Butterfly Stonecrop
Scientific name: Sedum spectabile Boreau
Diagnostic features Glabrous perennial. Stems erect, to 50cm. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, 4-10cm, dorsiventral, crenate-serrate. Flowers in large corymbose panicle. Petals 5, 5-8.5mm, pale pink to purplish-red.
Chromosome number: (2n=50, 51).
Habitat Introduced-naturalized; common in gardens and a persistent relic or throwout.
Distribution South & Central England, naturalized in woodland in North Wilts since 1930; China and Japan.
This species is keyed out on Page 2819 in the Text Key.
Note Sedum 'Herbstfreude' ('Autumn Joy'), said to be Sedum spectabile x Sedum telephium; it has narrower, more deeply serrate leaves and might be overlooked as an escape. |