Stonecrop Sedum mexicanum 'Lemon Coral'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Stonecrop:
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEE-dum meks-sih-KAY-num
- Description
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Lemon Coral stonecrop is a low-growing succulent with lime-green leaves and small star-shaped summer-blooming flowers. It tolerates heat and drought in full sun to light shade and does best in dry to medium well-drained sandy to rocky soils as a ground cover, in rock gardens, mass plantings in the border or cascading over planters, rocks or walls. It seldom needs watering, but will grow in moist soils with good drainage. Plants grown in overly rich soils or in too much shade will produce weak, floppy growth. Plants slowly spread over time. Like many of its genus, Lemon Coral tolerates only occassional foot traffic. The leaves tend to fall off easily; however, the fallen leaves can be used to propagate new plants.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect problems, except for occasional slugs and snails. Avoid wet or poorly drained conditions. Susceptible to flopping, which can be avoided by siting in full sun in soils that are not too moist or rich. Pinching in spring can also force stems to grow thicker and bushier.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Sun to Shade Garden in Craven County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sedum
- Species:
- mexicanum
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico (Puebla, Chiapas) to Guatemala
- Distribution:
- Southern United States, Europe, Brazil, Japan and Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- As the stems and leaves age, but before the plants flower, the edible parts may still be eaten if they are briefly cooked. If eaten in quantity, it can cause stomach upsets.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- 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
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, terminal cymes of yellow star-shaped flowers (each a 1/2 inch across) in late spring through summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 3/4 inch long fleshy, linear chartreuse green leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Low, thick stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil