Hylotelephium, Sedum, Showy Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'

On May 20, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

True 'Autumn Joy' is a sterile hybrid, which is why the 'seedheads' don't shatter and instead remain for winter interest. As with Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', much of the material offered for sale in the US is seed-grown, and is not the true cultivar. Most of these impostors bloom earlier than 'Autumn Joy', which begins to bloom here (Boston Z6a) the first week of September.

All of these upright sedums tend to sprawl if not divided every few years---best done in early spring, before they put on much top growth---or at least cut back in late spring/early summer.

They tolerate partial shade, grow well in acid soils as well as alkaline, and aren't in the least deer resistant. The foliage is glaucous and not glossy.

I've never seen 'Autumn Joy' get over ... read more24" tall. Usually it's about 18".

On May 19, 2014, quiltbug48 from Bolivar, MO wrote:

I planted my autumn Joy about 19 years ago and it is still going very strong; however, it keeps it's pale green heads all through autumn, never turning to pink nor red. It gets full sun. Also it has never spread more than about 12 inches in diameter. I do nothing to it other than admire the pretty leaves and pale green heads, no watering, no fertilizing. Should I be doing something to encourage the heads to change colors?

On Feb 28, 2012, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote:

A dependable Sedum, though it is used a bit too frequently in my opinion. Blooms September-October in my garden.

On Aug 7, 2011, Wrenflower from Fort Collins, CO wrote:

Very hardy. I picked this up for free at a garage sale. It was dried out and appeared dead. I sat the plastic pot out on some rocks with a hot southwest exposure against a light colored wall over two winters and it comes back every year. Whether I water it or not it survives. I planted it in the same location and it is still going strong.

On Oct 11, 2009, JoyfulSeason from Kerrville, TX wrote:

When I lived in Maryland (zone 6), the Autumn Joy sedums thrived, and were seen everywhere. In the late afternoons, they tended to wilt a bit, but by morning they were upright, again. The sedums did tend to flop when they bloomed, but I learned that if I cut mine back by 1/2 around July 4th, they didn't flop in the fall. I grew new plants from the cuttings and planted them when they rooted. In a few years, I had them growing all over my flower beds, and was giving them to friends. Now, I live in Texas (zone 7b), with entirely different growing conditions. Gave the Autumn Joys a try in a container last year, but they got whiteflies (huh?????). They were mostly in shade, which may have been the problem. Quickly took some cuttings and destroyed the mother plants. The cuttings are doi... read moreng great in late afternoon sun this year without a pest problem. In this dryer, hotter climate, I didn't cut them back in July like I did in Maryland, and they seem to be fine -- no flopping when they bloomed. Am going to increase the amount of sun exposure with cuttings next year. I don't see Autumn Joys grown here in Texas, but I do see them being offered in the nurseries. Haven't lived in Texas very long -- perhaps these great plants are just arriving in this market.....(?)

On Jun 29, 2009, beachwoman from South Kingstown, RI (Zone 5b) wrote:

After seeing Autumn Joy in a friend's yard four years ago, we took cuttings and started growing it as well (South Kingstown, RI). It has quickly become one of our favorites, growing in all sections of the yard, flourishing in different kinds of soils or sun conditions, needing little or no
care. Since Autumn Joy did so well, we tried other varieties of sedum which are also hardy and beautiful, perfect choices for rock gardens, around walkways and container gardening. Many positive comments from neighbors!

On Jun 29, 2009, ptworek from West Harwich, MA wrote:

I have first year plantings that began very well. But June has been a month of rain almost every day. The plants are laying on the ground, stems flopping sideways from the center. Sould I try to raise and stake the stems, hoping that the remainder of the summer will help them reposition and grow upward? or should I leave them laying on the soil?

On May 17, 2008, Katze from Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

This plant is definitely a tough plant and one that is nearly impossible to kill. They will grow in part shade, but will not get as large as those in full sun. The 'Autumn Joy' cultivar seems to have foliage that are one of three shades: the regular deep gray-green described here, variegated (yellow with a lighter green), and a lighter green that is almost the same color you'd find on Stock 'Vintage Mix' (we have all three in our yard, planted by the former owners of our house). I've never had problems with these plants flopping, but maybe that's because I ignore our Sedums unless it is unusually dry out.

