Hylotelephium

Hylotelephium

Stonecrop  (syn. Sedum)

• Position: full sun
• Soil: well-drained soil
• Flowering period: August to October
• Height: 0,4-0,6m
• Foliage: deciduous
• Hardiness: fully hardy

Hylotelephium, commonly known as stonecrop, has a lot to offer. This perennial has pretty flat heads of small star-shaped flowers in late summer and early autumn on stems bearing succulent leaves. The dried flower heads will provide structure during the winter.

Blooms of stonecrop are perfect for butterflies and bees. It performs best when grown in full sun in well-drained soil.

Varieties

Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’

Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’ has bright, deep mauve-pink  flower heads and attractive grey-green leaves. A lovely plant which is valuable for long-lasting colour to the front of the border.

Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’

Also popular is Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’, previously known as Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. It produces clusters of starry pink flowers maturing to brick red.

Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’

With a height of 75cm ‘Matrona’ is one of the taller growing hylotelephiums. This good-looking variety carries masses of pale-pink flowers on striking purple stems with fleshy green leaves which will change to smoke-purple.

Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’              Heads of waxy buds of  ‘Herbstfreude’

Pruning

When to prune Hylotelephium (Stonecrop). The old flower heads can be left over winter as an attractive addition to the garden. Cut back the old flower heads in March.

How to stop Hylotelephium from flopping over

Many hylotelephiums have a tendency to flop over, especially in too rich soil. What can you do about it. Cut back the stems by half, pruning to just above a leaf in late May.

The plant will become stronger and more upright.

Plant combination

What can you grow with stonecrop. For companion plants consider Liriope muscari, Japanse anemone, Giant hyssop and Ornamental Grasses.

Rudbeckia