Scientific Name
Hylotelephium verticillatum (L.) H.Ohba
Synonym(s)
Sedum telephium f. verticillatum, Sedum telephium subsp. verticillatum, Sedum verticillatum
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Etymology
The specific epithet "verticillatum (pronounced ver-ti-si-LAH-tum)" is the neuter form of the Latin adjective "verticillatus," meaning "having whorls; verticillate" and refers to the whorled leaves.
Origin
Hylotelephium verticillatum is native to Russia (eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands), northern China, Korea, and Japan. It grows on grassland slopes, shady, moist places on the sides of ravines at elevations between 2,950 and 9,510 feet (900 and 2,900 m).
Description
Hylotelephium verticillatum, formerly known as Sedum verticillatum, is a succulent plant with simple, erect stems and usually glaucous leaves, mostly in whorls of 4 or 5. The stems can grow up to 6.6 feet (2 m) tall. The leaves are elliptic to narrowly ovate or broadly lanceolate, with sparsely toothed margins, and are attached to the stem by petioles up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long. They can measure up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long and 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) wide. The basal leaves are usually in whorls of 3 or opposite.
The flowers are greenish to yellowish-white and appear in terminal or axillary clusters in summer.
In winter, the foliage dies back to the ground, and new growth appears in spring.
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium verticillatum
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. verticillatum in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Soil: H. verticillatum does not need rich soil but requires excellent drainage. Choose a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make one yourself.
Temperature: This plant is cold-hardy and tolerant of heat and drought, making it a popular outdoor succulent. H. verticillatum 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. verticillatum 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 gardens. Repot your H. verticillatum 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. verticillatum 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 verticillatum
H. verticillatum 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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