Hen and chicken plant

Last updated April 06, 2019

Hen and chicken is a common name for several unrelated groups of plants. The name refers to the tendency of certain of these species to reproduce vegetatively by means of plantlets. These tiny plants are produced by the mother plant, and take root on touching the ground.

The name may refer to:

Chlorophytum comosum , the commonly cultivated houseplant
Sempervivum & Jovibarba , two related genera of small succulent plant species, commonly called "Hen and chicks"
Echeveria , a genus of succulent plant species
Sedum , a genus of succulent plant species
Bergenia , a non-succulent Asian plant genus
Asplenium bulbiferum , the "hen and chicken fern" of New Zealand

Chlorophytum comosum, often called spider plant but also known as airplane plant, St. Bernard's lily, spider ivy, ribbon plant, and hen and chickens is a species of perennial flowering plant. It is native to tropical and southern Africa, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including western Australia. Chlorophytum comosum is easy to grow as a houseplant; variegated forms are the most popular.

A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, but studies have also shown them to have positive psychological effects. Houseplants also help with indoor air purification. Some species, and the soil-dwelling microbes associated with them, reduce indoor air pollution by absorbing volatile organic compounds including benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. While generally toxic to humans, such pollutants are absorbed by the plant and its soil-dwelling microbes without harm. Common houseplants are usually tropical or semi-tropical epiphytes, succulents or cacti.

Sempervivum is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the Crassulaceae family, commonly known as houseleeks. Other common names include liveforever and hen and chicks, a name shared with plants of other genera as well. They are succulent perennials forming mats composed of tufted leaves in rosettes. In favourable conditions they spread rapidly via offsets, and several species are valued in cultivation as groundcover for dry, sunny locations.

Chlorophytum comosum

Sempervivum genus: a selection of specimens

Jovibarba ("Jupiter's beard"). A related genus.

Echeveria elegans

Sedum ("Stonecrop")

Bergenia cordifolia

Asplenium bulbiferum

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Asplenium is a genus of about 700 species of ferns, often treated as the only genus in the family Aspleniaceae, though other authors consider Hymenasplenium separate, based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences, a different chromosome count, and structural differences in the rhizomes. The type species for the genus is Asplenium marinum.

Aichryson is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco, and one in Portugal.

Jovibarba is a small genus of three species of succulent flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, endemic to mountainous regions in the southeastern quadrant of Europe. The genus is sometimes classified as a subgenus of Sempervivum, to which it is closely related. Jovibarba have pale-greenish-yellow or yellow actinomorphic flowers with about six petals, while Sempervivum have generally pinkish flowers with around twice as many petals, which open more widely than jovibarba flowers. The common name hen and chicks is applied to some Jovibarba species.

Hen and chicks is a common name for a group of small succulent plants, a term that indicates a plant that possesses enlarged parts to store water. It belongs to the flowering plant family Crassulaceae, native to southern Europe and northern Africa. The plants grow close to the ground with leaves formed around each other in a rosette, and propagating by offsets. The "hen" is the main, or mother, plant, and the "chicks" are a flock of offspring, which start as tiny buds on the main plant and soon sprout their own roots, taking up residence close to the mother plant.

Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants in the stonecrop family Crassulaceae, native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America.

Spider plant is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

Dudleya is a genus of succulent perennials, consisting of about 45 species in southwest North America.

Sempervivum tectorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae, native to the mountains of southern Europe, cultivated in the whole of Europe for its appearance and a Roman tradition claiming that it protects buildings against lightning strikes.

Asplenium bulbiferum, known as mother spleenwort, is a fern species native to New Zealand only. It is also called hen and chicken fern and, in the Māori language, pikopiko, mouku or mauku. Its fronds are eaten as a vegetable. It is often confused with A. gracillimum which is a fern species native to both New Zealand and Australia.

Echeveria elegans is a species of flowering plant in the Crassulaceae family, native to semi-desert habitats in Mexico.

Welcome-home-husband-though-never-so-drunk is a common name for several succulent plants and may refer to:

Sedum dendroideum, commonly known as the tree stonecrop or the false hens-and-chickens, is a shrub-like perennial plant that looks much like its Sempervivum look-alike. Native to Mexico, Sedum dendroideum plant thrives in warm, arid climates, as well as in cooler climates. It has been naturalized to California, and Ohio.

Echeveria lilacina, common name Ghost Echeveria or Mexican Hens and Chicks, is a species of succulents in the genus Echeveria belonging to the family Crassulaceae. The genus name Echeveria was given in honor of the 18th century Mexican botanist and painter Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy, famous for his paintings of plants.

Echeveria runyonii is a species of flowering plant in the sedum family, Crassulaceae, that is native to the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico. Several cultivars have been described and cultivated.

Jovibarba globifera, common name Rolling Hen-and-chicks, is a species of succulent flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae.

Jovibarba heuffelii, common name Hen-and-chickens, as a plant species native to the Balkans and to the Carpathians in Europe but reportedly naturalized in Wisconsin and probably in other parts of North America. It grows on rocky outcrops.

Hen and chicks, Hen and chicken or Hen and chickens can refer to

Hen and chicken plant

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