Sedum spectabile - Ice Plant

Family:	Crassulaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.4
Width:	0.4
Synonyms:	Hylotelephium spectabile. (Boreau.)H.Ohba.
Range:	E. Asia - China, Korea, Manchuria.

Sedum spectabile (Ice Plant) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.4m and a width of 0.4m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Ice Plant will flower in March to April. the seeds ripen from April to May
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Ice Plant will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Ice Plant prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Ice Plant should not be planted in shady areas.

Valleys, rocky cliffs and damp places along woodlands[147].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• In an East Wall

Cultivation Details

A very easily grown and tolerant plant, it succeeds in most soils[188] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. Tolerates poor soils[233]. Established plants are drought tolerant[200], they can also tolerate considerable neglect, surviving even in the dense growth of weeds[K]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. This species has pink flowers[200]. All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity[62, 85]. The flowers have a honey-like smell similar to Buddleias[245]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[187]. The flowers are very attractive to bees and lepidoptera[30]. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[105]. The leaves are very mucilaginous but have a fairly bland flavour[K].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The plant is antiphlogistic, depurative, sialagogue[147].

• Antiphlogistic - Reduces inflammation.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Sialagogue - Stimulates the secretion of saliva.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise keep them in a cold-frame or greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year[K]. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though is probably best done in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Cuttings at almost any time in the growing season. Very easy, even a single leaf will produce roots and form a new plant.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 30cm apart each way[208].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

'' - There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of China

Author:
Rating: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher : On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.
Date of Publication : 1994

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