Hylotelephium maximum
Hylotelephium maximum · Crassulaceae
📷 Jean-Jacques MILAN · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around hylotelephium maximum and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Tall Sedum, Autumn Stonecrop
- Foliage
- Deciduous, bluish to purple depending on the season
- Flowering
- August to October, pale pink to red flowers
- Mature size
- 16–24 inches tall, 12–16 inches spread
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Excellent, down to –4°F
- Origin
- Mountainous regions of Eurasia (Caucasus, Southwest Asia)
- Soil type
- Well-draining, poor to average, drought-tolerant
Care
Watering
Water moderately during spring and summer growth, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. In autumn and winter, reduce watering significantly as the plant goes dormant. Avoid stagnant moisture which causes root rot. Infrequent but deep watering is preferable to frequent shallow applications.
Light and Exposure
Place your tall sedum in full sun or partial shade, ideally with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. A sunny exposure intensifies the purple tones in the foliage and promotes generous flowering. Even in partial shade, the plant develops well but may be less compact.
Soil Preparation
Use a very well-draining mix: light potting soil blended with 40–50% sand, pumice, or gravel. In garden beds, improve drainage if your soil is heavy. Tall sedum tolerates poor and rocky soils; avoid excessive enrichment which promotes soft growth and weakens the plant's structure.
Fertilizing
Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring only, or skip it entirely if the soil was well prepared. Excess nitrogen makes the plant overly succulent and prone to disease. A light application of slow-release succulent fertilizer is more than sufficient.
Pruning and Maintenance
Remove dead or damaged stems in late winter before active growth resumes. You can cut back lightly after flowering to compact the shape. Dried flower heads remain decorative for a long time; remove them according to your aesthetic preference.
Diseases and Pests
This plant is robust and rarely troubled by pests. The main risks are root rot from excess moisture and powdery mildew from poor air circulation. Ensure good drainage, air flow, and avoid overhead watering. If problems occur, remove affected parts and improve growing conditions.
Did you know?
Hylotelephium maximum was formerly classified under the Sedum genus and bears the common name 'Autumn Stonecrop' because of its spectacular late-season flowering. In Southwest Asia, where it grows naturally, this succulent has been valued since antiquity for its exceptional hardiness and ability to beautify terraced roofs and rock gardens without requiring maintenance.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Biting stonecropSedum acre
- Cobweb HouseleekSempervivum arachnoideum
- Pacific stonecropSedum spathulifolium
- Pig's earCotyledon orbiculata
- Tree roofleek, Tree aeoniumAeonium arboreum
- Autumn stonecropHylotelephium spectabile
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.