Scientific Name
Hylotelephium cauticola (Praeger) H. Ohba
Common Name(s)
Cliff-dwelling Stonecrop, Cliff Stonecrop, Japanese Stonecrop
Synonym(s)
Sedum cauticola, Sedum telephium f. cauticola
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Etymology
The specific epithet "cauticola (kaw-tee-KOH-luh)" means "cliff-dwelling, growing on cliffs" and refers to the preferred habitat of the species.
Origin
Hylotelephium cauticola is native to Japan (Hokkaido).
Description
Hylotelephium cauticola, formerly known as Sedum cauticola, is a mat-forming succulent with trailing stems that bear grey-green leaves with pink-tinged margins. It can grow up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) tall. The leaves are round, bluntly toothed, measuring up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) wide.
The flowers are star-shaped, dark pink to purplish pink, and appear in fall arranged in compact, corymb-like clusters. They can reach up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium cauticola
Light: This succulent prefers full sun. It tolerates light to partial shade in hot summer climates but will produce weak, floppy growth when grown in too much shade. Plant your H. cauticola in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. cauticola does not need rich soil, but it does need excellent drainage. Choose a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make one yourself.
Hardiness: This plant has a tolerance to heat and drought and is cold-hardy, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. cauticola can withstand temperatures as low as -30 to 30 °F (-34.4 to -1.1 °C), USDA hardiness zones 4a to 9b.
Watering: The best way to water H. cauticola is to use the "soak and dry" method. Get the soil completely wet, and then wait until it is dry before watering again.
Fertilizing: Feed annually with a balanced fertilizer. According to the package directions, apply the fertilizer to the soil in spring as new growth appears.
Repotting: Plants in containers require little more care than those in gardens. Repot your H. cauticola when it outgrows its current pot by moving it to a larger pot to hold the plant better. Spring is the best time to repot this plant. Make sure the soil is dry before you begin the repotting process.
Propagation: This succulent can be grown from seeds, division, or stem cuttings. Sow seeds in spring. Dividing your H. cauticola is easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though it is probably best done in spring or early summer. Propagate by stem cuttings in summer.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium.
Toxicity of Hylotelephium cauticola
H. cauticola can be mildly toxic to humans and animals when ingested.
Links
- Back to genus Hylotelephium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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