The main reason I keep these is because of their blooms, which start out a pale pink and slowly darken to a deep brown-red.

On Nov 17, 2007, kd2000 from toronto,
Canada wrote:

This is a fabulous plant and does very well in my Zone 4/5 Canadian garden. It provides great spring/summer foliage and shape interest, and a nice fall colour display. I have found propagation to be very easy. I divided 4 mature specimens into 10 in early spring, and all 10 recovered to the size of the parent by fall with only a bit of bonemeal as aid. Cuttings also root very easily, I take 4" cuttings leaving 2 leaves on and stick them directly into a nursery bed in spring, most try to flower by fall. However, as they seem to recover size so quickly through division I would recommend division, as my cuttings seem to grow very slowly.

On Jun 21, 2007, susybell from Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) wrote:

For me, basically effortless. Hasn't taken over the world like so much seems to do, fills in nicely, blooms every year. I leave the seed heads for birds over the winter and cut them back when the new growth is starting to pop up. That's all I do. I may divide them this year.

On Sep 1, 2006, soulbloom from Richmond, VA wrote:

I bought this plant last year and didn't know much about gardening. I neglected the plant by leaving it in its original pot outside over the winter. Suprisingly, it came back. This year, I platned it in a small bed with other succulents and it has done very well. I hope to add some more to my garden in the future.

On May 23, 2006, winging from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

This plant is quite hardy and provides winter interest if you leave the stalks with the seedheads over the winter. The only problem I've had with it is that in one specific spot the plants always die from root rot, but this is likely because of the slope and the lack of drains in the retaining wall.

So moral of the story, it doesn't like wet feet.

On May 18, 2005, Gindee77 from Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:

The sedum in my garden attract butterflies and they look good when the blooms are open. They look like thousands of little roses.

On Dec 29, 2004, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:

This is a truly lovely plant in late fall when the gardens are starting to look a little tired. This pulls through and blooms strong and is a bumbleebee magnet.

On Oct 18, 2004, henryr10 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

We have found w/ all Stonecrop type Sedum that pinching back helps the correct the 'floppies'.
This helps tremendously w/ those grown in less than ideal conditions, soil too rich, too little sun, etc.

We pinch at 6" high then take off about 4-6" at 12" tall
(which become our new starts).
You'll get a fuller straighter plant w/ far more blooms.

'Autumn Joy' though is one of the sturdier of this type.
Far less prone to flopping.

On Aug 4, 2004, PurplePansies from Deal, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is a fine plant...... good if you want something really indestructable and easy to grow...... Looks nice with echinaceas and rudbeckias......... NOt the prettiest plant though...... pretty leaves although they can look very catctusy and inaapropriate in some gardens...... especially up north..... the blooms are nothing to write home about..... Look like broccoli...... good for low maintenance long term long season though not year round interest though......... would I reccomend it...... naaaahhhhh

On Jun 20, 2003, haleygem from Saugus, MA wrote:

Very Hardy. I have it growing in a mostly shade garden in the NE zone 6. I know it is a sun plant but this just shows how hardy it is.

On Apr 24, 2003, jkom51 from Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

I hope these do better their second year compared to the first year (container plants installed March '02). Contrary to what others have posted, here in Northern CA mine bloom in the springtime after the winter rains. What I found disappointing is that without regular water, the flowerheads don't even open; just turn an ugly brown.

During the summer the plants were rather unattractive, particularly compared to the lantana, scaevola, euryops, etc., which bloomed very well on smaller amounts of water than the sedums apparently needed.

They died back a bit in late winter last year and now have almost doubled in size. I'm crossing my fingers that they'll perform better this year.

I think their foliage is very ordinary-looking compared to the newer ... read morevarieties that are out. There are variegated leaf and purple leaf forms now, that I think would be more attractive when the plant is out of bloom.

On Apr 23, 2003, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

This perennially-popular perennial was created in 1955 by crossing Sedum spectabile with Sedum telephium. It is often found listed as S. spectabile or S. telephium.