Laxmi Kamal is the name many Indian plant lovers use for Sempervivum, a small succulent that grows in a tight, lotus-like rosette. In English it is called hens and chicks, because the main plant (the "hen") keeps producing small offsets (the "chicks") around it. This guide covers what the plant is, how to care for it in Indian conditions, and how to keep it multiplying.
What is the Laxmi Kamal plant?
Laxmi Kamal (also written Laxmikamal) is a Sempervivum, a hardy succulent from the mountains of Europe and western Asia. Its rosette of fleshy leaves looks like a lotus (kamal), which is where the Indian name comes from. Many families keep it because the lotus is linked with the goddess Lakshmi, and the plant is traditionally associated with prosperity. That is a belief rather than a horticultural fact, but it is also a very good plant for beginners.
Laxmi Kamal plant care in India
Light
Give it bright light: a sunny balcony, terrace or window that gets at least four to six hours of sun. In low light the rosette stretches, loses its tight shape and fades. Sempervivum handles cold well, but in the peak summer afternoons of the plains it can scorch, so give it some afternoon shade.
Water
Water only when the soil is completely dry, and water the soil rather than the rosette. Water trapped in the centre of the rosette can cause rot, especially during the monsoon. In the rainy season, keep the pot under cover.
Soil and pot
Use a gritty, fast-draining mix, for example regular potting soil mixed with coarse sand or perlite, in a pot with a drainage hole. A shallow pot suits its shallow roots.
How to grow more Laxmi Kamal from offsets
The small chicks grow on short stems around the mother plant. When a chick has grown to roughly a third of the size of the mother and has a few roots, gently twist or cut it away, let the cut end dry for a day, and plant it in dry, gritty soil. Water lightly after a few days. This is the easiest way to fill a pot or share the plant with friends.
Why is my Laxmi Kamal not doing well?
- Soft, translucent or black leaves at the base: usually overwatering, or water sitting in the rosette. Let the soil dry fully and repot in a gritty mix.
- A stretched, pale rosette: not enough light. Move it somewhere brighter.
- A tall stalk rising from the centre: the rosette is about to flower. A Sempervivum rosette flowers once and then dies, but the chicks around it carry on, so separate and pot them.
- Dry, crispy lower leaves: normal ageing. Pull them off gently.
Where to buy a Laxmi Kamal plant
You can buy a healthy Laxmi Kamal plant from our nursery in Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, or browse all Laxmi Kamal and Sempervivum plants. Plants ship bare root, so unpack them, let them rest in the shade for a day, and pot them in dry, gritty soil. For more plants traditionally kept for luck, see our lucky plants for home.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laxmi Kamal a lotus?
No. It is a succulent that is named for its lotus-like shape. It does not grow in water and needs dry, well-draining soil.
Can Laxmi Kamal grow indoors?
It can survive indoors on a very bright windowsill, but it does best outdoors on a balcony or terrace with plenty of sun.