Matrona sedum

Sun

Full sun is best; tolerates light shade, but stems may lean and leaf colour becomes greener.

Water

Low once established. Water new plants during dry spells; established clumps usually need extra water only during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including sandy, gravelly or moderately fertile loam. Avoid waterlogged ground, especially in winter, and very rich soil.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late summer to autumn; broad, flat heads of pale pink flowers age to dusky pink and brown.

Foliage

Fleshy, oval, lightly toothed grey-green leaves with purple-bronze flushing, carried on sturdy burgundy stems. Dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate; forms a substantial flowering clump within two or three growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the UK

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water newly planted clumps when the root zone dries; let the soil dry between waterings.
• Avoid routine feeding; rich soil and excess nitrogen encourage weak, flopping stems.
• Use a thin gravel mulch if needed, keeping the crown clear of wet organic mulch.
• In windy positions, put a discreet support around the clump before stems reach full height.
• Divide congested clumps in spring if the centre becomes bare or flowering declines.

Pruning. Leave dry stems and flowerheads standing through winter, then cut them close to ground level in late winter or early spring before new shoots lengthen. For shorter, more branched plants, optionally shorten stems by about one-third in late spring; flowering will be later.

Late winter

Cut down old stems before fresh shoots grow tall, taking care not to damage buds at the crown.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps in free-draining ground and water them in.

Late spring

Add discreet supports where needed, or shorten stems by one-third to reduce height.

Summer

Check new plants during dry spells; avoid feeding established clumps.

Late summer

Leave flowers for pollinators and cut a few stems for indoor arrangements if wanted.

Autumn

Keep fading flowerheads for winter structure and check that fallen leaves are not smothering the crown.

• Plant in repeated groups through a sunny perennial border for burgundy stems and late pink flowers.
• Combine with ornamental grasses and coneflowers in naturalistic planting; the broad flowerheads contrast with fine leaves and upright spikes.
• Use in a gravel garden with catmint and lamb's ears, where drainage is sharp and foliage contrasts are prominent.
• Place beside a path or patio where winter seedheads can be seen, allowing room for the mature clump.

Garden styles it suits: New perennial (prairie), Dry gravel garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance, Autumn colour and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Feather reed grass, Little bluestem, Purple coneflower, Catmint, Lamb's ears and Russian sage.

Wildlife: The late flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other visiting insects. Standing stems and seedheads add shelter and structure through winter.

• Crown and root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised position; discard badly rotted crowns.
• Flopping stems: provide more sun, stop feeding and avoid excessive watering; divide crowded clumps or shorten stems in late spring.
• Slugs and snails eating emerging shoots: inspect young growth and use barriers, hand-picking or locally approved controls as needed.
• Vine weevil larvae damaging roots, especially in containers: inspect failing plants and use an appropriate biological control when soil temperatures suit the product.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as a serious poisoning hazard, but it is an ornamental rather than a food plant; eating large amounts may cause stomach upset.

• Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude')

  Usually has greener leaves and stems, with stronger pink flowers that age to coppery rust; Matrona has conspicuous burgundy stems and paler flowers.

• Purple Emperor sedum (Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor')

  Has much darker purple foliage across the whole leaf and generally a shorter habit; Matrona retains more grey-green in its leaves.

Hylotelephium combines the Greek word for woodland with Telephium, an older plant name, while stonecrop refers to these plants' ability to grow in stony places.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring, or root non-flowering stem cuttings in late spring or early summer. These methods preserve the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably match 'Matrona'.

Accepted botanical name

Hylotelephium telephium

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Altay, Amur, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, China North-Central, Chita, Czechoslovakia and East European Russia.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 41 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.