Ice Plant

Sedum cauticola Lidakense

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
• Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
• Flowering period: August to October
• Flower colour: pink
• Other features: the dried flower-heads provide colour and structure in the winter garden
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  The low cushions of blue-grey foliage are suffused with purple through the summer. The starry pink flowers emerge late, but carry on well into the autumn and tend to darken to carmine as they age. This plants is tolerant of heat and drought and is very easy to care for.
  
  
• Garden care: 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.

< Previous Plant Next Plant >