Hen and Chicks, Red Beauty

Hen and Chicks 'Red Beauty' (Sempervivum 'Red Beauty')

‘Red Beauty’ is a vibrant cultivar of the hardy hen and chicks succulent, celebrated for its brilliant deep red rosettes that intensify in color with full sun and cooler temperatures. Like all Sempervivums, it forms a tight cluster of a central “hen” surrounded by smaller offsets, or “chicks,” which slowly spread to create a dense, mat-forming ground cover. Exceptionally tough, drought-tolerant, and cold-hardy, ‘Red Beauty’ is a favorite in rock gardens, dry-stacked walls, green roofs, and xeriscape plantings. Its striking red coloration and architectural symmetry make it a standout feature even in the most minimalistic landscapes.

Key Characteristics

• Bold Color in Harsh Conditions
  ‘Red Beauty’ develops its deepest crimson hues in full sun and colder weather, adding vivid contrast to gravel beds, alpine gardens, or container arrangements. The rosettes keep their form year-round, making it a dependable source of winter interest.

• Ideal for Rock Gardens, Crevices, and Green Roofs
  This cultivar thrives in shallow, well-drained soils and rocky conditions, making it perfect for crevice gardens, dry stone walls, and green roofs. It performs exceptionally where water is scarce, and the soil is lean.

• Drought-Tolerant and Low Maintenance
  Once established, ‘Red Beauty’ requires little to no supplemental watering. Its low, spreading growth helps shade soil, reduce evaporation, and suppress weeds—ideal for low-water landscapes or the edges of permaculture beds.

• Pollinator-Friendly Summer Blooms
  Older “hens” produce flower stalks topped with star-shaped pink flowers in mid to late summer, attracting bees and other pollinators. After blooming, the mother rosette dies, making room for the next generation of chicks.

• Excellent for Edging, Living Mulch, and Container Design
  Its compact form makes it a great choice for sunny pathways, edging herb spirals, or as a living mulch in arid garden designs. It’s also striking in pots or trough gardens when mixed with other succulents and alpine plants.

Product Details

• Native Range: Cultivar of European alpine species
• Plant Life Cycle: Evergreen perennial succulent
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Soil Requirements: Dry to medium-dry, well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
• Mature Height: 2–4 inches (up to 8 inches with flower stalk)
• Bloom Time: June–August
• Bloom Color: Pink star-shaped flowers
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9

‘Red Beauty’ combines eye-catching color with incredible toughness. A must-have for gardeners designing in dry, sunny spaces or adding texture and contrast to container gardens and alpine-inspired plantings.