Scientific Name
Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) H. Ohba
Common Name(s)
Brilliant Stonecrop, Butterfly Stonecrop, Ice Plant, Live Forever, Rabbit's Cabbage, Showy Orpine, Showy Stonecrop
Synonym(s)
Anacampseros spectabilis, Hylotelephium pseudospectabile, Hylotelephium spectabile var. angustifolium, Hylotelephium spectabile var. spectabile, Sedum pseudospectabile, Sedum spectabile
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Etymology
The specific epithet "spectabile (speck-TAB-ih-lee)" means "visible; notable, admirable, or remarkable (worth seeing)" and refers to the flower heads.
Origin
Hylotelephium spectabile is native to China and Korea.
Description
Hylotelephium spectabile, formerly known as Sedum spectabile, is a succulent plant that forms a clump of erect, unbranched stems bearing egg-shaped leaves with toothed margins. The stems are greenish-white and can grow up to 28 inches (70 cm) tall. The leaves are opposite or whorled, thick, fleshy, grey-green to blue-green, measuring up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide.
The flowers are star-shaped, pink with reddish-brown anthers, and appear from late summer to frost in flat terminal clusters that can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium spectabile
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. spectabile in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. spectabile 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 is cold-hardy and tolerant of heat and drought, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. spectabile 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. spectabile 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. spectabile 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. spectabile 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 spectabile
H. spectabile can be mildly toxic to humans and animals.
Cultivars and Hybrids of Hylotelephium spectabile
- Hylotelephium spectabile 'Brilliant'
- Hylotelephium spectabile 'Meteor'
- Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust'
- Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy'
- Hylotelephium 'Carl'
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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