Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

Sedum ‘Matrona’ at NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC

Stonecrops (Hylotelephium spectabile) are tall clumping sedums. They are frequent seen in their habitat growing on rocks or stony ledges. Also written as Sedum spectabile, many varieties grow 1.5 to 2 feet high. Approximately 33 species of these drought-tolerant herbaceous perennials are found to Asia, Europe and North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-9).

Stonecrop make excellent plants for the late summer – fall garden. Their late season flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Foliage and spent floral heads persist well into the winter providing some architectural interest.

Stonecrops like it “mean and lean”; set plants in average well-drained soils and under full sun. Plants thrive in sandy to gravelly soils under moderate to low fertility.  Under light shade or in rich organic soils, stonecrops produce weak floppy shoots.  Also, they decline in wet soppy soils.

They are easy to propagate by divisions in spring or from stem cuttings in early summer. To build up a large collection cheaply, detached leaves can be rooted in coarse sand that eventually form new plants. Plants may be cut back in late spring to control height.

Generally, serious insect or disease problems are rare. Slugs, scales, mealybugs, nematodes, and aphids are occasional pests.

Sedums provide winter interest and food for birds. Plant them in front garden borders, containers, and rock gardens. Mass several together for a colorful show.

Popular varieties:

‘Autumn Joy’ (‘Herstfreude’) – a very popular variety; blooms emerge pink, gradually change to deep rose-red and finish coppery-rust. Flowers are variable in size, 3-6 inches across, flattened heads (cymes), typically 1.5 to 2 feet tall.

‘Autumn Fire’ – an improved ‘Autumn Joy’, slightly taller and sturdier, less floppy stems.

‘Brilliant’ – tiny, star-like, carmine flowers, 3-6 inch flattened blooms atop grayish-green stems; plants form upright to slightly spreading clumps to 18 inches in height.

‘Matrona’ – strong, shiny red stems hold large, pale pink flower heads which last well into the fall season; noted for its deeper gray foliage and strong, erect purple stems.

‘Neon’ – (perhaps a sport of ‘Brilliant’) typically grows in upright to slightly spreading clumps to 15-20 inches tall. It grows slightly shorter than Brilliant with more steadfast magenta flower color and slightly larger bloom heads.