Best upright vs creeping sedums for sun gardens
I grow 'Autumn Joy' sedum at my Long Island house -- the big upright type, now classified as *Hylotelephium* 'Herbstfreude' but still sold everywhere as 'Autumn Joy' sedum. Three clumps in the hottest, driest bed along the driveway. They've never been watered after the first season. They've never.
I grow 'Autumn Joy' sedum at my Long Island house — the big upright type, now classified as Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' but still sold everywhere as 'Autumn Joy' sedum. Three clumps in the hottest, driest bed along the driveway. They've never been watered after the first season. They've never had a pest problem. They bloom from August through September when most of the rest of the garden is winding down, and the dried seed heads are interesting through the winter.
The taxonomy of sedums shifted in recent decades — many of the larger, upright garden sedums were reclassified from Sedum to Hylotelephium. For practical purposes, they're sold and managed the same way.
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Upright sedums (Hylotelephium)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, the tall upright sedums were reclassified to the genus Hylotelephium by the Royal Horticultural Society based on molecular analysis. Most garden centers still sell them as "sedum." The most important cultivars for garden use:
'Autumn Joy' ('Herbstfreude')
Zones: 3—9 Height: 18—24 in Flower color: Pink in August, deepening to rust-red in fall; seed heads persist through winter Notable trait: The standard upright sedum; sold in every garden center
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Autumn Joy' is the most widely planted tall sedum in American gardens. Per Penn State Extension, it flowers in August when most perennials are declining and holds its seed heads attractively through winter, providing bird forage and winter interest simultaneously. I've grown it for eight years in zone 7a; it has never needed staking, division, or supplemental water after establishment.
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, 'Autumn Joy' is one of the top five perennials for late-season monarch butterfly nectar. The flat flower heads are ideal landing platforms for large butterflies.
'Matrona'
Zones: 3—9 Height: 24—28 in Flower color: Pale pink flowers on purple-red stems Foliage: Blue-green with red margins
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Matrona' has one of the most ornamental foliage displays of any tall sedum, with blue-green leaves edged in red developing as the season progresses. Stems are darker red-purple than 'Autumn Joy'. Slightly taller and may need a single stake in rich soil.
'Neon'
Zones: 3—9 Height: 18—20 in Flower color: Vivid rose-pink (more intense than 'Autumn Joy') Bloom time: August
Per Penn State Extension, 'Neon' is the most vivid pink tall sedum. The color is noticeably more intense than the dusty pink of 'Autumn Joy'. Same cultural requirements.
'Purple Emperor'
Zones: 3—9 Height: 18—24 in Flower color: Pink Foliage: Deep purple-burgundy throughout the season
Per NC State Extension, 'Purple Emperor' is valued primarily for its season-long purple foliage rather than its flowers. The contrast between purple foliage and pink flowers in August is attractive. Per NC State, it performs best in lean, well-drained soil — in rich moist soil, the purple color fades and the plants flop.
'Autumn Charm' (variegated)
Zones: 3—9 Height: 16—20 in Flower color: Pink Foliage: Green leaves with cream-white margins
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Autumn Charm' is the most widely available variegated tall sedum. The cream margins are consistent through the season. Slightly less drought-tolerant than solid-leaved types.
'Mr. Goodbud'
Zones: 3—9 Height: 20—24 in Flower color: Lilac-pink Notable trait: Stronger stems than 'Autumn Joy'; less flopping in rich soil
Per Penn State Extension, 'Mr. Goodbud' was developed specifically to address the flopping problem common in tall sedums when grown in average garden soil. The stems are substantially sturdier than 'Autumn Joy' in conditions where 'Autumn Joy' becomes top-heavy.