The illustrated growing guide
Autumn Sedum
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Family Crassulaceae
Est. zones 3-9
Four seasons from one plant: jade buds, September pink, rust seed heads wearing snow caps. The May chop is the one trick — otherwise old clumps split open like a bad haircut.
Full Sun
Low water
Moderate growth
Attracts butterflies
Attracts beesI
Overview
Will autumn sedum suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what autumn sedum actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-9Autumn Sedum at a glance
Common autumn sedum problems
- Almost none
- Root Rot in winter-wet clay
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow autumn sedum: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate autumn sedum
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The year
What autumn sedum asks for, month by month.
The autumn sedum year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The autumn sedum year as text
- Jan pruning
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug bloom
- Sep bloom
- Oct bloom
- Nov quiet month
- Dec pruning
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Autumn Sedum in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
What autumn sedum is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of autumn sedum, ruled as a catalogue.
Best autumn sedum varieties & cultivars
'Autumn Joy'/'Herbstfreude' (the icon); 'Autumn Fire' (sturdier); 'Matrona'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to autumn sedumyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Autumn Sedum questions, answered straight.
Is autumn sedum safe for kids and pets?
Autumn Sedum is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate autumn sedum?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where autumn sedum sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily