Plant DetailShow Menu

Hylotelephium spectabile

Previously known as:

  • Sedum spectabile
Phonetic Spelling
hy-loh-te-LEH-fee-um speck-TAB-ih-lee
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Stonecrop is a clumping, perennial succulent in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and is native to China and Korea. It forms a mound 1 to 2 feet high and wide. 

Stonecrop requires full sun or partial shade and well-drained or gravelly soil with average to low fertility. It can suffer in overly moist or fertile soils. To maintain a bushy shape and thick stems, cut or pinch back the stems in early spring. If pruned in summer, the showy blooms may be delayed. It is drought- and salt-tolerant, resistant to browsing by rabbits (but not by deer), and requires little attention. It is easily rooted from stem cuttings. 

Plant as a specimen or in small groups in rock, crevice, or drought-tolerant gardens. It also works well in containers (indoors or outside), in borders, along a foundation, near a patio or pool hardscape, or along a walkway. The showy flowers, succulent leaves, and the fact that it attracts songbirds and butterflies make stonecrop a welcome addition to a children's or pollinator garden or a recreational play area.  

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, mealybugs, nematodes, scale, slugs and weevils can be problematic. Wet soils cause rot. 

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Butterfly Garden at Rob Wallace Park
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Meteor'
    Deep rose flowers and gray-green foliage
  • 'Rosenteller'
    Light green foliage, pink flowers
'Meteor', 'Rosenteller'
Tags:
#deciduous#poisonous#drought tolerant#fall flowers#specimen#succulent#pink flowers#salt tolerant#low maintenance#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#children's garden#foundation planting#playground plant#rock garden#poolside planting#pollinator plant#border middle#walkway planting#small group plantings#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#crevice garden#container plant#wet soils intolerant#perennial#patio#landscape plant sleuths course#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Meteor'
    Deep rose flowers and gray-green foliage
  • 'Rosenteller'
    Light green foliage, pink flowers
'Meteor', 'Rosenteller'
Tags:
#deciduous#poisonous#drought tolerant#fall flowers#specimen#succulent#pink flowers#salt tolerant#low maintenance#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#children's garden#foundation planting#playground plant#rock garden#poolside planting#pollinator plant#border middle#walkway planting#small group plantings#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#crevice garden#container plant#wet soils intolerant#perennial#patio#landscape plant sleuths course#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hylotelephium
    Species:
    spectabile
    Family:
    Crassulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China and Korea
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Textural
    Edibility:
    Stems and leaves, when very young and tender, may be eaten raw. Later, until they flower, they may be briefly cooked. Flavor is bland.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Poisonous
    Succulent
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Seed heads can be left on for winter interest.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers appear in flat-topped cymes 4-6 inches across that are packed with 1/2 inch star-shaped flowers. Flowers are in shades of pink and turn dark reddish-brown with age. Bloom time is late summer to fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3-inch blue-green fleshy oval leaves have coarsely toothed margins. The opposite leaves can occur in whorls of 3.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Unbranched fleshy stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Recreational Play Area
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • 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
    Leaves
    Stems