Hylotelephium sieboldii aka Siebold's Sedum

Taxonomy

Hylotelephium sieboldii, also known as Sedum sieboldii, October stonecrop, Siebold's stonecrop, or October daphne, is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. Native to Japan, this trailing deciduous perennial grows to a height of 10 cm and spreads up to 20 cm wide. Its delicate stems bear round glaucous leaves arranged in whorls of 3. In autumn, the plant produces hot-pink flowers. The specific epithet sieboldii honors Philipp Franz von Siebold, a renowned German plant collector. While requiring protection from low temperatures in winter, Hylotelephium sieboldii is commonly cultivated as a houseplant or found in alpine gardens. The cultivar 'Misebaya-nakafu' is distinguished by its variegated green and cream leaves and has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial features red stems and grey-green leaves with a prominent cream-colored central zone. Its rose pink, star-shaped flowers bloom in flat terminal clusters. With its low spreading growth habit, Hylotelephium sieboldii forms attractive circular mounds and sends out horizontal branches from a central crown. The blue-green leaves, arranged in sets of three, have deep pink edgings that intensify as the growing season progresses. Depending on light conditions, the plant's autumn foliage may exhibit shades of pink, orange, yellow, or bright red.

Common names

Siebold's Sedum

How to care for Siebold's Sedum

Difficulty

Caring for Siebold's Sedum is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Siebold's Sedum does best in dry soil and should only be watered sparingly.

Soil

To keep your Siebold's Sedum healthy, it's important to use a potting soil that won't retain too much moisture. A soil that drains well and contains perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition is ideal. Adding a few handfuls of perlite to regular cactus soil from the store is an easy way to create this type of soil mix.

Lighting

Siebold's Sedum requires abundant, bright, and direct light to thrive. The best placement for this plant is within one foot of a window to ensure it receives enough light. If you live in an area with more extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters, you may need to adjust the placement of the plant accordingly. During hot summer months, it is important to place the plant away from full sun, as this can cause the leaves to yellow or burn. During cold winter months, it is best to move the plant closer to the window to take advantage of the extra light that can help it survive. By keeping an eye on the current weather in your area, you can make sure your Siebold's Sedum is always in the right place to thrive.

Dormancy

During the cold period, it is common for Siebold's Sedum to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.

Toxicity

Siebold's Sedum is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.

Humidity

Siebold's Sedum prefers dry environments, so misting the plant to provide extra humidity and allow water to linger on the leaves can create an ideal environment for fungi that can be harmful.

Fertilizer

The Siebold's Sedum is characterized by its slow growth and doesn't need fertilization in addition to its potting soil. By renewing the soil in its pot once a year, it should have enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not from any fertilizers.

Region of origin

Siebold's Sedum’s native range is Asia, Europe, and North America.


More info:
Wikipedia