Scientific Name
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Synonym(s)
Hylotelephium spectabile 'Autumn Joy', Hylotelephium spectabile 'Herbstfreude', Hylotelephium spectabile 'Indian Chief', Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy', Hylotelephium 'Indian Chief', Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy', Sedum spectabile 'Herbstfreude', Sedum spectabile 'Indian Chief', Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Sedum 'Indian Chief', Sedum 'Herbstfreude'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Origin
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' is a hybrid that results from a cross between Hylotelephium telephium subsp. maximum and Hylotelephium spectabile.
Description
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude', better known as Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy' or Sedum 'Autumn Joy', is a popular succulent that forms upright to slightly spreading clumps of unbranched stems with fleshy, blue-green to grayish-green leaves. It can reach a height and width of 24 inches (60 cm). The leaves are egg-shaped with serrated margins.
The star-shaped flowers emerge greenish-pink in summer, slowly age to deep rose-red, and finally take on a brownish hue in fall as they die.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
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. 'Herbstfreude' in an area of your garden with 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. 'Herbstfreude' does not need rich soil but requires excellent drainage. Choose a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make one yourself.
Hardiness: This plant is cold-hardy and tolerant of heat and drought, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. 'Herbstfreude' can withstand temperatures as low as -40 to 30 °F (-40 to -1.1 °C), USDA hardiness zones 3a to 9b.
Watering: The best way to water H. 'Herbstfreude' 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. 'Herbstfreude' 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. 'Herbstfreude' 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 'Herbstfreude'
H. 'Herbstfreude' can be mildly toxic to humans and animals.
Hybrids of Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
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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