Botanical Name: Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Cobweb’ Common Name: Cobweb Hens & Chicks Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 3–9 Size: 2–4" Tall × 6–12" Spread (colonies expand over time) Growth Habit: Low-Growing Rosette; Offsetting, Colony-Forming Habit Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade Soil: Very Well-Drained Soil; Prefers Sandy or Rocky Conditions Water Needs: Low; Highly Drought Tolerant Bloom Season: Summer (after flowering, the blooming rosette dies) Fertilizer: Minimal; Avoid Fertilizing Features: Silvery-Green Rosettes with Distinctive White Cobwebbing, Extreme Cold & Heat Tolerance, Evergreen Texture, Deer Resistant Uses: Rock Gardens, Containers, Troughs, Slopes, Groundcover in Dry Areas

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

More About Sempervivum ‘Cobweb’

Sempervivum ‘Cobweb’ is instantly recognizable for its intricate white webbing stretched across tight, silvery-green rosettes, giving the plant a spiderweb-like appearance. This unique texture sets it apart from other hens & chicks and adds fine detail to rock gardens and containers.

The plant spreads by producing offsets (“chicks”) around the parent rosette, gradually forming a dense, living mat. In summer, mature rosettes may send up a flowering stalk; once it blooms, that rosette dies, but the surrounding offsets continue the colony.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Cobweb’ has been an exceptionally tough, low-maintenance perennial, thriving in extreme heat, cold, drought, and poor soils. It performs best in full sun with sharp drainage and requires almost no care once established.

We especially appreciate its year-round interest. Even in winter, the rosettes maintain strong form and texture, making it valuable well beyond the growing season.

Cobweb vs. Other Hens & Chicks

‘Cobweb’ stands apart from other Hens & Chicks due to texture rather than color. Compared to SUPERSEMPS® Onyx, Cobweb is lighter and more intricate, drawing the eye with fine white filaments stretched across the rosettes. Those cobweb-like threads catch light and shadow, giving the plant a layered, almost frosted appearance. While Commander Hay emphasizes size and toughness, ‘Cobweb’ feels more ornamental and detailed. Against Kalinda, it’s less about clean contrast and more about visual curiosity. It doesn’t dominate a planting, but it rewards close inspection. I use ‘Cobweb’ when I want something a little unexpected tucked into a rock garden or container edge.