Garden Stonecrop
Sedum arboroseum

Family: Crassulaceae

What it is like

A review of Sedum arboroseum shows that The International Plant Name Index does not recognise Sedum arboroseum as a valid name. The USDA acknowledge it has been used as a synonym for Hylotelephium erythrostictum.

Sedum arboroseum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Not known in a truly wild situation.

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Young plant - cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The leaves are used in the treatment of fevers, inflammations and wounds. The leaf juice is applied to burns and eruptions. The flowers are used in the treatment of vaginal fluxes, nervous afflictions of children, corneal opacity and prolapse of the genitals following labour. The whole plant is crushed and used as a poultice on inflammations etc.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Women's complaints: A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a fertile well-drained soil, succeeding in dry soils but preferring one that does not dry out completely. Established plants are very drought tolerant. Plants can be grown on walls. Requires a sunny position. Hardy to at least -15°c. All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

Propagating it: Seed - surface sow in spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise keep them in a cold-frame or greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though is probably best done in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Sedum erythrostictum. Miq. Hylotelephium erythrostictum. (Miq.)H.Ohba.