Hylotelephium telephium (Orpine)

Scientific Name

Hylotelephium telephium (L.) H. Ohba

Common Name(s)

Frog's Stomach, Harping Johnny, Life-everlasting, Live-forever, Midsummer Men, Orphan John, Orpine, Livelong, Witch's Moneybags

Synonym(s)

Anacampseros livida, Anacampseros tarnensis, Anacampseros tarnensis, Hylotelephium telephium subsp. telephium, Sedum archangelicum, Sedum bohuslawii, Sedum candollei, Sedum macrophyllum, Sedum schultzii, Sedum serotinum, Sedum telephium, Sedum telephium subsp. complanatum, Sedum telephium var. borderi, Sedum telephium var. callayanum, Sedum telephium var. rhodanense, Sedum thirkeanum, Sedum viridulum, Sedum vogesiacum

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium

Origin

Native to the west and central Europe and is usually a plant of hedgerows.

Description

Hylotelephium telephium, formerly known as Sedum telephium, is a succulent with erect, ascending, or rarely pendulous stems that bear fleshy dark green leaves, sometimes tinged red. The flowering stems grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall from a short rootstock with numerous fusiform roots. Leaves are oblong, elliptic to narrowly ovate, with margins usually strongly toothed. They are up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Flowers are reddish-purple and appear in dense, many-flowered clusters, usually terminal or sometimes from axils of upper leaves, from late summer to fall. The foliage dies back to the ground in the winter, and new stems arise in the spring.

Etymology

The specific epithet "telephium (te-LE-fee-um)" honors Telephus, a son of Heracles and Auge, the daughter of king Aleus of Tegea. He received a thigh wound from his spear of Achilles that would not heal until treated by rust scraped from the spear that had caused the wound.

Hylotelephium telephium (Sedum telephium) - Orpine — *Photo via virboga.de*

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 5a to 9b: from −20 °F (−28.9 °C) to 30 °F (−1.1 °C).

How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium telephium

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. telephium in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Soil: H. telephium does not need rich soil, but it does need excellent drainage. Choose a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make one yourself.

Temperature: This plant is tolerant of heat and drought and is cold-hardy, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. telephium 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. telephium 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 in containers do require a little more care than those in gardens. Repot your H. telephium 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 the seeds in spring. Dividing your H. telephium 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 telephium

H. telephium can be mildly toxic to humans and animals.

Subspecies, Cultivars, and Hybrids of Hylotelephium telephium

Photo Gallery

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