Sedum telephium - Orpine

Family:	Crassulaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.45
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	S. carpathicum. S. fabaria. S. purpurascens. Hylotelephium telephium. (L.)H.Ohba.
Range:	Europe, incl Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to the Pyrenees, temperate Asia, N. America.

Sedum telephium (Orpine) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.45m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 4and is vunerable to frost.
Orpine will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, self

Soil Information

Orpine 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
Orpine prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Orpine can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Hedge banks and the shady sides of damp woods[1, 4, 67].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Will grow in a hedge row

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils[188] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil that is not too dry[187]. Tolerates poor soils[233]. Succeeds in most soils and is tolerant of quite deep shade[219]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190], they grow well in dry soils and can be grown in crevices on walls[219]. Hardy to about -20°c[187]. This species has pink to red 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]. Polymorphic, intergrading with S. caucasicum where their ranges meet. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 12, 55, 66, 115, 183]. They have occasionally been used in salads[4]. Root - cooked. Used in soups, stews etc[12].

• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The whole plant is astringent and cytostatic[4, 66]. It is a popular remedy for diarrhoea, stimulates the kidneys and has a reputation in the treatment of cancer[4]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of boils and carbuncles[257].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Cytostatic - Slows or controls the growth of tumours.
• Skin - Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

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 can be taken at almost any time in the growing season, though early in the season is probably best.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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

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