Flower gardening is the
passion that inspired this art. I am in the garden whenever I can be. We
have very long winters, and when I can't be in the garden, my mind will often
wander there. I am by no means a gardening expert, being more of an
experimental gardener, but this page contains some of my personal garden tips,
techniques, experiences, and thoughts. |
This is one of my favorite perennials. It is way up there on my list of must haves.
Although it is at its height of color in late summer and fall, it is lovely to look at year around.
Autumn Joy grows 2-3 feet tall and nearly as wide in a rounded mound. It is very low maintenance,
dependable, noninvasive, drought tolerant, very hardy, attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, and
since it always looks good, even when it is not blooming, what's not to love?
They start growing in early spring as a tiny mound of very attractive green rosettes peaking out of
the soil. The leaves and stems grow rapidly and are succulent and fleshy and always fresh looking.
In July the flower heads form and look like silvery green broccoli heads. In early August the heads
begin to turn pale pink. As time progresses the color deepens and becomes richer going from dark pink
to reddish to burgundy bronze. After a hard frost they will turn a deep brown and add interest to the
winter garden, especially when capped with snow. Although from a distance those color changing heads
look like big umbrella shaped flowers, upon close examination they consist of hundreds of tiny
clustered pointed stars.
They love full sun and well drained soil, although they will grow in just about any kind of soil.
I have read that if they are grown in partial shade, or south of zone 7 they will get leggy and tend
to topple over. In these cases pinching back the heads in the late spring is recommended. I have
never had to do this. I cut the old plant down in early spring and that is the only maintenance
required of me.
These plants are indestructible; they are also know as "Live Forever Plants". I planted one in my
roadside garden bed late one fall. We received an early snow and the force of the snow thrown back
by the snowplow knocked it right out of the ground because it hadn't rooted itself in yet. It lay
there all winter on its side, sometimes with the rootball covered with snow, other times fully
exposed. Finally in early April I took pity on it and stuck it back in the ground. It thrived and
is still going strong.
I highly recommend Autumn Joy Sedum to anybody, but especially to those who are new to gardening.
Because these plants are beautiful and durable, it makes one feel confident in their gardening ability.
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