Sedum tetractinum
Sedum tetractinum · Crassulaceae
📷 Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around sedum tetractinum and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and bluish
- Flowering
- June to July, yellow star-shaped flowers
- Adult size
- 15 cm tall, compact and spreading habit
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Good, down to approximately -10 °C
- Origin
- Mountains of southwestern China
- Soil type
- Very well-draining, gravel or specialized cactus compost
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Sedum tetractinum demands full sun without compromise and very well-drained soil (gravel, cactus potting mix). Water very sparingly, except July-August when light watering boosts flowering.
The common mistake
Growing it in standard pots with universal potting soil: it rots in 6 months.
The pro's trick
Dust the collar with coarse sand right at planting: this eliminates the risk of root collar rot from winter humidity, even in damp climates.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during growth (spring-summer), allowing the substrate to dry between waterings. In autumn and winter, drastically reduce waterings or stop them entirely if the plant is dormant. Avoid standing water which causes root rot.
Exposure
Place Sedum tetractinum in full sun to optimize its bluish color and compactness. At least 6 hours of direct daily sunlight are necessary. In shade, the plant becomes leggy and loses its ornamental appeal.
Soil and drainage
Use a very well-draining substrate: succulent compost, a mix of universal compost and perlite, or fine gravel. A pot with drainage holes is essential. Renowned for tolerating poor soils, this plant abhors residual moisture.
Fertilizer
Apply a highly diluted fertilizer for succulents one to two times at the start of the growing season (April-May). Excess nitrogen promotes soft growth and spoils the compact charm. A plant in poor substrate sometimes remains more aesthetically pleasing.
Pruning and maintenance
No strict pruning is required. Remove dried or damaged leaves at the base. If the rosette becomes too dense, gently remove a few stems to rejuvenate the shape.
Diseases and pests
Watch out above all for root rot from excess moisture: prefer a substrate that is too dry. Indoors, monitor for mealybugs. Ventilate regularly and check drainage after each watering.
Did you know?
Sedum tetractinum hails from the mountainous massifs of Yunnan, where it thrives on limestone rocks. Its name 'tetractinum' refers to the four teeth that structure its tiny yellow flowers. Despite its apparent fragility, this minute stonecrop is a remarkable survivor: it can go months without water and quickly regenerates its roots as soon as the soil rehydrates, an adaptation strategy to an unpredictable mountain climate.
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
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.