Suited for growing in Zones 3 to 9, this cultivar does best in full sun, though it can tolerate some light shade in the morning or afternoon.įertilizer can actually cause poor growth and flopping, so go easy on the additional nutrients.Īs mentioned, this specimen is joyfully drought tolerant. ‘Autumn Joy’ is drought tolerant once established and does best in well-drained soil with average to low fertility. Tamp slightly and give your transplant a drink of water. Gently set your plant in the hole and backfill with soil. Dig a hole about twice as wide and as deep as the root ball. The best location in your garden for growing ‘Autumn Joy’ will have full sun and good drainage. When your rooted cutting is ready to plant – or if you have a potted start from a friend or a nursery – the steps are straightforward. Replant your divisions immediately or place them into pots to share with friends. Ensure each division contains a few shoots and a portion of the root system. As soon as you notice new growth poking out of the soil, carefully dig the whole plant up.ĭivide the clump into sections with a sharp knife. ‘Autumn Joy’ should be divided every two to four years, presenting the perfect opportunity to increase your plot, add plants in other areas of your gardens, or share with friends.Įarly spring is the best time to divide herbaceous perennials like sedum. Once you have established plants, the fastest way to multiply your stock is by dividing and transplanting. In about two to four weeks, the cuttings should have produced enough roots to proceed with transplanting. If conditions in your home or greenhouse are dry, you might consider covering the tray with plastic to retain moisture. Keep the tray in indirect light and ensure the potting medium remains moist. Nestle the freshly exposed ends of the leaves or cut end of the stems into the soil so they stand up straight. You can also use the leaves you have removed for propagation.įill a tray or container with equal parts potting soil and sand. Trim each stem just below a node and remove the lower leaves. ‘Autumn Joy,’ like other succulents, can easily be propagated from cuttings in the spring or early summer.Ĭlip fleshy, non-flowering stems about four to six inches long.

‘Autumn Joy’ can be propagated from cuttings, and by dividing and transplanting. It doesn’t possess a stamen or an anther.

In spite of the name change, it is still known often referred to as Sedum ‘Autumn Joy.’ Autumn Joy Plant PropagationĪs I mentioned, this cultivar is sterile. In 2004 Ohba’s team conducted DNA analysis and confirmed Hylotelephium a separate and distinct genus, and the telephium and spectabile species, amongst others, were reclassified. Ohba and his team studying the Sedum genus proposed to reclassify several species. There was some speculation, but it appears to be a hybrid cross between two sedums – S. The cultivar made its way to North America sometime in the late 1950s.

The plant had accumulated a few different common or regional names during its infancy, including ‘Indian Chief,’ but the German name ‘Herbstfreude,’ which translates to ‘Autumn Joy,’ seemed to stick. Georg Arends, a German nurseryman, raised this cultivar and introduced it in 1955. And ‘Autumn Joy’ is a well known “poster child” cultivar. Hundreds of varieties, cultivars, and hybrids of sedum belong to the large family Crassulaceae, the stonecrops. Sedum is native to Europe and Asia, and the word “sedum” is derived from the Latin word “sedere,” which means “to sit,” – a sensible name for this genus with a growth habit of clinging to the ground or other rocky surfaces. In 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus assigned the scientific name Sedum in his renowned botanical publication called “Species Plantarum.”

Autumn joy sedum purple