The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Hen and Chickens

Afrikaans name: Hen-met-kuikens

Hen and Chickens

Photo © Steven Herbert

Chlorophytum comosum

It has been said that the Hen and Chickens plant is the most popular house and pot plant in the world. A number of varieties have been cultivated and these are extremely popular in gardens and homes.

The plant gets its name by the way it spreads with plantlets developing from the parent plant. These are easily separated and grown to produce new plants. They can also be grown from seed.

The Hen and Chickens plant does not get spectacular flowers and is better known for its foliage. The flowers are white and appear in inflorescences.

Indigenous tribes make use of this plant to ensure the health of pregnant women and their babies.

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