Sedum spectabile (hylotelephium) 'CARMEN'

Ice plants (stonecrops) are variable and usually very tough perennials popular for their zero requirements for water and maintenance. Most of our C.E. grown hardy species and varieties are best grown in xeriscape conditions, and offer a good range of foliage and flower colours. In order to separate the taller ones with stems from the groundcovering species, botanists and growers prefer to use hylotelephium for the taller ones.

One might wonder why there are so many pink flowering ice plant varieties, aren’t they all the same? Of course not! Carmen is a great example. It makes dense, dome-like, up to 10 cm large flower heads composed of numerous star-shaped flowers. They are dark purple pink as they open, and mature to bright pink. Flowering begins later, usually from first half September, and flowers remain nice until the last sunny and warm days of October. Leaves are rounded to oval, pale green with some blue-green hues. Carmen is moderately robust, growing about 50 cm tall and wide.

Stonecrops (orpines) are perfect plants for autumn borders. They add extra colour on an architecturally interesting plant. These perennials are easy to grow, they will like almost any well-drained soil, they do well in rockeries and outdoor pots (without saucer). Cut them back in early spring but be careful not to damage young buds at the ground. Let them dry out before next watering - excess water brings a danger of fungi diseases. Fully hardy to min. -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 19-09-2019