Scottish's Garden
Sedum telephium subsp. maximum Gooseberry Fool
Genus: Sedum.
Species: Sedum telephium.
Bought Klondyke GC Livingston 6 October 2012
Planted in front garden 22 October 2012
Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil
Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
Flowering period: September to November
Flower colour: creamy green
Other features: attractive to butterflies and bees; the dried flower-heads provide colour and structure in the winter garden
Hardiness: fully hardy
Succulent leaves, topped with large flat heads of creamy green, star-shaped flowers in autumn, will help soften the edges of a sunny border, or can be used to add late colour to a pot. This lovely perennial also looks great planted in drifts through a sunny gravel or coastal garden.
Garden care: The flowerheads look great left during the winter to add shape and texture to your border. In February and March cut back the old flowerheads and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Once established, sedums can have a tendency to flop leaving an open and unsightly centre, especially in fertile soil. One technique to help prevent this is the 'Chelsea chop'. During the last week of May (Chelsea Flower Show week), cut one in every three stems back to the ground. This will produce plants that are less lush and flower slightly later
Eventual Height: 0.6m
Eventual Spread: 0.45m
