Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ (17/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 80cm

Eventual Spread: 80cm

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

Family: Crassulaceae

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ is a fast growing, compact, deciduous, herbaceous perennial. Its dark green fleshy leaves have red margins/ central vein, are ovate to linear with serrate margins and are up to 6cm long. Its stems are red in colour. Its pale pink flowers appear en mass in flat terminal cymes and are up to 10cm across.

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ Flower Buds (17/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The species, Sedum telephium, commonly known as Stonecrop, is native to most of Europe (including the UK). Sedum telephium is synonymous with Hylotelephium telephium.

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. Telephium is from the Greek name thlefion, a name given to plants capable of indicating reciprocated love.

The landscape architect may find Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ useful in informal prairie type scheme, as part of a mixed herbaceous planting scheme or in wildlife gardens. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ Leaf and Stem (17/07/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ flowers are very attractive to pollinating insects, including bees and butterflies.

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to alkali pH of soil.

Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’ requires little maintenance. Dead flower heads may be retained on the plant throughout the winter months to provide winter interest and cut off in early spring. Large clumps may be divided in spring.


Landscape Architecture