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Showy Stonecrop Hylotelephium spectabile

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Showy Stonecrop:

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

Sedum is one of the most dependable and lovely succulent perennial flowers belonging to the family Crassulaceae (stonecrop) tracing its origins to China.  They grow in a clumping form at a medium rate 1 to 2 feet tall and wide.

Stonecrop is a succulent perennial requiring well-drained or gravelly soil with average to low fertility.  While the plant does well in full sun, morning or afternoon shade is desirable as well. It can suffer in overly-moist or fertile soils. To maintain the bushy shape and thick stems, plants should be cut or pinched back in early spring.  The stems can be pruned in summer to obtain a shorter bushier plant but will delay bloom time.  This plant is drought and salt tolerant, resistant to browsing by rabbits, and requires little attention. It is easily rooted from stem cuttings. 

The fleshy foliage grows with a mounding habit and is attractive even without blooms. The showy light pink flowers appear mid to late summer into fall and attract bees and butterflies. Leaving the brown seed heads on the plant will add some winter interest. 

Plant as a specimen or in small groups, in rock or crevice gardens. It also works well in containers (indoors or outside), planted in the middle of borders, along a foundation or near a patio or walkway.  The attractive flowers succulent leaves and the fact that it attracts pollinators make stonecrop a welcome addition to a children's garden.  

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:
Walkway at the Park, Cabarrus County
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#cpp#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#cpp#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
    Specimen
    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