Sempervivum 'Gold'
Gold Hens and Chicks, Yellow Houseleek, Yellow Hens and Chicks, Golden Hens and Chicks
- Main interest:
- unique foliage colour, drought tolerant, poor soil, very hardy, fall colour
- Exposure:
- full sun
- Soil humidity:
- dry soil; well drained
- Growth type:
- slow running
- Flower colour:
- pink
- Fragrance:
- Non-fragrant
- Flowering period:
- July to August
- Foliage:
- yellow-green with red tips
- USDA Hardiness:
- zone 3a: -40 °C (-40 °F) View Zone Map
- Mature height & width (max.):
- height: 4 in (10 cm) width: 8 in (20 cm)
- Use:
- border, rock garden, small garden, container, ground cover, edging, xeriscaping
Sempervivum ‘Gold’ (Hens and Chicks) features eye-catching gold colour with reddish-orange edges. It has extreme vigour and is hardy in zones 3-9.
This is a mat forming perennial succulent. It produces evergreen rosettes of greenish-yellow leaves with red tips (with a slight shimmer), having more red or green depending on season. As the colour responds to temperature changes. Rosettes grow to 4" wide. This yellow houseleek has great personality in the garden throughout the year.
The “mother’ rosette spreads runners radially to form its clutch of “chicks” in an ever expanding circle. It features unusual clusters of pink star-shaped flowers rising above the foliage on sturdy stocks in mid summer.
As with all Sempervivium, this golden hens and chicks is extremely drought tolerant once established, and survives in rough souls in near neglect. That said; make sure there is always adequate drainage, as it doesn’t like wet feet. Plant these in rock gardens, as ground covers, in retaining walls, or in patio planters. Hens and chicks do well in full sun or partial shade, so be sure they are exposed to least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. In general, the more sunlight the better as it actually helps bring out the colour in the plant and makes the red tips more red. This yellow hens and chicks, is both deer and rabbit resistant.
Also known as: Golden Houseleek, Gold Houseleek