Stonecrop (Sedum Telephium): a description of its varieties, namely Purple Emperor, hybrid Xenox, Manstead Dark Red, Dark Magic, Red Cowley, Touchdown Tick and others

Low and ground cover, climbing plants are especially relevant in flower gardens in the fall, when the leaves fall, and the garden loses its color. Succulents like sedum, belonging to the family Crassulaceae, are excellent substitutes for summer flowers. They are unpretentious in content, have many shapes and colors, are distinguished by longevity.

In our article we will talk about the features of an ordinary stonecrop, how to grow and propagate it and what kind of care it needs. Consider its varieties. You can also watch a useful video on this topic.

Description of stonecrop ordinary

Stonecrop (Lat. Sédum teléphium) - a species of a perennial plant in the family Crassulaceae. Hylotelephium triphyllym (three-leaved grape, purple grape) stood out from the related group of the species Sédum teléphium, because has characteristic features: flowers of purple or pink hue, a larger number of shoots, a smaller bush size. Along with scientific names, the stencil is popularly known as hare cabbage, black crow.

Attention: It is correct to call such a plant grapefruit, however, some gardeners still use the generic name of sedum - “stonecrop”.

Botanical characteristics, homeland and prevalence

Three-leaved scum (Hylotelephium triphyllum) in the natural environment grows in the Caucasus, in central Russia, in the northern regions of Eastern Europe, in Northeast China. Sedum prefers sandy soils, pine forests, clusters of shrubs.

Hare cabbage is a perennial herbaceous plant. The tops die off in the winter. The tubers are spherical and large. Light green stems are located directly, one or several pieces and reach about 30-60 cm tall. On them are fleshy leaves 5-7 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide.

Stonecrops are part of a large genus of the family Crassulaceae (Crassulaceae). Plants are unpretentious, live mainly in areas with a dry climate.

Appearance

Sedums differ in a variety of forms (from needles and barrels to coins and shoulder blades) and shades (cream, light green, white, dark green, pink, orange, purple, plain and multi-colored, with streaks, stains, stripes of other colors) of leaves. Such a variety of colors gives the succulents a decorative quality, especially to species in which the upper part does not die out in the winter.

In a short flowering period, a clearing with stonecrops is covered with a thick layer of small stars of white, yellow and red shades.

Similar plants

Close relatives of Sedum come from the same family Crassulaceae. Echeveria ("stone rose"), Crassula ("money tree"), Sempervivum ("young") are covered with thick fleshy leaves of various shades of green, similar in shape to leaves of the grape. The similarity is enhanced during the flowering period, when plants are dotted with small, nondescript flowers.

Kalanchoe and graptopetalum (spotted petals), succulents that do not require special care, are characterized by thick leaves filled with moisture, are directly related to the crassulaceae. Griptopetalum has beautiful leaf rosettesover which on long straight stems inflorescences rise with bright flowers consisting of five petals.

Life span

Growing sedumi does not require special skills. Garden care consists of frequent weeding and timely pruning of shoots to maintain a decorative look. Wilted inflorescences and dried leaves are cut. In spring and autumn, the plant is supplemented with complex mineral fertilizers. The average life expectancy is high, with proper care reaches 10 years.

Sedum Telephium Varieties

For decorative purposes, different types of sedums are planted in the garden in the neighborhood.. The most popular grades of Telefium grabbers are:

Red Cowley

A small bush up to 30 cm high with blue-green leaves and small red inflorescences of different shades.

Matrona

Scrub of Matron stonecrop up to 50-60 cm high with serrated leaves of brown-purple color and white-pink flowers, located in inflorescences.

We recommend watching a video about the features of the Matrona stonecrop:

Bon bon

The variety blooms early in July. It is a branched bush of spherical shape, up to 40 cm high. It has small pinkish inflorescences and brown, sometimes purple leaves.

Hybrid Purple Emperor

The hybrid variety Pepl Empere is up to 45 cm high. On a dense bush there are large oval-shaped leaves and dark red in color.

Manstead Dark Red

Hybrid variety used in compositions for alpine slides, etc. Inflorescences are painted in raspberry pink color, are placed on straight stems 30-60 cm high. Sedum landed in an open sunny place.

