I’m pretty sure the very first perennial I ever purchased was Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. It was advertised as “fool proof” and the perfect perennial for beginning gardeners in all the books I had read. That’s all I had to hear so I went out and bought two of them (planting in odd numbers was still a foreign concept to me).
I loved it at first with it’s unique foliage and the fact that it emerged so early in the spring. When the blooms came in late summer, I was pumped up. But then it happened … it started to sprawl and I was devastated (slight hyperbole). I gave up on them for years but admittedly would look longingly at them in other people’s gardens.
Fast forward ten years or so and I’ve found the perfect solution to my sedum envy, she’s called ‘Autumn Fire’:
I’ve owned this beauty for three years now and have been thrilled with the results. I could swoon over those sedum blooms:
Without worrying about this happening:
Some Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ facts:
- Maxes out at about 2′ x 2′
- Prefers full sun
- Needs good drainage to survive and some how I found a spot where that works
- Is not deer resistant and again, I’ve some how managed to hold them off … for now
- Survives in zones 3-9
Personally, I love watching the blooms slowly change from mid summer all the way into the middle of Fall:
Give it a whirl, won’t you?
John
“autumn fire”… such an appropriate name… nice whirling photos.
thanks for the inspiration!
Hi,
You know, I’ve had a Sedum “Autumn Joy” growing in the far corner of my garden for almost 10 years. It was never as showy as the “Autumn Fire” until this year. It’s bright burgundy and beautiful. It’s as though it’s saying “look at me back here in the corner!”
I have a new appreciation for Sedum and plan to plant more of it in the garden.
Your blog is such a resource. I’m going to visit often to see all of what’s here!
Cheers,
Alaiyo
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Kristin said…
It’s funny, some of these Sedum hybrids have really renewed my interest in these guys. It’s hard not to appreciate them when you see a flawless Piet Oudolf perennial drift with these shapes rising up in the grasses. Great blog…holy s. thanks for your post!
A good choice in the Pacific Northwest as well. With the onset of GreenRoofs and the like… Sedum’s are becoming a favorite in the garden around here.
Tim from http://www.drakes7dees.com
Thanks for the info. I will go to the nursery and get Autumn Fire
Karen – always love to inspire, thanks!
Alaiyo – thank you for the kind words and psyched to hear your digging the sedum.
Kristin – thanks for stopping by and for the kind words. I’m also a huge Oudolf fan, he is the best!
Drake’s – thanks for reading! I struggle a bit with sedums and my poor draining soil but I’m managing to find a way for now.
Charlotte – I highly recommend buying them. Good idea!
Other great sedums that have been non-floppy:
‘Autumn Charm’, ‘Autumn Delight’, ‘Mr. Goodbud’, ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Chocolate Drop’, ‘Birthday Party’, & ‘T Rex’.
I just bought Sedum Abbeydore, and it’s tall, non-floppy and absolutely gorgeous!