Sedum spectabilis 'Autumn Joy'

Other Names:  Showy Stonecrop

Description:

A very showy fall-blooming perennial with thick succulent leaves; an improvement on the popular Autumn Joy with a denser, more upright habit and deeper rose-pink flowers, highly effective in mass plantings or as a groundcover

Ornamental Features

Autumn Fire Stonecrop has masses of beautiful clusters of rose flowers at the ends of the stems from late summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive coral-pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its large succulent round leaves remain grayish green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes

Autumn Fire Stonecrop is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Autumn Fire Stonecrop is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Autumn Fire Stonecrop will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Autumn Fire Stonecrop is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.