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Sedums and more sedums

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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 09:46 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have this fantasy of an online plant encyclopedia that serves the gardener hungry for plant details beyond what is often available. Each cultivar would have a picture of what the plant looks like in the beginning of the season when not in flower, during bloom, and maybe afterwards.

It's important to me, for instance, to know what that plant looks like just as a mass in the garden - leaf texture, height, etc., since that informs what it goes near.

This spring I thought, hey, I can do that for some of the sedums I have! They look really different in the spring from their fall couture, and I have a camera after all...

Well, I tried. I did get lots of spring pictures, but forgot to take fall ones, realized later I forgot some in the spring, etc. Perhaps this should be a two year project?

Anyway, here are some reference pictures for sedums I have. A quick note about culture: give them almost all rocky, gritty, nutrition-less soil, full sun, little water, no fertilizer and they're happy. For me, even the slightest bit of humus in the soil here (a sandy/loamy garden) can lead to rotting in our humid summers.

To start, Sedum 'Black Jack' is a purple-leaved sport of popular 'Matrona'. It emerges with blue/green leaves muddied with purple in the spring:


But it makes a wonderful vase shape of bright burgundy by midseason:


And the pink flowers against the purple attracts late summer pollinators:


You can see it blooms the same time as Allium senescens, so that would be a nice pairing (unintentional on my part).

Sedum cauticola is one of those that reacts greatly to its soil. The leaner and dryer, the more intense the color. It emerges powder blue in the spring:


To make a 12" sprawling mass of pink-on-blue flowers in the late summer:


This is a sprawler that looks best tipping over the edge of something. There's a dwarf cultivar 'Lidakense' that has the additional charm of more purple-hued leaves both spring and fall. It gets about 9" at most. Lean soil brings out this coloring.
Spring:


Fall, though this is a picture of a young one; they look better than this eventually:



From what I've heard, Sedum kamtschaticum 'Rosy Glow' and 'Ruby Glow' are identical or nearly so. It seems to be the case here. Spring bring masses of blue leaves sprawling about to a length of about 12-14":


Fall brings light pink flowers:


You'll notice this one growing in regular perennial bed; both S. cauticola and S. kamtschaticum do not exhibit the rotting issues I mentioned earlier. Both look especially good peeking out under larger perennials, I think.

S. 'Red Cauli' always looks so nice in the spring:


But its form isn't that great yet, even after a few years. It's the one in bloom flopping all over the place, even in the rock garden (full sun, lean soil):


I'll give it some more time, though.

And now some single pictures.

S. 'Cloud Walker' is hit hard by winters here and not able to recover well, I think. It's also done poorly in the Chicago Botanic Garden's test gardens:


S. ewersi. Beautiful, tight blue rosettes. Hates the humid summers and looks awful by late August. Never has bloomed for me, but still cute:


S. pluricaule var. ezawe 'Sakhalin' has never bloomed, either, but goes through an amazing series of color changes throughout the seasons. Unfortunately, here's just one spring sample:


S. ternatum is an oddball. The only sedum I know that prefers shade, and blooms in the spring:


Sedum requieni 'Minus' and 'Purple Form'...I've got them both, but the seem identical. Never blooms for me, spreads magically somehow (small pieces probably come off and root elsewhere), this also has 3 seasons of color. Again, here's just one:


S. populifolium forms a nice ball about 12" in diameter. Bright green leaves hold that clarity for the most part until fall. It has yet to bloom for me (spring pic):


Its cultivar 'Maurie's Form' has nice ragged edges, but forms a messy, leggy plant instead. Again, no blooms for me (spring pic):


Finally, S. sieboldii can grow in full sun and also relatively well in shade. An oddball that forms sprays of blue leaves in a star shape flat on the ground. This is a very early spring picture, a few weeks later imagine each stem splaying out flat. This one blooms late for me, and is just about to open its buds this week (early October, thus its common name, October Daphne):


I have others, but none picture-worthy just yet. The majority of the new cultivars being developed are the larger ones meant for mixed borders. Ones of interest to me are 'Maestro' (a blue-leaved sport of 'Matrona'), Picolette (smaller upright purple-leaved plant) and Xenox (larger upright deep purple-leaved plant).

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Treelover  Send Treelover a private message!




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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 10:36 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Great pics of sedum,nice plants! The database idea sounds a bit like the one at www.thater.net
Sorry thats www.cactaceae.net which is a link from the above

Treelover - County Durham,UK, Zone "8/9"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 11:29 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

These are already wonderful and informative photos. Your project will be very helpful - and inspiring - to others. You've already given me some food for sedum thought. Shall we remind you next spring to get out your camera?

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Zephirine  Send Zephirine a private message!




Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 02:13 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Just a modest addition to that wonderful collection and fantastic display:
A newcomer for me this year, this sedum (spectabile I think) blooms in a classical light shade of pink, some 1 foot high.
But it's its foliage that makes it special! Here is a picture taken in spring.
Its name is 'Jaws' !
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Zephirine France zone 8
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 06:01 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Mara, reminders would be more helpful in the fall when gardening becomes more hectic. I forgot pictures of quite a number of them while in bloom!

Zepherine, I've seen Jaws and have yet to find room for it; what a beauty, though!

