Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’

Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Autumn Fire’

Characteristics

Culture

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun, Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ thrives in sandy to gravelly soils of moderate to low fertility. Tolerates some light part shade in hot summer climates, but will produce weak floppy growth when grown in too much shade or in overly rich soils. Needs good soil drainage to perform well.  Sedum Autumn Fire’s benefits outlast its blooms. This plant rewards laid-back gardeners who skip cleanup in fall. Leave the stalks standing through winter to add structure and shape to your garden. The seed heads will dry out beautifully, turning a coppery-red color. They look especially pretty after a light dusting of snow.

 

Seed-eating birds, like goldfinches, will thank you, too. The flowers develop tiny seeds that are a helpful source of food throughout fall and winter.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ typically grows in upright to slightly spreading clumps to 15-18” tall, with flowers bringing overall plant height to as much as 24” tall. Dense masses of tiny, star-like, rose pink flowers bloom in large, rounded, flattened heads (cymes to 6” across) atop stout stems clad with dentate, fleshy, rounded, succulent-like, light gray-green leaves. Flowers age to salmon bronze and finally brick red. Long late summer to fall bloom period.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs, scale, mealybugs, nematodes, aphids and weevils may occasionally appear.

Garden Uses

Large rock gardens or border fronts. Specimen or groups. Ground cover. Containers.