|
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 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.
Sedum oxypetalum in its native habitat 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 unusual plant with us that we grew and sold from 2014 until 2020 and still have interesting potted specimens in the garden.
The information displayed on this page about Sedum oxypetalum is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
|
