Cliquez ici pour la version française
As I said in my previous post, stonecrops are difficult to identify because the taxonomy keeps changing, and many are very similar. Another difficulty in identifying them from their appearance is that whether they grow in full sun and in some shade, or whether you are in spring or in mid-summer, they can look very different and change colour entirely as you can see from these two views of the same plant.
_Fotor_Collage.jpg "Phedimus spurius") |
(Sedum) Phedimus spurius
|
 |
| Phedimus spurius 'Tricolor' |
A very nice variegated cultivar of the same plant. It grows right under a rose bush. As rose petals fall down, they seem to belong to the plant.
 |
| Hylotelephium populifolium |
I grow this one in full sun, but it rarely blooms for me. If I remember well, the flowers are white. The interest is mostly in the foliage. It is more woody than most of the small stonecrops.
 |
| Welsh stonecrop |
.JPG "Sedum fosterianum") |
| More Welsh stonecrop |
The three panels and the single shot above show how the same plant can look different at various times of the year. The Welsh stonecrop blooms for, at the very least, two months. It is in bloom most of the summer.
 |
| Spanish stonecrop (Var. 'Minus') |
This is one you might think twice about letting lose in the garden. At Roche Fleurie, at least, it seeds itself profusely. So does the following which is a different variety of the same plant. It must be said though that both are easily pulled out.
 |
| Spanish stonecrop (Var. 'Blue Carpet') |
The white stonecrop below is one tough sedum which is also a bit too prolific. However it grows in places where very little else will grow. It has invaded the parking area which is covered with compacted gravel in full sun all day. If you need a plant for such conditions, this is the one.
.JPG "Sedum album") |
| White stonecrop (the foliage of which turns very red in the sun) |
'Baby tears' stonecrop is also a white stonecrop and, like the others, does spread a good deal in full sun.
.JPG "Sedum album chloroticum 'Baby Tears'") |
| 'Baby Tears' |
Below is a picture of the same two Sedum album growing together in gravel.
The Corsican stone crop (Sedum dasyphyllum) produces a very neat blueish bun.
 |
| Corsican stonecrop |
The following is obviously a Hylotelephium telephium, but it is either an old garden escape or one that has crossed with others to revert to something more primitive. I found it growing "wild" on the road embankment where it has naturalized.
.JPG "Sedum album chloroticum 'Baby Tears'")
I have the first one which is really pretty. Next winter I think that I'll try to give then some protection from the birds or whatever is digging them up.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice isn't it, especially in full sun when the leaves turn red.
DeleteThese little plants are quite fun to grow and I am always on the lookout for new varieties. They grow throughout the gardens and I use them as filler in most of the large containers.
ReplyDeleteUsing them as filler in large containers is an excellent suggestion. I will try it.
DeleteI love the Spanish stonecrop (Var. 'Blue Carpet'). If I can find it over here I'll take the risk of it spreading. It's a pretty plant.
ReplyDeleteIt does self-seed but is very easy to pull out and does not come back from the roots, only from seeds. So it is not that difficult to control.
DeleteSeeing how well your sedum are doing in all your rock explains why some of mine have struggled. I think I need to plant them higher and mulch with gravel. But you and I do share a few plants that I've tricked into growing here. :)
ReplyDeleteThey do like perfect drainage but it would appear mostly in summer. Several of them seem to be able to put up with some wet feet in winter.
DeleteIt is so lovely to see your little plants growing in an environment that they like, they struggle with me apart from the ones I have on the alpine scree.
ReplyDeleteMost seem to enjoy baking in the sun - not the ideal garden conditions.
DeleteI have noticed the same difference in color of a single cultivar depending on wether it was grown in sun or shade. I find that the color is usually more spectacular in sun. Is that what you have found? I haven't been as observant to note the change over the seasons. I'll have to pay more attention in future.
ReplyDeleteI also think they are more spectacular in the sun. As for the change over the seasons, in spring and fall (when the sun is weaker) the colours are more subdued.
DeleteLovely flowers !
ReplyDeleteI grow some stonecrops in my garden as well Alain.I love them because they are enough hardy and simple in care.Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteSo many Stonecrops! I can't keep track of all of them, and then the taxonomy changes make my head spin. But they're wonderful additions to just about any garden. Seems we all have spots where other plants just don't thrive, but the succulents grow like gangbusters. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThese seem to be another group of plants, like the asters, that the taxonomists have made much too complicated to keep track of.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting post - helpful advice and good photos. Thank you! It's always very useful to know what to avoid too!
ReplyDelete