Succulent, grey-green leaves, topped with large, flat heads of bright pinkish-mauve flowers in summer. This award-winning ice plant looks great planted in bold drifts towards the front of a sunny, well-drained border. A valuable late source of nectar for butterflies and bees, the flat flowerheads make attractive dried-flowers.
How to care for Hylotelephium spectabile (Brilliant Group) Brilliant:
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 (RHS 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.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.45m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.