Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’

Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ flower (24/07/2011, London)

Position: Full sun

Soil: well drained soil

Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn

Eventual Height: 45cm

Eventual Spread: 45cm

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a,10b

Family: Crassulaceae

 Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ is a herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its fleshy grey/ green leaves are  elliptic with indented margins. Its green stems are fleshy.Its pink flowers have dark centres and are borne in flat terminal cymes.

The species Sedum spectabile, commonly known as the Ice Plant, Showy Stonecrop and Butterfly Stonecrop, is native to eastern Asia including China, Korea and Manchuria.  Sedum spectabile is synonymous with Hylotelephium spectabile.

 The etymological root of the binomial name Sedum is derived from the Latin sedo ‘settle’, a name used by Pliny describing how the cushion species of this genus hug the rocks. Spectabile is derived from the Latin specto ‘to behold’ in reference to the flower heads.

Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ (24/07/2011, London)

 Sedum spectabile  ‘Brilliant’ may be useful to the landscape architect in an informal prairie scheme or as part of a mixed planting scheme. It is also useful for its drought tolerance and goes well with other sun loving low maintenance plants such as Miscanthus sinensis.

The Royal Horticultural Society gave  Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ will tolerate many soil conditions; it will be happy at neutral or alkaline pH levels, in loam, chalk or sand based soils, and prefers a south facing, exposed aspect.

Ecologically, Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ will attract many species of pollinating insects such as honey bees and butterflies.

Sedum spectabile Winter (11/02/2012, Walworth, London)

Sedum spectabile  ‘Brilliant’ requires little to no maintenance. It may be cut back to the ground in autumn to maintain a tidy winter appearance. Alternatively it may be pruned to ground level in early spring to allow the flower heads remain over winter as they do look attractive as they dry over winter months. When clumps become large they may be divided in spring.