Buy Stonecrop Sedum 'Munstead Red'

Sedum 'Munstead Red'

Stonecrop

Position: full sun
Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
Flowering period: July to October
Flower colour: purplish red
Other features: attractive to butterflies and bees
Hardiness: fully hardy

The flowers appear from midsummer to late autumn and turn rich shades of purple-red as they mature, providing a good contrast to the succulent, grey-green foliage. Ideal for sunny, well-drained gravel gardens or filling gaps at the front of the border.
Garden care: The flowerheads look great left during the winter to add shape and texture to your border. In February and March cut back the old flowerheads and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Once established, sedums can have a tendency to flop leaving an open and unsightly centre, especially in fertile soil. One technique to help prevent this is the 'Chelsea chop'. During the last week of May (Chelsea Flower Show week), cut one in every three stems back to the ground. This will produce plants that are less lush and flower slightly later.