Sedum sieboldii - October Daphne

October Daphne (Sedum sieboldii, now Hylotelephium sieboldii) (Ohba): Large, powder blue leaves with scalloped, pink edges. Some show creamy stripes of variegation. The leaves grow in whorls of three and are stacked on arching, skewer-like stems up to 12.0" long. Each fall it produces sweet, round clusters of tiny pink flowers and provides an important late-season nectar source for pollinators.

This species is native to East Asia and tolerates temperatures down to at least -20F by going dormant and losing its aboveground material. Stems and leaves re-sprout each spring. Unlike most hardy stonecrops, October Daphne can grow indoors near sunny windows, though it tends to be more gangly and less pink. very quickly.

Hardy Sedum are easy, frost-hardy plants that thrive outdoors with full sun and great drainage. Plant in raised beds or containers with drainage holes and mix 50% coarse sand, pumice, or perlite into the soil to prevent rot. Regular water will help young plants establish roots and spread quickly, but mature Sedum can tolerate several months of drought. If you choose to propagate by hand, cut off the top 2.0"+ of stem and transplant it to re-root.