Sedum spectabile Carl - Autumn Stonecrop

The Sedum 'Carl' is a deciduous succulent that stands out in flower beds due to its generous flowering in a bright pink color, animated by a perpetual ballet of butterflies. This fairly recent variety has a neat appearance, thanks to its sturdy and compact vegetation that forms a clump of solid and fleshy stems emerging from a beautiful, lightly powdered green glossy foliage. This perennial is undoubtedly one of the most accommodating plants, tolerating dry and poor soils well, and surviving in gardens without gardeners.

The 'Carl' autumn Sedum belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a cultivar obtained in England, derived among others from the Sedum spectabile, native to China and Korea. It forms a bushy clump, reaching a height of 40 cm (16in) and spreading over 30-35 cm (12-14in), with a rather slow growth. The flowering occurs from September onwards and stops at the first frost. The inflorescences, in dense flat terminal cymes, reach a diameter of 15 cm (6in). The tiny flowers emerge as dark pink buds and then bloom in a very pure pink shade. Intensely nectar-rich, they attract numerous insects. The deciduous foliage is thick and fleshy, ovate, with undulate and crenate margins, gathered at the base of the plant. The color of the glossy leaves is intermediate between water green and gray green, each bordered by a pink-purple edging. The brown-violet seeds are very decorative and provide food for birds.

A boon for gardens where the soil lacks thickness, the 'Carl' Sedum is primarily a plant for well-drained soil, even dry soil. Pair it with rocks in a rock garden, with paving stones on the terrace, and with low walls, surrounded by a procession of grasses such as Stipa and Eragrostis, and gray foliage plants like Artemisia and Senecio cineraria, which, like it, accept these difficult living conditions. Its design is pleasing in a pot, and it is also an excellent flower for drying or for fresh flower bouquets.