Coppertone stonecrop
Sedum adolphi · Crassulaceae
📷 Dryas · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around coppertone stonecrop and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and colorful
- Blooming
- May to June, yellow flowers
- Adult size
- 20 cm in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Not hardy, freezes below 5°C
- Origin
- Mexico
- Leaf type
- Compact rosette
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Rots in winter in wet soil; standing water weakens it faster than frost. Container growing highly recommended, or in raised rockery with lateral drainage.
The common mistake
Giving it too much water thinking you're feeding it: it stores water in its leaves and suffocates.
The pro's trick
Grow it in movable pots in oceanic climates; bring them under unheated shelter November-February to avoid continuous rain.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), allowing the soil to dry between waterings. In autumn and winter, drastically reduce waterings or stop them completely: this plant fears excess moisture which causes root rot. Test soil moisture with your finger before watering.
Light exposure
Place your Sedum adolphi in full sun to promote the golden coloring of its foliage and compact growth. A minimum of 6 hours of daily sunlight is recommended. Indoors, install it near a very bright window, preferably south-facing.
Soil and substrate
Use very well-draining substrate, made of cactus and succulent potting mix combined with sand or perlite. Soil that is too rich or too water-retentive promotes disease. Make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Fertilizing
Apply diluted succulent fertilizer once or twice during the growing season (April-September). Avoid overfeeding: this frugal plant needs it only moderately. Do not fertilize in autumn or winter.
Pruning and propagation
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape. Leaves and rosettes that detach can be replanted in dry substrate: this is an excellent way to propagate the plant. Remove dead or damaged leaves as needed.
Diseases and pests
Watch for root rot caused by excessive moisture, the main danger for this species. Mealybugs and spider mites may appear indoors; good air circulation and proper watering prevent their appearance. Isolate the affected plant from others and treat quickly.
Did you know?
Sedum adolphi was named after German chemist Johann Adolph Wilhelm Dieterich, but it was long known as Sedum nussbaumerianum. Its golden, fleshy leaves change color throughout the seasons and with light intensity, shifting from golden-green to orange-red in full sun: a true living palette that fascinates succulent collectors.
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.