Autumn Joy is a rock gardener’s delight. It is a succulent perennial which grows from 12-24” high and 18-24” wide. It has an abundance of pink to lavender flowers from August to frost and grows well in partial shade to full sun. The flowers (3” to 6” across) form on the end of 24” tall scapes. They are a magnet to butterflies.
Live Forever is a reliable, easily grown, low maintenance perennial with abundant blooms. It is hardy from zones 3 through 11, depending upon the cultivar acquired. It is known by different names:
- Autumn Joy
- Sedum Autumn Joy
- Live-Forever – Ancient Greek name for Sedum
- Orpine – referring to the Genus
- Harping Johnny – A Norfolk name for Sedum
- Frog’s Belly – Take a leaf from the plant, open the end slightly, and blow into it. It will expand and make a nice “pop”. It also looks like a frog’s belly prior to bursting.
- Witch’s Moneybag – A name attributed to a leaf when children blow and expand it, making a balloon purse, called a Witch’s Moneybag.
Growth Habits
Autumn Joy is a Sedum (Family, Crassulaceae, Genus, Hylotelephium). Early spring buds emerge as pale green and grow into a lush mound of fleshy green leaves (cactus like), turning gray-green as the summer progresses. Sedum plants grown in full sun have a nice reddish hue to the ends of the leaves by full summer. Autumn Joy grows well in individual pots.
The sedum flower blooms start out a pale pink color, maturing to rosy red. The dried flowers and scapes last until spring and bring visual interest to a winter garden. During snow, each bloom will have a snowcap.
Being a Sedum, the plant is slow growth. Propagation comes from cuttings or new sprouts at the base of the plant, preferably in the spring. It requires moderate water in well-drained soil. “Sedum” means a plant that “sits”. The plant grows best in well-drained soil. Originally, the plant is from Eastern Europe, Asia, to Japan.
Uses
This plant is excellent for rock gardens, areas of poor soil (as rock banks), and walkway borders. It also has medicinal purposes.
- Roman soldiers believed the plant had healing powers for wounds.
- In a report released by the University of Sienna, Sienna, Italy, September 26, 2008, a study had been accomplished which showed that sedum possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic and keratolytic properties.
- The effects of Autumn Joy are comparable to conventional medicines like Ibuprofen. Drinking a teaspoon of Autumn Joy “tea” twice daily is supposed to relieve male urology symptoms of Varicocele swelling (scrotum) in men within a week. This claim is unverified.
Autumn Joy and other sedum plant varieties are available at local nurseries or ordered online from the Internet. Whichever cultivar is chosen, it will give years of lasting beauty and enjoyment to any garden landscape.
Beverly Bright - Beverly worked in industrial/commercial Architectural Drafting and Design for 35 years and owned and managed her own business for 17 of ...
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