Xenox

It grows to 35 cm tall. The flowers are red-purple, leaves of a similar color with a waxy coating. The variety blooms late in early August.

Picolette

A short bush (up to 30 cm) with compact inflorescences of pink shades and small bronze-red leaves.

Autumn joy

The bush is medium in size, up to 50 cm. Leaves of stonecrop pastel green hue, dark raspberry flowers in large inflorescences.

Bertram anderson

Creeping plant with short shoots (20-30 cm). At the ends they bend slightly upward. The leaves are thick, with a lilac hue. It blooms with dark pink flowers from the second half of July to late autumn. It grows quickly, suitable for carpet flower beds or rockeries.

Vera jameson

Low shrub up to 30 cm, branched stems dotted with many pink inflorescences. It blooms in autumn.

Dark Magic

Perennial ornamental shrub. Purple-purple leaves look spectacular against the background of small pinkish flowers. It is located in open sunny glades. Low, reaches 30-40 cm in height.

Touchdown tick

Perennial plant with bright red stems. The leaves of maroon color have a serrated edge, and pinkish-red flowers are star-shaped. Like other decorative varieties, it prefers an open sunny place.

Care and maintenance

Accusers do not require specific care. However, they need a well-lit place with moderate soil moisture.

Overfilling is dangerous for Sedum, they begin to rot. The first sign is the yellowing of the lower leaves. Spraying the plant will not give results, since a wax coating on their surface prevents the evaporation of moisture contained in the leaves and they simply do not need additional water.
For optimal growth and development, stonecrops require an air temperature of at least 10 C. If sedums are located in a room, then it should be regularly ventilated already at a temperature of 21 C.
Home sedums rarely transplant: they have rather thin and brittle stems and root systems. If the pot has become small and a transplant is necessary, the plant is "transshipped" with the main earthen lump to a new "residence".
Periodically, the plants are pruned (dry stems and damaged leaves are removed) so that individual bushes do not fight among themselves for nutrients and moisture.
In the spring, multicomponent fertilizers are applied to the soil, in the future, stonecrop will incorporate all the necessary trace elements. Top dressing is also carried out at the end of summer, as many varieties of sedum bloom during this period.

Breeding

Sedums breed both by seed and by dividing a bush or by grafting. Seeds are planted in the fall or spring. They are covered with a film and create greenhouse conditions. When several leaves appear on the sprout, the shoot is transplanted into an individual container or planted in open ground.

Tip: Young plants are still obtained by dividing bushes into small parts or by rooting shoots dug near the maternal sedum. Future seedlings are left to dry for a couple of days and are planted in moist soil.

Propagation of the cadillus is practiced by spores, air layering, inoculation or shoots.

Landing

Garden sedum allocated a sunny place with sandy soil. It is optimal to add humus to such soil at the rate of 2 to 1. Saplings are placed in pits 25 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.

Stonecrops grow well in the finished substrate for succulents. It is necessary to create a drainage system for plants in pots: make holes in the bottom of the pot, lay a layer of expanded clay or charcoal on it. Small pieces of coal are also added to the soil to increase its friability and breathability.

Since the root system grows in breadth, and not in depth, stonecrops need flat and wide pots. For some varieties, which are typical for living on rocks, small pebbles are placed in the pot.

Possible growing difficulties

Succulents have a natural protective set (drought tolerance and wax coating on the leaves)however, sometimes they can be susceptible to pest attacks (aphids, pseudo-caterpillars, weevils) or the spread of diseases (in the event of excess or lack of moisture on the leaves and stems, mold-damaged areas appear).

When fighting insects, the plant is treated with insecticides, the pests themselves and their waste products are removed from the leaves. The dead parts of the plant are disposed of, the slices are treated with crushed activated carbon or wood ash.

In case of overflow or lack of moisture, damaged parts are treated in a similar way. If the root rots, they dig it out of the ground and remove the affected areas. If the method fails, the plant is propagated by cuttings, getting rid of rotted shoots.

Conclusion

Sedum has many species and hybrid varieties. It is suitable for decorating garden areas, alpine slides, rockeries and window sills. The beauty and unusualness of the plant, its unpretentiousness and versatility make the flowerbed a popular succulent among gardeners.