Sedum plants belong to the Crassulaceae family and are considered succulents that are simple to cultivate in most areas. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, making them suitable for practically any horticultural project. Sedum plants don’t need pruning until they’re out of control. Pruning sedum plants can limit erroneous development and, in some instances, induce thicker plants if a particularly neat appearance is desired.
The unique Sedum telephium 2-5 variety was used as the seed parent in the creation of Sedum Thunderhead, while Sedum spectabile ‘Neon’ was used to pollinate the offspring.
The Thunderhead Sedum is an erect stonecrop that features enormous clusters of deep rose flowers that are held atop attractive, gray-green succulent leaves. It is a perennial that can withstand dry conditions and even grows well in rocky or sandy soils, making it ideal for use as a groundcover or focal point in flowerbeds, patio pots, and other small gardens.
Thunderhead Sedum Size
Thunderhead Sedum is a perennial herb with evergreen leaves that mostly grows to be 50 cm tall and 54 cm wide. It possesses strong, upright, clump-forming growth. The stems measure 31 centimeters in length and exhibit a glaucous, grayed-purple appearance. The leaves range in shape and size from ovate to elliptic, with an acute apex and a pinnate venation, clasping base, and a serrate edge (up to 5.5 cm in length and 3.6 cm in width).
The mature size of Thunderhead Sedum is around 26 inches tall and 24 inches wide. It is recommended to provide around 18 inches of distance between plants when growing them in a mass planting or as bedding plants. Its leaves tend to stay dense to the ground, so there is no need to plant anything in front of it. The average lifespan of this fast-growing plant is around 15 years when kept in ideal conditions.
Thunderhead Sedum Care
This plant thrives in full to the moderate sun. It is quite adaptive to growth circumstances that are either dry or moist, but it cannot survive any standing water at any time. It is regarded as drought-resistant, making it an excellent option for low-water gardens and xeriscaping. Although it is not pH-sensitive, it thrives on rocky soils and can withstand salt from the environment. It is very resistant to the urban environment and even does well in densely populated areas. This particular kind is a cross between two different species. It can be multiplied by division, but as it’s a cultivated variety, there can be limitations or prohibitions on how it can be multiplied.
This Thunderhead Sedum is a fantastic choice for gardens and outdoor containers and pots. Because it grows straight up, it works best as a “thriller” in a “spiller-thriller-filler” combination of plants in a pot. Plant it near the middle of the pot, covered by relatively small plants and those that grow over the sides. When cultivating plants in pots and hanging baskets outside, they often require more regular watering than plants grown in the ground. This plant, like most others in this environment, dies if left outside in containers throughout the winter.
Thunderhead Sedum Blooming Time
Thunderhead Sedum blooms from summer to autumn on terminal, corymbose, umbel-like inflorescences that are 18 cm long and comprise over one thousand flowers per stem. The star-shaped, medium-dark red-purple blooms possess greyed-purple buds and are supported by an 8-centimeter-long, greyed-purple, glaucous peduncle.
Thunderhead Sedum has magnificent groups of rose star-shaped blossoms that rise above the foliage from midsummer to midfall. The flowers are wonderful for cutting. The season begins with olive green, succulent, spherical leaves that gradually mature to a greyish green with pink undertones. This fruit has no ornamental qualities. The plant’s overall visual appeal is boosted by the burgundy color of its stems.
Thunderhead Sedum Pruning
The Thunderhead Sedum doesn’t require deadheading, and they frequently maintain their attractive appearance well into the winter. However, when exposed to high temperatures or inadequate sunlight, the plants can become leggy. After the plants are finished producing flowers, it is helpful to prune them back to keep their shape and to foster growth that is bushier and more durable.
It is relatively simple to propagate Sedum Thunderhead through stem cuttings or division. Remove the lower half of the leaves of a healthy plant’s stem and cut off a 3- to 6-inch section of the stem in the spring, while the plant is actively growing.
