Perennial of the Month-- October 2008 

(SEE-dum tell-EH-fee-um) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: Samuel Oliphant stonecrop

Family: Crassulaceae, Orpine

Height x width: 18-24in. tall and wide

Growth rate, habit: moderate, upright

Foliage: dark green, cream speckles and outer margins, neon pink edges; purple stems; alternate, oblong, 2-6in. long and half as wide (shorter near tips)

Flowers: light pink, mid-summer (south) to late summer (north), color lasts until fall, in umbels 5 to 8 in. across and heavily branched, carmine buds

Hardiness: USDA zones 3-8

Soil: most if well-drained, average to poor best, drought tolerant once established, lanky if too fertile or rich soil

Light: full sun to part shade

Pests and problems: none serious, leafspots if too wet

Landscape habit, uses: borders, rock gardens, containers, cut or dried flower; combine with New York asters, coralbells, blue fescue, yarrow

Other interest: from a Connecticut grower (John Casertano) in 2000 in Chesire, CT and named for his son; sport of Sedum 'Matrona' and similar in most respects only slightly smaller; noted for its unusual and unique leaf variegation and dark stems, and interest through much of the year; flowers are good late summer for bees, seedheads in fall for birds; somewhat salt tolerant, rabbit resistant

Other culture: leave flower heads on for winter interest, cut back to ground in early spring when new growth appears; may need dividing every 3-4 years, especially if plants flop and splits in the center; can cut back by half in early summer to make shorter stockier plants

Propagation: cuttings (early summer), division home; commercially from licensed growers as patented (PP15582)

Sources:  specialty perennial nurseries, Sunny Border nurseries (wholesale, 2008), Walters Gardens (wholesale, 2008)