September 15, 2025
(Sedum ‘Crystal Pink’)
Sedums are just plain, great plants. They’ve got nearly every attribute to put them on the perennial perfection list.
TERRA NOVA® Sedums, or more correctly, Hylotelephiums, were segregated out from Sedums for botanical reasons in the late 1970s, but we’ll still refer to them as sedums. Hylo, from Greek, meaning wood and telephium, from the surgical term for an ulcer or something that is hard to cure or heal. Telephium honors mythical King Telephus, the son of Heracles and Auge, who was wounded by Achilles at battle and subsequently healed by him, too.
Sedums are easy to grow and are undemanding, providing that a few guidelines are met. Full sun is always best. Well drained soil, especially in the winter is a must, low soil fertility and light summer watering. Pretty dreamy, right? The beauty of TERRA NOVA® sedums is their breeding and selection process. Expertly bred by TERRA NOVA®’s top breeders, then selected years later, after observing them in less-than-ideal conditions. Some of the metrics employed in the selection process are 1) upright habit with little to no lateral spreading, 2) No bald spot in the middle as they age, and 3) long bloom period with added features. Added features include ornamental foliage as the plant grows, often changing colors with the seasons and brightly colored seed heads. Sometimes the seed heads are so showy, they’ll outshine the flowers – and they are longer lasting than the flowers. Not much bothers sedums in the garden; sometimes slugs in the spring, occasionally aphids and rarely spider mites. Treatment can be as easy as good spray from a hose, because sedums are quite tough. In the spring, pink buds will emerge from the crown and that’s a good time to fertilize with an organic fertilizer that’s balanced, or at least low in nitrogen, or a commercially prepared slow-release type. Once established, water sparingly in the summer, especially if you’re growing them in an area that gets summer rain.
Sedums, particularly, Hylotelephiums are superb pollinator attractors, bringing in several different bee genera and species, plus butterflies and moths. In the summer, you’ll be able to hear the bees on a grouping of plants, once they’re established. They’re that popular!
Though summer blooming, most varieties reach their peak in September, just as annuals finish their displays, making them a valuable transition plant for the fall to winter garden. TERRA NOVA® has one of the biggest selections available of hylotelephium in the world, all bred right here in Canby, Oregon. Check out your local garden centers or look online for trusted plant provider.
Hers’s a few photos of TERRA NOVA®’s most popular varieties, some have won awards domestically and some, internationally.
(Sedum ‘Mocha Magic’)
(Sedum ‘Cherry Truffle’)
(Sedum ‘Class Act’)
(Sedum ‘Marina’)
(Sedum ‘Dark Magic’)
(Sedum ‘Hot Stuff”)