Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Autumn Joy or ???
Inspired by the 'Autumn Joy' comments on Carol's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day post, and my own comment on Blackswamp Girl's post about her 'Matrona' sedum, I ask: why grow 'Autumn Joy' sedum?
Update: Apparently there isn't a way to display the "other" answers from poll respondants, except for me to sign on to polldaddy.com and view them. Ya get what ya pay for. So I'm placing all the "other" responses in the comments.
Labels: sedum
9 Comments:
None of the questions apply to me. I know what it is but don't have any yet. I never thought it was that great, but it is growing on me. A neighbor has told me that I can get a cutting of hers. So hopefully Robin's Nesting Place will be sporting some sedum next year.
Robin: Oh, darn, I thought I had covered all the bases ;-)
I don't love Autumn Joy, but I've come to appreciate it for its color after it darkens up from the muddy pink stage. And if you don't cut it down in the fall, it looks cool in the snow. And the butterflies like it.
I'm growing to really like it. It is so dependable, especially this year when it was so dry and hot for so long. Came through like a champ. Long live the Autumn Joy sedum!
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
None apply to me either...not one I grow...I'm not sure why...maybe because everyone does?? (Not that that has stopped me with other things...)
I'm late to the sedum bandwagon...I have Frosty Morn, but have to keep after it to keep the solid green out. And, a few small ground cover type ones...
I'm considering that Black Jack one, but so far haven't bitten.
Carol: Dependable is a good word for 'Autumn Joy'. I can't even remember how long I've had mine, but it's a looooong time.
Gotta Garden: I thought I might try Frosty Morn, but if it tends to lose its variegation, then I'm not so sure. I've had some of the low-growing ones for a long time, but most of them got crowded out by S. kammschaticum, and I just let them go. I picked up 3 new groundcover-types earlier this year, but don't remember their names offhand. Black Jack is new to me - I'm going to look it up right now.
We planted a pink flowered sedum with light green leaves one year but it grew too vigorously and fell under its own weight. It became too ugly all spread out and sprawling over other plants so out it went. We have not given sedum another thought after that experience. I wonder if I shouldn't try again with a dwarf form of sedum?
Ki: I like 'Vera Jameson', which is smaller - it does have a sprawling habit (all year), but the flowers are smaller so it doesn't squish its neighbors. If you try again with an Autumn Joy type, I'd suggest putting it in the worst soil you have in full sun. I have 2 clumps of Autumn Joy very near each other, but one is in the remains of a "lasagna bed" and the other is in unimproved clay. The one in clay is standing up straight and the other is sprawling.
The "other" responses to the poll so far:
* I don't grow it because the desert tortoises eat it up
* I want to add 'Autumn Joy' sedum to my garden because I've seen so many pictures
* There are many other nice sedums out there to grow instead.
* It's sturdy, dependable and good for cut flowers too and I like it as well.
* It attracts bees and butterflies
Desert tortoises? Really? (They may migrate here if we don't get some rain soon.) What else do they eat?
Desert tortoises? Cool!
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