Scientific Name
Hylotelephium 'Matrona'
Common Name(s)
Autumn Stonecrop
Synonym(s)
Hylotelephium telephium 'Matrona', Sedum telephium 'Matrona', Sedum 'Matrona'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Origin
Hylotelephium 'Matrona' is a hybrid that results from a cross between Hylotelephium telephium subsp. maximum 'Atropurpureum' and Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' (better known as Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy'). It is a chance seedling discovered by Ewald Hügin in 1988 and raised by him in Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany. This hybrid is often sold as a cultivar of Hylotelephium telephium, formerly known as Sedum telephium.
Description
Hylotelephium 'Matrona', formerly known as Sedum 'Matrona', is a succulent plant with yellowish-green leaves flushed with red and held on strong, erect, reddish stems. The stems can grow to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall, forming a clump up to 4 feet (1.2 m) wide. The leaves are oblong with toothed margins and arranged in opposite pairs or alternate along the stems. They can grow up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long and 3.2 inches (8 cm) wide.
The soft pink flowers are star-shaped and appear in dense flat-topped clusters at the top of the stems from late summer to early fall. They can measure up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter, while the flower clusters can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm).
The plant dies down to the ground in winter, and new shoots appear in spring.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium 'Matrona'
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. 'Matrona' in an area of your garden with 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. 'Matrona' 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. 'Matrona' 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. 'Matrona' 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. In spring, apply the fertilizer to the soil according to the package directions as new growth appears.
Repotting: Plants grown in containers require a little more care than those in the gardens. When your H. 'Matrona' outgrows its current pot, move it to a larger pot that will better hold the plant. 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. 'Matrona' 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 'Matrona'
H. 'Matrona' 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
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