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Stonecrop Sedum mexicanum 'Lemon Coral'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
SEE-dum meks-sih-KAY-num
Description

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#succulent#yellow flowers#mass planting#hanging baskets#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#star shaped flowers#rock garden#border front#small group plantings#garden walls#container plant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#succulent#yellow flowers#mass planting#hanging baskets#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#star shaped flowers#rock garden#border front#small group plantings#garden walls#container plant#perennial
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Low, thick stems.
  • 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