Showy stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabile) is a deciduous herbaceous perennial in the Sedum family.   They are drought-tolerant succulents with thick, fleshy leaves.    Showy sedum fit into the “upright” category, standing 20 to 50 cm tall.    When the Sedums bloom they appear in clumps and have many star-shaped flowers which bloom in late summer into early fall.

Plant showy stonecrop along borders.   They prefer well-drained soil and lots of light.  Different varieties can have pink, red, yellow, or white flowers.

A favorite sub-species is “Autumn Joy.”

Some of the more vibrant varieties are very showy.

Showy sedum are relatively easy to care for, but they need to be planted in the right place.    We cut back the stems in late fall and provide a winter mulch, and we usually have a good survival rate over winter.   Showy sedums can be propagated by stem cuttings or root divisions in late spring or summer.

Sedums are also favorites of butterflies and other pollinators.    A number of sedums are native to our area so they blend in very well.   This is a favorite of ours.