming hen! We had scads of hens & chickens around our yard until we did some dogsitting for a pooch with an eating disorder--for some reason, our several efforts to restart them have been futile.
Your semp photos are gorgeous, the lovely forms and unique blue / lavender / sea mist green colors. I see your blog has lots of variety, and mine does too. I like so many things so I include them as my whimsy leads me.
Wow ... what an education! I loved learning about all the varieties of Semps. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,
I love seeing them growing in between the rocks. They all look so lovely and happy at your house, Betsy.
I tried they in my yard but they didn't do to well, maybe its just to hot and humid in the summer.
I didn't know there were so many hens and chicks. I will have to try some of those in my garden.
I've had hens and chicks for so long. I lived in Michigan and every spring I'd transfer some to my other beds. When I moved to Arizona I brought some with me. They didn't survive. I cant buy them here either. Do I need to keep them inside onlyy here or are they different kinds that will grow here. Thank you Melissa
I remember my grandmother having them. I grew them in Michigan they populated so every spring I'd transplant to my other beds. When I moved to Arizona I brought some with me they didn't survive. Are there ones that will or do I have too grow them inside. I miss having them. Thank you
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