The plant commonly known as Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum), does produce flowers. This flowering event signals that the life cycle of the individual rosette has reached its conclusion. The mature rosette, or “hen,” channels its stored energy into a single reproductive effort. Once complete, the rosette that flowered will senesce and die, but the surrounding offsets, or “chicks,” will continue to thrive.
The Monocarpic Life Cycle
The biological term for this single-flowering strategy is monocarpic, meaning the plant flowers, sets seed, and then perishes. This trait ensures the plant’s entire resource base is dedicated to producing the next generation. This fate only applies to the mature “hen” rosette that initiates the bloom.
The smaller, younger rosettes, or “chicks,” are genetically identical clones that remain unaffected and continue the colony. A Sempervivum rosette requires several years of vegetative growth to accumulate reserves and reach maturity for this terminal event. The name Sempervivum translates from Latin to “always living,” referring to the colony’s perpetual continuation through these offsets, not the individual rosette’s longevity.
Flowering is triggered primarily by age and size, but environmental factors also play a role in initiating the reproductive phase. Changes in light exposure, temperature, or water availability may induce flowering by signaling that survival is threatened. The rosette diverts resources from leaf and stem growth into forming the reproductive structure, marking its last productive phase.
Anatomy of the Terminal Bloom
The onset of flowering is signaled by a change in the rosette’s center, where leaves close inward and the central stem starts to elongate. This developing structure is a thick flowering stalk that emerges directly from the heart of the rosette. The stalk can stretch significantly, often reaching heights of 6 to 24 inches or more, towering over the foliage base.
The stalk is fleshy and sturdy, covered in small, scale-like leaves that are often lighter than the main rosette. At the apex of this stem, the plant develops a cluster of buds that open into star-shaped flowers. The coloration is species-dependent, commonly appearing in shades of pink, pale yellow, or red.
These flowers are borne in terminal clusters, remaining open for two to four weeks during the summer months. Once the flowers fade and the seeds mature, the rosette has completed its purpose and begins senescence.
Managing the Spent Rosette
After the floral display concludes, the rosette that produced the bloom will begin to deteriorate, having expended all its energy reserves. The leaves of the “hen” will shrivel, brown, and collapse inward, signaling the death of that individual plant. This spent material should be removed to maintain the health and appearance of the remaining colony.
The best practice is to wait until the flower stalk and the entire rosette have completely dried out. The dead stalk can then be cleanly snipped or pulled away at ground level. Removing the dead foliage prevents it from harboring moisture, which encourages fungal growth or pests near the base of the healthy “chicks.”
The removal of the dead rosette leaves a small gap within the existing mat of plants. To fill this space, a gardener can take a healthy, rooted offset from the remaining cluster and replant it directly into the void. This maintenance ensures the continuous, dense coverage Sempervivum colonies are known for, allowing the new generation to continue the cycle.