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 06:58 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I need to get Black Jack, they are all very pretty.

Nanny56 - Indiana, Zone "5b"
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Sunnyday2day  Send Sunnyday2day a private message!



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Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 08:57 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

What impressive specimens you have, Mike. You have such interesting gardens full of eclectic, rich collections. Would like to see more of your pics. I especially like your little oddball, S. ternatum. :) P.S. I copied and pasted your pics of heuchera for reference.. they are quite nice and oftentimes nicer than some in the ref. books. I like the helpful commentary as well. You could do at least some of the fantasy encyclopedia!

Sunnyday2day - Tanya-Michigan, Zone "5"
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 07:03 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Treelover, that's a great site. Cactus don't change as much as perennials throughout the season, I suppose, but the site seems to have deep content.

It made me think of another pet peeve of mine - when you see a picture of a perennial, but the only photo supplied (in a catalog, on a website) is a picture of the leaf. This gives someone like me no idea what the plant itself looks like, though others may have that ability.

Tanya, thanks. If you'd like a piece of s. ternatum, pm me; I'd check out its hardiness rating first, but in terms of rooting, sedums barely need soil to start roots.

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 07:25 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks, Mike. Found this info on s. ternatum. It seems to be quite hardy. I will definitely look for a place and pm you later...probably tomorrow as it's still dark now and we'll be leaving shortly for the day.

Family: Crassulaceae (krass-yoo-LAY-see-ay) (Info)
Genus: Sedum (SEE-dum) (Info)
Species: ternatum (ter-NAY-tum) (Info)

6 vendors have this plant for sale.


Category:
Alpines and Rock Gardens
Groundcovers
Perennials


Height:
under 6 in. (15 cm)
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)


Spacing:
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)


Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4° C (-30° F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6° C (-25° F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8° C (-20° F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1° C (-15° F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3° C (-10° F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5° C (-5° F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7° C (0° F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9° C (5° F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2° C (10° F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4° C (15° F)


Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Partial to Full Shade


Danger:
Unknown - Tell us


Bloom Color:
White/Near White


Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer


Foliage:
Evergreen
Smooth-Textured
Succulent
Rubbery-Textured


Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Provides winter interest
Suitable for growing in containers


Soil pH requirements:
Unknown - Tell us


Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings

Sunnyday2day - Tanya-Michigan, Zone "5"
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Starzgarden  Send Starzgarden a private message!




Posted on Tuesday, October 09, 2007 - 12:47 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Sunnyday2day wrote on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 08:57 pm:

You could do at least some of the fantasy encyclopedia!


I agree with,Tanya.
Your great pics and the information included is very helpful. I especially like 'Sakhalin'.

Starzgarden - Michigan, Zone "five"
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 12:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

The final sedum of the season for me, S. sieboldii, October Daphne:

In full bloom today, Oct. 20.

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Loretta  Send Loretta a private message!



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Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 01:00 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I'm not so happy with Black Jack so far. I made sure I bought a dark colored selection - many were green at the nursery. So far, the color is very blotchy, not like yours. I prefer Purple Emperor so far. I'll give it another year or two.

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 01:11 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Loretta, the Black Jack I have is actually a cutting from a plant I got from Parks. It had some dark stems and some reverted green 'Matrona' stems. I rooted the dark ones, tossed the original plant, and 2 years later got what you see. This speaks more to Parks than to the plant, I expect.

So you might find some stronger colored stems next season and root those. Also, sedum color is deepened by full-on sun and lean, gritty soil. Good luck!

You might also like Postman's Pride, a darker one similar in shape to P. Emporer, as well as Xenox and Picolette!

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 04:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks for the recommendations. I will have to look into those varieties. I haven't seen them for sale locally.
In any case, your sedums look beautiful and well cared for. They are a favorite of mine.

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Sunday, October 21, 2007 - 12:10 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Well cared for! That's nice, Loretta. The joy of sedums is that they require NO care, luckily. Garden Crossings carries Xenox, and a number of other web nurseries carry the others.

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Sunday, October 21, 2007 - 01:55 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thank you for the source.
Mike_in_chicago wrote on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 06:01 pm:

Zepherine, I've seen Jaws and have yet to find room for it; what a beauty, though


See? That is why your garden looks so good. I would have bought Jaws and try to find some place to stuff it

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"
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Posted on Monday, October 22, 2007 - 12:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

The great thing about the ones like sieboldii and spectabile is their late flowering season,,looks great and is a late ource of nectar for butterflies moths and hoverflies!
Superb plants,must get some more!

Treelover - County Durham,UK, Zone "8/9"
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Posted on Monday, October 22, 2007 - 01:50 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I recently fell for a very dark leaved S. cauticolum, called 'Purpurine'
They call it "cauticolum", but it seems to be more of the trailing sieboldii type...do you know it? How does it behave for you?
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Zephirine France zone 8
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Mike_in_chicago  Send Mike_in_chicago a private message!

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Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 09:59 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I did a little web research and saw S. cauticolum 'Purpurine', but no significant pictures. The sedum you have pictured looks like a S. telephinium cultivar, not cauticola, though anything marked 'purple' gets a look from me.

Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 - 12:17 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message