Autumn Sedum
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Family Crassulaceae
Few perennials earn all four seasons; Autumn Sedum does it standing still. Jade broccoli buds in summer, dusty-pink domes in September just as butterflies need them most, then rust-brown seed heads that wear snow like little caps. Eighteen to twenty-four inches of quiet, succulent architecture.
It thrives on the water you forget to give and feeds late bees and butterflies when the nectar year is closing. Safe around pets, unbothered by drought, handsome long after frost. Put one at a sunny front corner and let the calendar do the rest.
Full Sun
Low water
Moderate growth
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing autumn sedum? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries autumn sedum — Hylotelephium herbstfreude, print Nº 424, “Autumn Sedum.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
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 · Common problems
Common autumn sedum problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Almost none
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Root Rot in winter-wet clay
Autumn Sedum · Growing & propagation
Growing autumn sedum
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very low
Soil- Lean, drained
Clay + water = flop · pH 6.0 - 7.5
Fertilizer- None
The flop recipe is rich soil + feed
Pruning- Leave ALL winter (frosted seed heads are the show); cut in March
'Chelsea chop' in late May (cut by half) = stocky no-flop plants.
Spacing- 18-24 in
How to plant & propagate autumn sedum
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Autumn Sedum · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Autumn Sedum · Yearly calendar
The autumn sedum year, month by month
Jan
PruneDecember to March
BloomPruneBloomAugust to October
PruneDecember to March
What 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.
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.
Autumn Sedum · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Autumn Sedum in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Bees
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What autumn sedum is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Fall pollinators
- Use
- Winter interest
- Use
- Zero-water beds
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.
Autumn Sedum · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a autumn sedum variety
'Autumn Joy'/'Herbstfreude' (the icon); 'Autumn Fire' (sturdier); 'Matrona'
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Autumn Sedum
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
- Plant family
- