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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Flower Color: Red & Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 2-4 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Sedum oxypetalum (Dwarf Tree Stonecrop) - A small sometimes deciduous tree-shaped shrub to 2 to 4 feet tall with a stout trunk and upright stems with pale gray-green papery peeling bark. The stems hold small rounded obovate shaped medium green colored leaves with a small notch at the tip. In summer appear the fragrant star-shaped very pale yellow with pinkish-apricot colored centered flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and water regularly to occasionally through summer - best flowers and winter hardiness is achieved when kept on the drier side. It goes somewhat deciduous in winter particularly if kept dry or in the event of temperatures much below freezing with a harder frost of 20 °F. As a deciduous plant it can be hardy to 15 to 20 °F but for us it retains some leaves and tolerates our natural winter rainfall and near freezing temperatures. A great plant for a small treelike bonsai and very tolerant of being held for long periods in small pots. In its native habitat this is a dominant species in the lava fields in the highlands plateau in central Mexico that was known to the Aztecs as Anahuac, but more recently called the Basin of Mexico or Valley of Mexico. Its range extends across to Michoacán on the Trans-Mexico Volcanic belt where it grows with several other shrubby sedums but the leaf shape helps distinguish this species from several other species such as Sedum frutescens, S. quevae, and S. griseum, though only S. frutescens can get a trunk as stout as S. oxypetalum. The name for the genus comes from the Latin word 'sedo' meaning "to sit," in reference to the manner in which some species attach themselves to stones or walls. The specific epithet is from the Greek words 'oxys' meaning "sharp" and 'petalum' meaning "flowers" for the sharp lanceolate petals of this species. We thank our friend John Bleck for sharing this plant with us.
The information about Sedum oxypetalum displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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