Contents of the Summer 2011 Northants News

        Sedum 'Cape Blanco'                Don Campbell

ED: I asked Don Campbell (NN’s roving US correspondent), if he ever saw Sedum spathulifolium on his regular travels to the Oregon coast. I was interested in the white farinose form they call ‘Cape Blanco’. Here was his reply and images...

Yes we have seen S. spathulifolium everywhere we visited along the coast from northern Oregon to the Redwoods in California.

We also found some nice bunches of S. oreganum. I really like this little Sedum. It's very appealing tucked into nooks and crannies on the rock walls. The following three photos were all taken from a single highway pull out at what is generally considered the 'most photographed spot' on the Oregon Coast Highway. A 1/4 mile away is a popular tourist stop at Sea Lion Caves. The rocks immediately below the pullout are often crowded with lounging sea lions.

Above: Cape Blanco, (lighthouse seen upper left), is the westernmost point of land in Oregon

The lighthouse at Cape Blanco, Oregon

Sedum spathulifolium seen in habitat at Cape Blanco and similar to 'Cape Blanco' the farinose form we cultivate in the UK

Haceta Head, Oregon

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.

Sedum 'Cape Blanco' and 'Purpureum'

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

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