Scientific Name
Sedum mocinianum Pérez-Calix
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Sedum
Description
Sedum mocinianum is a succulent plant with hanging stems and leaves arranged in a dense rosette at the end of stems. It is one of the most attractive of all Sedums. The stems grow up to 32 inches (80 cm) long and up to 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) in diameter. Leaves are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) wide. Stems, leaves, peduncles, bracts, sepals, and branches of the inflorescence are densely pubescent with hyaline hairs. The little white five-petaled flowers with dark red anthers appear clustered into a short inflorescence in late winter and spring. They have a somewhat unpleasant, though not very strong, odor.
Etymology
The specific epithet "mocinianum" honors the Mexican botanist Jose M. Mocino (1757-1820) of the Spanish Royal Botanical Expedition between 1787 and 1803.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
When growing Sedums, keep in mind that these plants need very little attention or care. They will thrive in conditions that many other plants thrive in but do just as well in less hospitable areas. They are ideal for that part of your yard that gets too much sun or too little water to grow anything else. A common name for Sedum is Stonecrop because many gardeners joke that only stones need less care and live longer.
Sedum is easily planted. For shorter varieties, simply laying the plant on the ground where you want it to grow is usually enough to get the plant started there. They will send out roots from wherever the stem is touching the ground and root itself. If you would like to ensure that the plant will start there, you can add a very thin covering of soil.
You can break off one of the stems for taller varieties and push it into the ground where you would like to grow it. The stem will root very easily, and a new plant will be established in a season or two.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Sedum.
Origin
This species is native to northern Mexico. Unfortunately, this species was twice distributed by ISI, both times (ISI 174 in 1959 then ISI 91-60 in 1991) under the wrong name of Sedum hintonii.
Links
- Back to genus Sedum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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