Sedum telephium
‘Matrona’
‘Matrona’ stonecrop
craSSulaceae
Light pink flower heads; fleshy gray-green
leaves on purple stems
24–30 in. high; 18–24 in. wide
Full sun–part shade
Blooms August–September
Zones 3–9
pruning Sedum ‘Matrona’ should not
be deadheaded, as it is among the
most outstanding of perennials for
winter interest. The spent flowers look
amazing when coated with frost and
snow. In the early spring, they stand
tall above light blue-green nubs of new
growth at the base of the plant, and it
is best to cut them off at this time.
Plants may flop if grown in too
much shade or in overly rich soil. They
respond well to pinching or cutting
back for height control. Smaller, more
numerous flowers are produced and
flowering may be delayed slightly.
Plants can be cut back to 4 in. when
they are about 8 in. tall, normally in
early June. They could also be pinched
at this time. Many gardeners prefer
the results obtained from pinching as
compared to cutting back, claiming
that cutting back causes the plants to
callus and break off in winter weather,
whereas pinching does not.
other maintenance This is a
low-maintenance, undemanding
perennial that’s great for thebeginning gardener. ‘Matrona’ is
normally pest free but occasionally
may be troubled by aphids. Provide
well-draining soil and full sun to part
shade for best performance. It is a
drought tolerant plant. Division is not
needed for many (6–10) years and
should be performed in the early
spring when necessary.
related plantS Other upright
stonecrops make easy and colorful
garden additions.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (zones 3-10),
with pink flowers that turn bronze-red,
is a classic that’s simple to grow. Prune
as for ‘Matrona’. Sedum ‘Neon’ is similar
to ‘Autumn Joy’, but with amped-up,
vivid pink flower heads. Autumn
Charm (‘Lajos’) is a sport of ‘Autumn
Joy’ with cream-variegated leaves.
You’ll want to prune out any all-green
branches if they appear on Autumn
Charm, though this form, unlike the
earlier ‘Frosty Morn’, is quite stable.
Sedum maximum subsp. ruprechtii
‘Hab Gray’ (zones 3–8) has cool
blue-gray leaves and pale yellow to
white flower heads. It is easy to please.
Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ (zones 3–7)
benefits from a pinch to add fullness.
Like most of the purple-leaved upright
stonecrops, it wants to sprawl, and also
like most of the really dark stonecrops,
the foliage tends to go downhill in
mid- to late summer. ‘Postman’s Pride’
has glossy, chocolate-brown leaves and
suffers from the same problems, but
early in the year it is glorious.Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’