Desert Red Stonecrop

Desert Red Stonecrop (Sedum telephium 'Desert Red') is a compact, clumping sedum about 20cm high and 30cm wide that earns its place with a long season of change. Blue-green leaves deepen to dark burgundy in cooler weather, and clusters of hot pink flowers turn scarlet and then ripen into red seedheads. Bees and butterflies work it from late summer until the first frost.

Why you'll love it

• A plant that keeps changing. Hot pink flowers deepen to scarlet and then to red seedheads, while the leaves move from blue-green to dark burgundy. Every week looks a little different.
• Good for pollinators. Nectar-rich flowers draw bees and butterflies from late summer to the first frost, when other nectar sources are running out.
• Hardy and waterwise. Frost and drought tolerant once established, and happy in hot dry sites, windy exposed sites and cold frosty ones.
• Compact and tidy. A 20cm by 30cm clump suits small beds, borders and pots without crowding its neighbours.
• At home in a cottage garden. It looks as good in a sheltered cottage planting as it does in a tough dry bed.

Where it works best

Rockeries and dry borders. Plant 30cm apart for a repeating drift. The rounded clumps give structure to gravel and rock gardens.

Pots and containers. A compact size and tolerance of dry spells make it an easy potted plant. Use a free-draining mix and put it in a sunny spot.

Cottage and wildlife gardens. Mix it with grasses and other waterwise perennials. The late flowers feed butterflies and bees at a time when little else does.

Growing Desert Red Stonecrop in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or filtered shade, with sun bringing the best colour and a compact shape. It is hardy, with frost and drought tolerance once established, and suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. In humid, wet-summer districts, sharp drainage matters more than anything.

Soil. Gritty, free-draining soil. Mound heavy ground with grit, or use a succulent mix in pots.

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

Pruning. Not needed. You can leave the red seedheads for their winter colour and tidy them away in late winter, before new growth starts.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Desert Red Stonecrop as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, fresh clump. Plant it out in a sunny spot soon after delivery and keep it watered for its first 12 weeks or so, and the flowers follow as the clump fills out.

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

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
• Frost hardy plants
• Frost tolerant plants in Australia

Common questions

Do the flowers really change colour?

Yes. The flowers start hot pink, deepen towards scarlet and finish as red seedheads, so the plant stays interesting long after the first blooms.

Does it need much water?

Only until it is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, water when the soil is dry.

Will it cope with frost?

Yes. It is hardy and tolerates frost and drought once established, and it does well in cold, frosty sites as well as hot dry ones.