Hens-and-chicks were one of the first garden plants I came to recognize in childhood. However, compared to the brightly colored tulips and glads I favored; I didn’t think much of them. I was amused by the offsets (the “chicks”) that formed easily around the central plant (the “hen”), but the leaves were typically a dull green and the plants only occasionally sent up undistinguished flowers.At some point in my adult phase of gardening, I took another look. Hybrids now had leaves in amazing colors including deep reds, steely blues, lavenders deepening to purple, red/green bicolors, and, most recently, gold with reddish tips! Even more fascinating, these colors often change at different times of the year.
I was pleased to discover there is a recent guide to this jewel box of choices for gardeners. Sempervivum: A Gardener’s Perspective of the Not-So-Humble Hens-and-Chicks was written by Kevin Vaughn, an Oregon hybridizer, and published in 2018.
The author has a PhD in botany and provides a knowledgeable history of the genus Sempervivum and its taxonomic identities. However, he quickly makes clear his purpose: “I have written this book for gardeners.”
The book is also an homage to the collegial group of enthusiasts who have created and promoted the various hybrids. The core is a catalog of this work. While some can be found at local garden centers, a list of mail order sources is included in the appendix and most are found in our region.
From my interest in this genus, I came to discover several other succulent genera with enticing foliage, including Echeveria, Graptopetalum, and Aeonium. Sadly, all of these need to be treated as annuals or given winter protection in our climate. By comparison, “semps” (as Vaughn calls them) are perfectly hardy in the Pacific Northwest, only needing protection from soggy soils and aggressive plant neighbors.
The author concludes, “The uses of Sempervivum are nearly infinite. Every time I think I have seen every possible use, a new one shows its head.”
Reviewed by Brian Thompson in the Leaflet, Volume 10, Issue 7, July 2023