Scientific Name
Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust'
Synonym(s)
Sedum spectabile 'Stardust'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Origin
This succulent is a white-flowering cultivar of Hylotelephium spectabile.
Description
Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust', formerly known as Sedum spectabile 'Stardust', is a clump-forming succulent with unbranched stems and fleshy, flat, dull grayish-green to blue-green leaves. The stems grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) tall. Leaves are ovate to narrowly ovate, coarsely toothed, up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long, and up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) wide. Leaves are opposite or sometimes in whorls of 3 to 4.
Flowers are small, white, and star-shaped and appear in large flat-toped terminal clusters from late summer to fall. Flower heads are up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. The flowers are pure white but with a tendency to revert to pink.
The plant dies down to the ground in winter, and new shoots appear in spring.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust'
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 'Stardust' in an area of your garden with 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. spectabile 'Stardust' does not need rich soil but requires excellent drainage. Choose a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make one yourself.
Temperature: This plant is tolerant of heat and drought and is also cold-hardy, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. spectabile 'Stardust' can withstand temperatures as low as -30 °F (-34.4 °C). USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4a to 9b, -30 to 30 °F (-34.4 to -1.1 °C).
Watering: The best way to water H. spectabile 'Stardust' 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. Apply the fertilizer to the soil according to the package directions in spring as new growth appears.
Repotting: Plants grown in containers require a little more care than those in the gardens. Repot your H. spectabile 'Stardust' 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 propagated by division or stem cuttings. Dividing your H. spectabile 'Stardust' 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. Take stem cuttings in summer.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium.
Toxicity of Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust'
H. spectabile 'Stardust' can be mildly toxic to humans and animals.
Links
- Back to genus Hylotelephium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.