Stonecrop Sedum morganianum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Stonecrop:
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEE-dum mor-gan-ee-AY-num
- Description
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Burro's Tail is a succulent plant producing trailing stems up to 24 inches long with triangular-shaped fleshy blue-green leaves. It is an attractive plant in a hanging container that allows the trailing stems to be highlighted. The leaves are quite delicate, do not tolerate heavy foot traffic, and will break off if manipulated. Cuttings and dropped leaves root easily, making propagation a simple process. The plant has terminal pink or red flower clusters that appear in the summer.
Burro's Tail prefers high light interior environments such as a windowsill with at least partial sun, dry soil, fresh air, and shallow pots. Tepid water should be used to water plants and reduce watering in the winter. Allow the soil to dry out between watering and fertilize lightly once or twice during the growing season. The plant is native to Mexico and the Dominican Republic, but when grown outdoors in cooler climates, the plant will tolerate temperatures down to 40 degrees F. When grown outdoors, site for sun to part sun in well-drained soil. The plant tolerates rocky and poor soils, and establishes itself quickly. The succulent leaves make it drought and dry soil tolerant.
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. Pest/disease problems can occur due to overwatering.
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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Burrito'
thick trailing stems with fleshy, plump, bluish green to grayish-green leaves, pink to red blooms at stem tips in spring
- 'Burrito'
- 'Burrito'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Burrito'
thick trailing stems with fleshy, plump, bluish green to grayish-green leaves, pink to red blooms at stem tips in spring
- 'Burrito'
- 'Burrito'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sedum
- Species:
- morganianum
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico (Veracruz, Puebla, Chiapas)
- Distribution:
- Dominican Republic
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Textural
- Edibility:
- Stems and leaves can be eaten, but when ingested in large quantities, can cause stomach upset.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Prostrate
- 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:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is a pendent cyme, terminal, on long peduncle. Flowers are deep pink, ca 12 mm dia; petals 5, free, spreading; sepals 5, green. Rarely flowers as a houseplant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Lance-shaped leaves are spirally arranged and overlapping, simple, entire, subcylindric and jelly-bean or boat shaped, succulent, incurved. Dusted with a silver bloom that rubs off on contact.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Stems are numerous, sparsely branched, prostrate to pendulous, up to 90 cm long. Leaves surround stems forming braided "tails".
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Recreational Play Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil