Product Details
Highlights
Sempervivum 'Dark Beauty' (Lewis): A large rosette with stunning colors in all seasons. This cultivar tends to have burgundy to purple foliage, sometimes showing a tough of green at its heart. It makes a great, chocolatey contrast to all the green tones of a garden.
Hens & Chicks need plenty of outdoor sunlight to show their best colors and maintain a tight rosette form. They thrive in gritty, well-draining soils and pots with drainage holes. They produce new offsets or "chicks" on stolons. These chicks can be left to form tidy clusters or removed to share and transplant.
Sempervivum do most of their growing in the spring and summer, and will thrive with weekly watering and afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 80F. They are incredibly frost hardy and will happily thrive through winter under an insulating blanket of snow. Protect from heavy rains and standing water to prevent rot.
Product Size
2.0" Pot
Current Primary Color
Purple / Black
All Seasonal Colors
Green, Red
Bloom Color
Pink Bloom
Grow Zone (Hardiness)
Zone 5 (-20F), Zone 6 (-10F), Zone 7 (0F), Zone 8 (10F), Zone 9 (20F), Zone 10 (30F)
Recommended Light Conditions
Filtered / Partial Sun, Full Sun
Maximum Height
Under 3"
Maximum Rosette Size
5"-6"
Growth Habit / Shape
Rosette
Special Characteristic
Easy to Propagate, Pet Safe, Lots of Offsets
THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 5 - 10
WHAT IS MY HARDINESS ZONE?
Videos
We introduce our popular Sempervivum hardy succulents, aka Hen...
Questions & Answers
Popular Questions
Shop Succulent Soil Here
Succulents need grittier soil than other plants because they are adapted to dry conditions and store water in their leaves. Regular potting soil mixes stay damp for long periods of time, which can cause rot in succulents. Instead, use a sandy, well-draining soil so you can water thoroughly without leaving your succulent in standing water.
IN POTS…
See full answer »Our plants can be transplanted immediately upon arrival.
If you want to wait to transplant, they can remain in their original containers for up to a month. If the pots came in a plastic carrier tray, remove the pots from the carrier tray prior to the first watering.
Keep the plants indoors near a sunny window or outdoors under a roof (only if outdoor temperatures stay above your succulent's minimum hardiness temperature). Water only after the soil is fully dry by drenching from above with a faucet, hose, or watering can. Gently shake excess water from the leaves and allow containers to drain completely.
Fertilizing is not necessary, but it is a good option for succulent growers who want to encourage faster, larger growth. It can be used on mature plants with established roots. Only fertilize in the growing season (spring and summer for most varieties) to avoid weakening or burning dormant plants. Use a light touch and make 2-3 applications of low-Nitrogen, diluted fertilizer each year (N-P-K ratio around 5-10-10). You can find specially-formulated cactus / succulent fertilizers in most garden centers or go organic with compost tea or bone meal.
Example: Miracle-Gro Quick Start, diluted to half strength
Succulents need deep, infrequent watering, especially during their growing season and when they are young and establishing roots. Only water after the soil is completely dry and the plant feels less firm. Err on the side of underwatering. Watering too frequently is the most common way to kill succulents.
HOW TO WATER SUCCULENTS
- Drench from above using a faucet, hose, or watering can
- Do not mist with a spray bottle (the only exception is for Air Plants)
- Water until it drains from the container's drainage hole. If your container does not have a drainage hole (not recommended), use about 1/3 the volume of the container…
Different succulent varieties have different light needs. You can find the Recommended Light Conditions on each variety's page by scrolling down to the Product Details. We use four categories of recommended light, and some plants can thrive under a range of light conditions.
LOW INDOOR LIGHT
- Can grow indoors without direct sun.
- Placing outdoors in direct sun or on sunny window sills might cause dark burns.
- There are a limited number of succulent varieties that thrive in low light, notably Haworthia, Gasteria, Peperomia, and some Jade…
Many succulent varieties are only available seasonally because of their growing and propagation cycles. During the growing season, we can usually restock sets and trays weekly. Most individual plants will go in and out of stock through the seasons, but they are also restocked weekly when available. Thursday is usually the best day of the week for finding plants in stock. Spring and Summer are generally the best seasons for availability.
Any product that is out of stock has an "Email me when a product is back in stock" button (shown above). Click the button and enter your email to be notified when it's available again. If this button isn't appearing, the plant may have very recently sold out - check back after a short while and the button should appear.
- Using very gritty succulent soil and pots with drainage holes
- Providing lots of sunlight and airflow
Succulents require bright, direct light for photosynthesis and healthy growth. Ideal placement includes south-facing windows where they receive at least 4-6 hours of light per day. In dim environments, etiolation (stretching and fading) occurs as plants seek more light. Prevent this by:
- Moving plants closer to a window.
- Using full-spectrum grow lights if natural light is insufficient.
2. Water Infrequently with the "Soak and Dry" Method… See full answer »
