Scientific Name
Sedum stahlii Solms
Common Name(s)
Baked Beans, Coral Beads, Coral Bells, Mexican Sedum
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Genus: Sedum
Etymology
The specific epithet "stahlii" (pronounced "STAHL-ee-eye") honors Christian Ernst Stahl (1848- 1919), a Franco-German botanist.
Origin
Sedum stahlii is native to Mexico. It grows on steep, rocky slopes in Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz at elevations ranging from 3,840 to 8,005 feet (1,170 to 2,440 m).
Description
Sedum stahlii is a small, highly branched succulent with spreading or trailing stems and fleshy, dark green leaves that are suffused with red or russet and covered with short, soft hairs. It can reach a diameter of 12 inches (30 cm), forming loose mats over time. The leaves are opposite, oblong, elliptic, or spherical, and can measure up to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) in length and 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) in diameter. They drop off almost as soon as you touch them.
The flowers are yellow, star-shaped, and usually 5-merous. They appear from late spring to early summer and can reach a diameter of up to 0.5 inches (1.2 cm).
Hybrids of Sedum stahlii
How to Grow and Care for Sedum stahlii
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 7b to 11b: from 5°F (-15°C) to 50°F (10°C).
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 also do just as well in less hospitable areas. They are ideal for that part of your yard that receives too much sun or too little water to support the growth of other plants. 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 it started. The plant will send out roots from wherever the stem touches the ground and the root itself. To ensure the plant starts off well, add a very thin layer of soil covering.
You can break off one of the stems for taller varieties and push it into the ground where you want to grow it. The stem will root very easily, and a new plant will be established in a season or two.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Sedum.
Links
- Back to genus Sedum
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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