Sempervivum 'Pacific Blue Ice' Hens & Chicks
Best low-maintenance succulent for busy gardeners creating drought-tolerant rock landscapes.
Discover the Sempervivum 'Pacific Blue Ice' Hens & Chicks, a striking herbaceous evergreen perennial celebrated for its architectural form. This mat-forming succulent showcases rounded rosettes in an icy blue-green hue, often accented with rose at the center during cooler weather. It gracefully spreads via offsets, known as 'chicks,' surrounding the main 'hen.' Exceptionally low-maintenance and cold-hardy, it thrives in full sun and prefers dry, well-draining, gritty soils, making it ideal for rock gardens, dry walls, or containers.
$18.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
61
/ 2673
#61 in Plants
Price vs Category Average
-57%
Below average
Item Form
Bareroot
/ Bareroot
Who it's for
- Budget-conscious growers wanting plants that multiply and spread naturally
- Gardeners in harsh climates needing low-maintenance, resilient greenery
- Designers seeking year-round color and unique textural interest
Who should skip it
- Beginners who struggle with identifying and treating hidden pests
- Gardeners with heavy clay soil or poor drainage systems
- Perfectionists who dislike the natural death of mature rosettes
Performance breakdown
Drought Tolerance
Thrives in arid conditions with minimal supplemental watering once established.
Winter Hardiness
Reliably survives harsh winters across a wide range of climate zones.
Maintenance Effort
Requires almost no intervention to maintain its tidy, architectural form.
Pest Resistance
Naturally deters deer and rabbits, keeping your garden beds intact.
Propagation Speed
Produces offsets readily, allowing for quick expansion across rock gardens.
Visual Impact
Striking icy tones provide consistent color contrast throughout the growing season.
Key Specs
Item Form
Bareroot
Foliage Color
Silver/Gray
Habit
Prostrate
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Moisture Requirements
Dry
Hardiness Zones
3 - 8
Mature Height
4 in
Mature Spread
8 in
Features
- Unique icy blue-green rosettes
- Mat-forming ground cover
- Drought tolerant once established
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Easy to propagate
- Excellent for xeriscapes
- Continuous ground cover replacement
- Winter interest
What customers say
The 'Pacific Blue Ice' Sempervivum consistently earns high marks for quality and striking design. Customers frequently note the exceptional health and robust size of the plants upon arrival, often exceeding expectations. The unique blue gray coloration and reliable hardiness are major selling points, fulfilling the promise of a distinctive, low maintenance addition to rock gardens or containers. This succulent establishes itself easily, providing excellent value and visual interest.
Know before you buy
Bareroot plants are shipped without soil around their roots while in a dormant state. This allows for easier establishment once planted, as the roots can immediately acclimate to your specific soil conditions.
The rosettes generally stay a cool, icy blue-green, but you can expect the centers to take on a rose-colored tint during cooler weather. This seasonal color shift adds extra visual interest during the transition months.
Yes, they are excellent for containers, provided you use a well-draining, gritty potting mix designed for succulents. Ensure the pot has drainage holes, as these plants will not tolerate sitting in wet soil.
Propagating is simple: gently detach the small offsets, or 'chicks,' from the main 'hen' once they have developed a few small roots. You can then place them directly into a gritty soil mix to start new plants.
Yes, the succulent, fleshy leaves are generally unappealing to deer and rabbits. While no plant is 100% immune to browsing, this variety is a reliable choice for gardens prone to animal pressure.
The most critical factor is drainage. They require dry, gritty, or sandy soil to prevent root rot; if your garden soil is heavy clay, you should amend it with grit or gravel to improve aeration.
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$19