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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Height: 1-3 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Sedum dendroideum 'Colossus' (Colossus Tree Sedum) - A succulent shrub to 10 feet tall with 1 1/2 inch long succulent green leaves that are spathulate at the base with an almost ovate leaf tip and have subepidermal glands along the leaf margin that turn reddish in full sun. These glands distinguish it from the very similar Sedum praealtum that is sometimes listed as a subspecies of Sedum dendroideum (S. dendroideum ssp. praealtum). Both species have clusters of small vivid yellow star-like flowers that form above the foliage in late winter and early spring, This plant is an attractive shrub that is useful as a succulent drought resistant hedge or even trained up as a small tree. This is an unusual form of the species that was re-introduced in 2013 through the Huntington Botanic Gardens International Succulent Introduction program as Sedum dendroideum 'Colossus' ISI 2013-30 but had previously been introduced in 1986 through this same program as Sedum aft dendroideum ISI 1681, noting then that it was "perhaps distinct enough to be a separate taxon, this interesting new plant forms small trees to 10' high with a trunk several inches thick, and terminating in clusters of yellow flowers. Rooted cuts of HBG 45419, plants collected Jan. 27 1981, by Bauml and Kimnach (#354) on Cerro de la Yerba, San Luis Atolotitlan, Puebla, Mexico." The late Myron Kimnach noted that a small cutting planted in his own back yard grew to 8 feet tall in 8 years. The fitting cultivar name 'Colossus' given to this robust form of the species was coined by Colin Walker. It was originally going to be published in Cactus World, the journal of the British Cactus and Succulent Society, but he allowed it to first be published as a new ISI plant in March-April issue of the Cactus and Succulent Journal the journal of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. We got our stock plant of this cultivar from the Huntington Botanic Garden in 2014 and it is planted in our nursery garden. The images on this page were taken by John Trager, curator of the Desert Garden at the Huntington Botanic Garden and are used with his permission.
The information about Sedum dendroideum 'Colossus' 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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