Hens and Chicks

Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) is one of Europe’s oldest cultivated succulents, admired for its perfectly symmetrical rosettes and extraordinary hardiness. Native to the mountains of central and southern Europe, it grows naturally on rocky slopes and alpine cliffs where freezing winters, poor soils and intense summer sun would defeat most other plants. Its botanical name comes from the Latin semper (“always”) and vivum (“living”), while tectorum means “of the rooftops”—a reference to its long history of growing on the roofs of houses and barns. According to medieval tradition, the Emperor Charlemagne ordered Hens and Chicks to be planted on rooftops throughout his empire, believing the plants would protect buildings from lightning strikes and fire. The succulent was also associated with the Norse god Thor, whose protection against storms was thought to extend to homes adorned with these resilient rosettes. Whether growing on rooftops, stone walls or alpine scree, Sempervivum has earned a reputation for surviving conditions that few other plants can tolerate. Even beneath deep winter snow, its evergreen rosettes remain alive and ready to resume growth when spring arrives.