Hylotelephium

RHS Genus Guide

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.

Botanical name: Hylotelephium, Sedum

Common name: Ice plant

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Appearance

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.

Preferences

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.

RHS Growing Guide

Growing guide

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How to grow hylotelephium

RHS Recommended

Hylotelephium

ice plant

Hylotelephium spectabile

ice plant

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

stonecrop 'Munstead Red'

Hylotelephium 'Munstead Red'

stonecrop 'Munstead Red'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

ice plant 'Brilliant'

Hylotelephium spectabile (Brilliant Group) 'Brilliant'

ice plant 'Brilliant'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

ice plant 'Stardust'

Hylotelephium spectabile 'Stardust'

ice plant 'Stardust'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

orpine 'Purple Emperor'

Hylotelephium telephium (Atropurpureum Group) 'Purple Emperor'

orpine 'Purple Emperor'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

orpine 'Strawberries and Cream'

Hylotelephium telephium 'Strawberries and Cream'

orpine 'Strawberries and Cream'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

cliff-dwelling stonecrop

Hylotelephium cauticola

cliff-dwelling stonecrop

Height: Up to 10cm
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

stonecrop 'Touchdown Teak'

Hylotelephium telephium 'Touchdown Teak'^PBR (Touchdown Series)

stonecrop 'Touchdown Teak'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

stonecrop 'Matrona'

Hylotelephium 'Matrona'

stonecrop 'Matrona'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

hybrid stonecrop 'Herbstfreude'

Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) 'Herbstfreude'

hybrid stonecrop 'Herbstfreude'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

orpine 'Gooseberry Fool'

Hylotelephium telephium subsp. maximum 'Gooseberry Fool'

orpine 'Gooseberry Fool'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Award of Garden Merit

Plants for pollinators

See all Hylotelephium