Birthday Party Stonecrop

Birthday Party Stonecrop (Sedum 'Birthday Party') is a low, snug, waterwise sedum that grows about 20cm high and 60cm wide. From the end of summer to the first frost it is covered in large clusters of hot pink flowers that bees and butterflies love, and its green leaves turn deep plum shades in cooler weather. It is made for sunny, exposed spots and pots.

Why you'll love it

• Hot pink late in the season. Large clusters of magenta pink flowers open from late summer and carry on to the first frost, when much of the garden is winding down.
• Foliage that changes. Green leaves take on wine and plum shades as the weather cools, so you get a second colour show in the cold months.
• Feeds pollinators. The flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies.
• Hardy and waterwise. Frost and drought tolerant once established, with a low, tidy habit that handles exposed sites.
• Neat in a pot. Its compact shape and succulent leaves suit containers as well as garden beds.

Where it works best

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Plant 30cm apart to build a low, flowing drift that colours up in late summer. The mounded habit stays tidy without clipping.

Pots and containers. Use it alone in a shallow bowl or mix it with other waterwise plants. A pot also lets you move it into the best light.

Groundcover and xeriscaping. In dry, sunny beds it fills the space between taller plants and keeps bare soil covered with very little water once it is established.

Growing Birthday Party Stonecrop in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or filtered shade, with sun giving the most colour and the most compact shape. It is hardy, tolerating frost and drought once established, and suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and dry inland gardens. In humid, wet-summer districts, give it the sharpest drainage you can.

Soil. Gritty, free-draining soil. Add coarse sand or fine gravel to heavy ground, or plant on a mound. In pots, use a cactus and succulent mix.

Water and feed. Water until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, water only when the soil is dry. Feeding is rarely needed.

Pruning. No pruning is needed. Tidy off spent flower stems after the first frost if you like a clean look, or leave them for late insects.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Birthday Party Stonecrop as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and green, so plant it out soon, water it in and keep the soil lightly moist for the first 12 weeks or so while the roots settle. Flowers build as the plant fills out over its first couple of seasons.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. If the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Rockery plants
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• Drought tolerant plants
• Creating a waterwise garden

Common questions

When does it flower?

From the end of summer, and the hot pink clusters keep coming until the first frost. That late timing is a big part of its value, because few plants are in flower then.

How long does it need watering?

Water new plants regularly until they are established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, water only when the soil is dry.

Why do the leaves go purple?

Cooler weather brings out wine and plum shades in the foliage. It is a normal change, and a good one, because it extends the plant's season of interest.