Which Hens and Chicks should I choose?
They’re all so gorgeous! Sempervivum are a lesson in how climate and environment play an important part in the way these incredible plants evolve to suit their niche perfectly.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that these are actually plants – some of them look more like they’re made out of wax or plastic than a real live plant.
There is no end to the amazing variety of shapes and colours of Sempervivum, as you can see in this Sempervivum Picture Gallery, and just when you think you’ve found two that are the same, just wait a week or two, and they’ll change to look completely different.
Over the seasons, they can change dramatically; some have dark tips that eventually deepen and the color seeps downwards until the whole plant is dark.
Others work in the reverse direction, or blush with pink; some have cobwebs, wide leaves with points in a cup shaped growth habit; others have slender foliage.
There is no end to the variations and permutations.
Jewel like tones and textures combine with aplomb; there are no bad groupings of Sempervivum and Sedum. Used in a group planting they support and act as a foil for each other.
Don’t miss the other pages in the series, linked at the bottom of the page.
To see more about these incredible plants and the fascinating colour changes they go through, check out the pile of pictures here – taken throughout the seasons, they show some of my favorite Sempervivum varieties in their ever changing garb.
Hover your mouse over the photos to get a better view
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I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at these pictures. I’ve been fascinated by the changes that these plants undergo, from early spring, into summer, and then in the fall as well.
It’s so enthralling to watch, and having 200 different species and varieties gives me lots of them to compare. There is always a new favorite type or variety, that today seems to be nicer than any other, and tomorrow that will change again.
