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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [Graptosedum 'Bronze', Sedum 'Coffee', Hort.] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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x Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins' - A small succulent with reddish-bronze-colored foliage. The 1 inch long leaves, flat on the upper surface and keeled below, whorl around the stem with leaves at the tip arranged in a rosette. The leaves remain somewhat persistent on the stem so that the rosette is usually subtended by several inches of older leaves. In spring appear the terminal clusters of pinkish flower buds that open to reveal the 4-petaled yellow flowers. Growing to about 6 inches tall, it can spread or drape over a pot. Plant in sun (coastal) to light shade with good drainage in areas that don't see severe frosts - has tolerated 25° F without damage and likely can go a bit lower. We received this plant unnamed and for several years sold it as Sedum 'Coffee'. It is actually an intergeneric hybrid between Graptopetalum paraguayensis and Sedum stahlii and the correct name should be X Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins' or perhaps 'Bronze' - these two names seem interchangeable and there has been some debate on which is correct. In Holland this plant has been called Graptopetalum Roseum. Some list this as a synonym for Graptoveria 'Alpenglow' but these are distinctly different plants. The Huntington Botanic Garden notes on their information on 'Vera Higgins' that it is more robust and paler than 'Alpenglow'. Our thanks to John Trager of the Huntington Gardens for clearing up our confusion on the name of this little beauty. The name honors Vera Higgins (1892-1968), a British botanical artist, author, translator and fellow of the Linnean Society of London and recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society Victoria Medal of Honour in 1946. She was the the first editor of The Cactus Journal of the Cactus & Succulent Society of Great Britain from 1931 thru 1939 when World War II forced the Society to close down. During the war she was the editor of the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. Her last book was Crassulas in Cultivation, written in 1964.
This information about Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate 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 that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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