Pacific Blue Ice Hens and Chicks

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-11 Inches

Mature Spread

6-11 Inches

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Most succulents grow only in southern or warm zones, but Pacific Blue Ice Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum) can handle cold down to USDA Zone 3. This means gardeners in most areas of the country can add this dusky blue hens and chicks plant to rock gardens, rock walls, or containers. Pretty lavender-colored flowers rise above the rosettes in late spring or summer, adding to its appeal. Even better? As the weather cools, pink flushes of color appear within the dusky blue pads. This pretty rosette plant is much tougher than it looks!

For one, the plant is deer resistant, and it can handle heat and drought. It’s also a low-maintenance succulent. Like most hens and chicks, Pacific Blue Ice grows to only about 3 or 4 inches tall, but spreads to about 8 inches. Along the way, it sets new “chicks” or offsets, which you can transplant to another area of your garden. This pretty plant looks amazing tucked into rocks, spreading out as a groundcover or as a container filler/spiller. 

Pacific Blue Ice Hens and Chicks Care

Your Pacific Blue Ice Hens and Chicks plant will grow best in full sun or partial sun, so be sure to place it where it gets at least 4 to 6 hours of sun per day. The best soil for this succulent, whether in a container or in the ground, drains well. Add one-fourth to one-half sand or grit to compost for homemade soil or choose a cactus and succulent mix for containers. 

Sempervivums need little care. The worst thing a hens and chicks owner can do is overwater the plant, or leave it sitting in water. Rosettes die back after their flowers fade, but just pull the rosette out carefully and add some of your special potting mix to fill the hole. The hen will add chicks to cover the spot in no time. Container-grown hens and chicks might outgrow their container and need repotting. Do this during summer, waiting until the soil is dry. 

Pacific Blue Ice Hens and Chicks Spacing

Remember that hens make chicks, so if you are concerned about the plants growing too closely together, space them at least 8 inches apart. But achieve a rosette-filled groundcover effect by planting several within about 6 inches of each other.

SKU:

1231008553-pc