The Invasive Weed Sempervivum Tectorum

Appearance

• Hens-and-chicks is prized for its thick, succulent leaves, which grow in the shape of a rosette. The leaves vary in color, with some cultivars having leaves tipped with purple or red. Gray, pink and sliver are also common leaf colors. In the summer, the plant sends up tall, slender flower stalks lined with small purple or red flowers. Each individual rosette can reach an average height and width of about 1 and 1.5 feet respectively, but most average about 4 inches. The flower stalks may be as much as 12 inches tall.

Climate & Culture

• Hens-and-chicks prefers cooler temperatures, and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. The plant grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Although it will adapt to many types of soils, it must have good drainage, or the shallow roots and rosettes will rot. Deer will not bother these plants, so they are a good choice for home gardeners looking for something that is deer-resistant.

Uses

• This plant is an excellent choice for dry, hard-to-fill areas. The plant actually prefers poor, hard, rocky soils over rich, fertile soils. It will fill in the space on a rock wall, in a border or as ground cover. It is also cultivated in containers and can be grown indoors as a houseplant.

Interesting Facts

• Native to Europe, the plants are said to be fire-resistant and were traditionally used to line the roofs of cottages as protection against lightening strikes, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The plant's growth habit -- the mother plant sends out horizontal roots from which the young plants grow -- also helped secure the shingles to the roofs. The common name of "hens-and-chicks" arose from the fact that the mother plant produces so many "chicks" in a short amount of time. Although it is not classified as an invasive weed, it will spread to fill empty areas fairly quickly and may overwhelm nearby, less vigorous plants. If you want to kill the plants, the easiest way is to simply pull them out of the ground. They have shallow roots and come up very easily. Or, you can flood the area and keep it so wet that they rot. This is especially effective in cold weather. The best way to block the spread of the plants is to grow them in containers. The mother plants die after blooming, so the plant lives on through the offsets, or "chicks," which in turn spread and produce their own chicks the next season.