High Country Gardens
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Best low-maintenance succulent for rock garden enthusiasts and beginner gardeners.
Discover the unique charm of Sempervivum arachnoideum, also known as Cobweb Hens and Chicks. This captivating succulent forms tight rosettes adorned with delicate, cobweb-like webbing, creating a striking visual appeal. It's an exceptional choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and dry stone walls, thriving in fast-draining soil. This fast-growing variety is low-maintenance and drought-resistant, making it ideal for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Its evergreen foliage offers year-round interest, and it readily propagates, allowing you to easily expand your collection. Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, it's a resilient and beautiful addition to any sunny spot.
$11.04
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
29
/ 3076
#29 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-60%
Below average
Hardiness Zones
58
/ -
Who it's for
- Gardeners in frigid climates needing reliable year-round groundcover
- Designers seeking unique textural elements for rock gardens
- Xeriscaping enthusiasts looking for low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants
Who should skip it
- Owners wanting low-maintenance plants free from pest management
- Gardeners in humid regions with poor soil drainage
- Collectors maintaining delicate, slow-growing plant arrangements
Performance breakdown
Xeriscape Suitability
Thrives in arid conditions with minimal supplemental irrigation requirements.
Maintenance Ease
Perfect for beginners due to its resilient and low-intervention nature.
Visual Impact
Distinctive cobweb webbing provides unique texture in any rock garden.
Propagation Potential
Rapid clumping habit allows for effortless expansion of your collection.
Year-Round Interest
Evergreen foliage maintains structural appeal throughout all four seasons.
Environmental Adaptability
Highly versatile for containers, stone walls, or traditional garden beds.
Key Specs
Hardiness Zones
5-8
Mature Height
1-2 inches
Mature Spread
4-6 inches wide
Light Requirement
Full Sun
Soil Requirement
Fast-draining, low fertility soil
Ships As
Potted Plant
Award
Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
Care Level
Easy
Features
- Unique cobweb-like foliage texture
- Excellent for rock gardens and dry walls
- Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
- Fast-growing with easy propagation
- Evergreen foliage for year-round appeal
- Ideal for container planting
- RHS Award of Garden Merit recipient
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Sempervivum arachnoideum upon arrival. Plants are described as healthy, robust, and expertly packaged, minimizing transit shock. The primary theme is reliability; these succulents establish quickly and demonstrate impressive hardiness, thriving even in challenging climates. Gardeners appreciate the unique aesthetic of the cobwebbing, noting that the plants grow true to description and provide excellent groundcover. This product delivers outstanding performance and visual interest, making it a highly recommended addition for rock gardens or containers.
Know before you buy
This succulent requires fast-draining, low-fertility soil. If you are planting in a container or a garden bed with heavy soil, mix in grit, sand, or perlite to ensure water does not sit around the roots.
While they are primarily outdoor plants, they can grow indoors if placed in a spot that receives full, direct sun for most of the day. They are best suited for rock gardens or outdoor containers where they can experience natural temperature fluctuations.
No, Sempervivum arachnoideum is not considered pet-safe. It is best to keep this plant in an area that is inaccessible to cats or dogs that may be prone to chewing on foliage.
This variety produces small offsets, or 'chicks,' around the base of the main rosette. You can gently detach these offsets once they have developed a few roots and replant them in their own pots or garden spots.
Sempervivum arachnoideum is hardy in zones 5-8 and is designed to withstand winter temperatures in these regions. As long as it is planted in well-draining soil to prevent rot, it can remain outdoors year-round.
This plant is highly drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out completely between waterings. In most garden settings, natural rainfall is often sufficient, and you should only water during extended periods of extreme heat or drought.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$11