Per Wikipedia: “The Hens and Chicks plant grows close to the ground with leaves formed around each other in a rosette and propagating by offsets. The “hen” is the main plant, and the “chicks” are the offspring, which start as tiny buds on the main plant and soon sprout their own roots, taking up residence close to the mother plant.” A few years ago I discovered a single rosette growing toward the back of a flower garden left by our home’s previous owner. I didn’t like it there, so I carefully moved it to a new location where I could protect its growth, which I then knew little about. What began as one rosette, multiplied year by year to about ten. The mother plant I’d moved, stood firm and gradually enlarged, being surrounded by numerous smaller rosettes. A few weeks ago I was surprised by the “mother’s” abrupt transformation.

A cactus-like stalk quickly grew vertically, and “flowers” began to open from small buds. Today, it’s about eight inches high and is beautiful in its unique way. What I learned is that the stalk produces buds, which produce flowers, which produce seeds, which result in more “chicks,” The stalk then will die off, creating compost to encourage growth of others. So, one “Hen” became several “Chicks”, and I assume some of them may one day transform into a seed-producing stalk. Nature is amazing isn’t it. This plant is just one example.