Contents of the Summer 2011 Northants News
Sedum
'Cape Blanco'
|
We also spotted Dudleya farinosa at many places from southern Oregon down into the Redwoods. Unfortunately, most had to be viewed through binoculars because of their preference for vertical rock faces. Near the end of the trip I finally got close enough to actually touch a few plants. I tried to buy a potted Dudleya farinosa at several nurseries in the towns we stayed in. No luck, in fact they didn't even know of the plant. Most carried the Cape Blanco Sedum but not the S oreganum. Don. |
Dudleya farinosa near Haceta Head |
Sedum oregonum on an oceanside cliff near Haceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon |
Additional
notes from the Ed Sedum
spathulifolium ‘Cape
Blanca’ - in the garden. This succulent is widely available in garden centres in the UK and is a great ‘alpine’ for the rock garden or front of the border. It is often incorrectly named ‘Capa Blanca’ but Cape is correct. Its main requirement is sunshine though I have seen plants scorched by long droughts. This species is also available in a purple leaved form generally called ‘Purpureum’, which is also an attractive plant. Both 'Cape Blanco' and Purpureum' can be seen in the image (right) taken at the Lake District Horticultural Society's garden. Sedum 'Angelina' is the yellow plant near left. In
winter ‘Cape Blanca’ looses its white farina and looks rather
‘Purpureum’. I used to grow a green leaved form, which was hardly
worth it, and the cultivar ‘Aureum’ which was a sickly yellow leaved
form. This last had a poor constitution and quickly expired in the
garden. I eventually lost my pot grown plants as well. Sedum oregonum is
also available in garden centres and is of an easy constitution. Though
its brilliant shiny green leaves are quite attractive, in a dry
situation they will turn bright red. |
Both
S.
spathulifolium and
S.
oregonum have
attractive contrasting yellow flowers held low over the leaves. However they
tend to fall apart a bit after flowering and occasionally birds will produce the
same result.
These
are easy succulents to propagate. Shoots pushed into some well drained compost
in a pot will quickly produce a nice cushion or divisions or unrooted stems can
be simply planted in the border or rock garden where they are to grow.
Trev