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Hylotelephium telephium is often confused with:
Hylotelephium telephioides
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Achillea tomentosa Achillea tometosa
Betonica officinalis 2 lipped purple red flowers
Campanula isophylla Blue flowers
Hylotelephium telephium has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Hylotelephium telephium

Previously known as:

  • Hylotelephium purpureum
  • Sedum decumbens
  • Sedum purpurascens
  • Sedum purpureum
  • Sedum telephium
Phonetic Spelling
hy-loh-te-LEE-fee-um te-LEE-fee-um
Description

Stonecrop or Orpine is a succulent, herbaceous perennial with an erect and clumping habit. It is in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and is native to Europe, Russia, and northern China. Hylo is the Greek word meaning forest or woodland. It is thought that the genus name honors Telephus, King of Mysia, who was the son of Hercules. The common name, orpine, is from an old French word orpiment and refers to an ancient variety of sedums. The species was formerly known as Sedum telephium and is still listed under that name in many older garden publications. 

Stonecrop prefers full sun and medium to dry, sandy, or shallow-rocky soil with a neutral to alkaline pH. They form white, carrot-shaped tap roots, which store water to help the plant survive during dry spells. Propagate stonecrop by division in the spring or stem cutting in the summer. It can regenerate from a single leaf. It is a low-maintenance plant that grows 2 to 2.5 feet tall 1.5 to 2 feet wide.

Stonecrop’s tiny star-shaped pink to purplish-red flowers appear in dense clusters from mid-summer to early fall. The fleshy green to greenish-blue leaves and stems remain erect throughout the winter for added interest in the garden. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. 

Use stonecrop as a specimen or in borders in butterfly and pollinator, cottage, and cutting gardens or drought-tolerant and rock gardens. It can be sited in a meadow or grown in a container. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs, scale, mealy bugs, nematodes, aphids, and weevils may be seen. May develop fungal and bacterial crown rot and root rot. Deer sometimes browse the foliage.

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:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Autumn Delight'
    light pink flowers chartreuse leaves narrow blue green margins
  • 'Matrona'
    pink flowers, bronze-tinged, gray-green leaves
  • 'Munstead Dark Red' (syn. 'Munstead Red')
    dark pink flowers
  • 'Picolette'
    rose/mauve flowers, bronze leaves, dark green leaves
  • 'Purple Emperor'
    pink to mauve pink flowers, dusky purple leaves
  • 'Xenox Yellow'
    peach apricot flowers, dark plum leaves
'Autumn Delight', 'Matrona', 'Munstead Dark Red' (syn. 'Munstead Red'), 'Picolette', 'Purple Emperor', 'Xenox Yellow'
Tags:
#succulent#easy to grow#nectar plant#upright form#blue-green leaves#herbaceous perennial#easy to propagate#rock garden#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#bee friendly#container plant#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Autumn Delight'
    light pink flowers chartreuse leaves narrow blue green margins
  • 'Matrona'
    pink flowers, bronze-tinged, gray-green leaves
  • 'Munstead Dark Red' (syn. 'Munstead Red')
    dark pink flowers
  • 'Picolette'
    rose/mauve flowers, bronze leaves, dark green leaves
  • 'Purple Emperor'
    pink to mauve pink flowers, dusky purple leaves
  • 'Xenox Yellow'
    peach apricot flowers, dark plum leaves
'Autumn Delight', 'Matrona', 'Munstead Dark Red' (syn. 'Munstead Red'), 'Picolette', 'Purple Emperor', 'Xenox Yellow'
Tags:
#succulent#easy to grow#nectar plant#upright form#blue-green leaves#herbaceous perennial#easy to propagate#rock garden#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#bee friendly#container plant#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hylotelephium
    Species:
    telephium
    Family:
    Crassulaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    During the Roman Empire, a naturalist known as Pliny prescribed Purple Orpine for treating wounds.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Russia, and North China
    Wildlife Value:
    Stonecrop attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects for nectar and pollination.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    In the center of the flower, there are 5 tear-drop carpels. The carpels may develop into capsules.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers appear as a dense clusters which are rounded, umbellate, cyme, and flat topped. They emerge from the top of the stem or upper leaf axils. The cymes measure about 3 to 4 inches across. Each flower has 5 star-like spreading petals which are about 0.12 to 0.2 inches long. There are 10 stamens that are as long as the petals and 5 pistils. The flower's color ranges from pink to purplish red and sometimes white to greenish. As the flower fades, its color changes to a burgundy brown. They typically bloom from August to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Opposite
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are simple and may appear alternate, opposite, or whorled. They range in color from green-bluish green, dull green to blue-green, or depending on the cultivar. The leaf blades are flat, elliptic, and ovate. The margins are coarsely serrated and curved. Each leaf is thick, glabrous, fleshy, and measure 1.5 to 4 inches long. The upper leaves appear fixed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The plant is upright to semi-upright, unbranched mound. The fleshy stems are tall measuring 18 to 24 inches in height. They are hairless and appear singularly or in multiples from the base. The stem color ranges from green to red-tinged, and they are mostly ascending and erect.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Rabbits