Sedum tetractinum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEE-dum teh-TRAK-tih-num
- Description
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Chinese Sedum is a small plant, native to China, that matures to 3 inches in height with a foot wide spread. Chinese Sedum is a mat-forming plant and, like many of its genus, it is often used as ground cover and as a lawn substitute in small areas. It is an attractive plant with four-parted white or pale pink flowers and round, flat, green leaves that tend to fall off easily; however, the fallen leaves can be used to propagate new plants. Some references describe this plant as mildly toxic if ingested, while others do not. In any event, stems and leaves may be eaten raw when very young and tender. As the stems and leaves age, but before the plants flower, the edible parts may still be eaten if they are briefly cooked. The sap can irritate the skin of some people and the leaves, eaten in quantity, can cause stomach upsets.
In nature, Chinese Sedum is often found in moist forests and natural areas. Plant 12 inches apart in a site with full sun in well-drained soil. It will tolerate partial shade, seldom needs watering, and will grow in moist soils with good drainage. The plant tolerates shade and moist soils better than most other sedums as well as drought and heat, rocky and poor soils. It establishes itself quickly, but may do less well in cold temperatures.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect problems, except for occasional slugs and snails. Avoid over watering or wet or poorly drained conditions.
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:
- Pitt County Arboretum Containers
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Coral Reef'
Foliage to 3” tall but spreads to 12” wide. Blooms on stems 4-5” tall. - 'Lavenderlei'
- 'Coral Reef'
- 'Coral Reef', 'Lavenderlei'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Coral Reef'
Foliage to 3” tall but spreads to 12” wide. Blooms on stems 4-5” tall. - 'Lavenderlei'
- 'Coral Reef'
- 'Coral Reef', 'Lavenderlei'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sedum
- Species:
- tetractinum
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern China
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Textural
- Edibility:
- The stems and leaves, when very young and tender, may be eaten raw. Later, until they flower, they may be briefly cooked. When ingested in large quantities, can cause stomach upset.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- 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
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White or pale pink flower clusters that blossom in July and August.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Flat, round green foliage form a spreading mat. Turns reddish-bronze in the fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Creeping stems root at the nodes.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits