Sedum spectabile Brilliant - Autumn Stonecrop

Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant' is an easy-to-grow autumn stonecrop, particularly decorative in late summer when adorned with beautiful pink inflorescences animated by a perpetual ballet of butterflies and pollinating insects. This variety forms a pretty clump of fleshy stems adorned with large succulent leaves of a fairly light powdery green, which is glaucous to grey. Without a doubt, this is one of the most accommodating plants. This perennial tolerates dry and poor soils, cold weather, and survives in low-maintenance gardens.

'Brilliant' belongs to the Crassulaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Sedum spectabile (synonym Hylotelephium spectabile), native to China and Korea. It forms a dense bushy clump, reaching 40cm (16in) in height and spreading over 45cm (18in), with a rather slow growth rate. The flowering usually begins in September and remains decorative until the first frost. The inflorescences, in flat and dense terminal cymes, reach 12 to 14cm (5 to 6in) in diameter. The tiny flowers are born in dark pink buds, then bloom in a lighter but vibrant pink shade. Intensely nectar-rich and honey-producing, they attract many insects. The aerial vegetation is deciduous, emerging from the ground in spring and disappearing before winter. The thick and fleshy foliage consists of leaves about 15cm (6in) long. They are ovate and flat in shape, and pale green with a slight bluish tinge.

A boon for gardens where the soil lacks depth, 'Brilliant' is primarily a plant for well-drained, even dry, soil. Combine it with rocks in rockeries, paving stones on patios, and walls, surrounding it with a procession of grasses like stipa and eragrostis, or grey-foliaged plants like wormwoods and silver ragwort, which all accept the same difficult living conditions. Its sculptural design is pleasant in a pot. It is also an excellent flower for drying or for fresh floral bouquets.