stonecrop Interesting Notes

"Fall brings a new assortment of perennial plants into bloom in the garden, and of these, few are more dependable and indestructible than Autumn Joy Sedum.

While it is a bulletproof survivor in the garden, it is not the least bit invasive or prone to crowd out its neighbors. Sedums are a member of the stonecrop family which is uniquely adapted to survive in shallow, dry soils.

Autumn Joy grows up to 18 inches tall from a dense crown of shoots that emerge in early spring and look like a nest of crowded fledglings each stretching their neck to get the next worm. The stems are thick and strong and hold aloft the considerable weight of the 3-inch long, fleshy, gray-green leaves and the 4- to 6-inch wide cluster of flowers that appear in late summer.

The flowers, as they first begin to appear in mid summer, give the impression of a head of silvery green broccoli. Opening flower buds produce a mass of half-inch, five-petaled blooms in the shape of a sharp-pointed star. The flowers start out light pink and change to a cherry red by the time they are in full bloom. This floral display is a progressive event with the plants blooming for about eight weeks. With such an extended blooming period, they are a favorite with butterflies.

But once blooms are over, don’t be in a hurry to remove the tops of the plants. The strong stems hold the spent flower heads aloft all winter long and create a pleasing mass of natural dried flower heads. In snowy climates these flower stems create a pleasing effect all winter long as small roofs of snow accumulate on the head."-Gerald Klingaman, retired, Extension Horticulturist - Ornamentals, University of Arkansas

Sedum telphinum 'Autumn Joy' Growing and Maintenance Tips

S. 'Autumn Joy' prefers average to dry, well-drained soil in full sun. Intolerant of wet soils. Propagate by seed and cuttings, although division seems to be the easiest for most. Excellent in the perennial border, rock gardens, or mass plantings.

Good Substitutions

Sedum 'Autumn Fire'