Crystal Pink Stonecrop
Sedum spectabile 'Crystal Pink'
Plant Height: 12 inches
Flower Height: 16 inches
Spacing: 12 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3
Other Names: Showy Stonecrop
Description:
The iciest-pink flower heads you will ever see; large heads of the softest pink on short sturdy stems make an awsome combination with blue-leaved grasses; does not tend to fall apart and is an excellent attractor for pollinating insects and butterflies
Ornamental Features
Crystal Pink Stonecrop has masses of beautiful clusters of shell pink flowers at the ends of the stems from mid summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive coral-pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its large succulent round leaves remain light green in color throughout the season. The dark red stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.
Landscape Attributes
Crystal Pink Stonecrop is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Crystal Pink Stonecrop is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Crystal Pink Stonecrop will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 16 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 16 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Crystal Pink Stonecrop is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.