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Hylotelephium cauticola

Previously known as:

  • Sedum cauticola
Phonetic Spelling
hy-loh-te-LEH-fee-um kaw-tih-KOL-uh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The word cauticola 'growing on cliffs' refers to the plants preferred habitat.  A Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit winner, Hylotelephium cauticola is a succulent perennial herb with fleshy, flat or rounded leaves, greenish blue-gray in color.  Its flowers are 4-5-parted, yellow, white, or red.

This mat forming plant should be grown in full sun.  When insufficient sunlight is provided, the plant will produce weak, floppy growth.  The soil should be allowed to dry out completely between watering.  Growing in pots or containers is ideal.  When grown in plastic containers rather than unglazed clay or terracotta, the soil may not dry out sufficiently enough to avoid root rot.  Avoid heavy clay soils, as water retention by the soil can also cause root rot.  

A succulent perennial herb that can be found growing in forests or natural areas as a native plant.  It is also used as a houseplant or interiorscape or in the landscape as a herbaceous perennial.

This plant will spread by underground stolons. This low maintenance plant can be trimmed after flowering to maintain its shape.  

It causes low toxicity if eaten.  However, the stems and leaves, when very young and tender may be eaten raw.  Later, until they flower, they may be briefly cooked.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious issues, Slugs, snails, mealybugs, vine weevil and root rot can be found.  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

More information on Hylotelephium.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#deciduous#poisonous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#fall flowers#low growing#succulent#fall interest#cpp#herb garden culinary#low growing plant#children's garden#herbaceous perennials#playground plant#groundcover#pollinator plant#cactus#bird friendly#perennial#ground cover#fall blooms#cold tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#deciduous#poisonous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#fall flowers#low growing#succulent#fall interest#cpp#herb garden culinary#low growing plant#children's garden#herbaceous perennials#playground plant#groundcover#pollinator plant#cactus#bird friendly#perennial#ground cover#fall blooms#cold tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hylotelephium
    Species:
    cauticola
    Family:
    Crassulaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Container plant
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects are attracted to the flowers.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Textural
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Horizontal
    Mounding
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Fall is the time for its clusters of tiny pale purplish to pink flowers to bloom.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Orbicular
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Bluish grey leaves, heavily spotted with purple.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
    Stem Description:
    This mat forming plant will hae traillig stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Unknown, but possibly gastrointestinal symptoms
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Alkaloids sedine, sedamine and others
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems