Same plant, new name
What gardeners call sedum or stonecrop is, in this case, Hylotelephium telephium, also known as orpine or livelong. It was once filed under Sedum, but botanists now treat Hylotelephium as its own genus within the stonecrop family. The plant has upright stems, thick toothed leaves and flat heads of tiny flowers.
Why it suits water-wise gardens
Fleshy leaves store moisture, so stonecrop shrugs off dry spells that flatten thirstier perennials. It prefers sun and free-draining soil, and too much water is its main enemy.
- Plant in spring, September to October, or in autumn in mild areas.
- Use gritty soil or a raised bed if your soil is heavy clay.
- Avoid rich fertiliser, which makes stems floppy.
- Divide clumps every few years in spring.
Humid summers on the east coast can bring rot, so give the plants plenty of airflow.
Late-season food for insects
Flower heads open from late summer into autumn, about February to April in Australia. Bees and butterflies come for nectar when many other plants have finished.
In pots, stonecrop does well in a terracotta container with a gritty mix, and it needs far less attention than many perennials. Pinch the tips in early summer for a bushier plant, and tidy the old stems in late winter.
Stonecrop and animals
No ASPCA listing for this species turned up in our search. Treat it as untested and keep it away from pets that like to chew.
