© RHS / Joanna Kossak

Introducing...

Hylotelephium

Botanical name: Hylotelephium, Sedum

Common name: Ice plant

Previously called Sedum, these perennials form clumps of upright stems with colourful, succulent leaves in spring, blossoming into masses of long-lasting flowers in late summer and autumn. Combine these plants with other late-flowering perennials for a colourful display loved by bees and butterflies.

Looks

Fleshy, grey-green, purple or variegated leaves on upright stems the same colour and flat heads of star-like white, pink or crimson flowers appear in late summer and autumn. Plants die back in winter, and reappear in spring.

Likes

These plants like freely-draining soil, preferably alkaline (chalky). They grow best in full sun but can tolerate light shade.

Dislikes

Growth will be lax in shade and on fertile, very moist soils. Plants will not flower in deep shade.

Did you know?

Stems can splay outwards from the plant’s centre. To keep them upright, shorten them by up to a half in late May using the Chelsea chop pruning method.

Growing guide

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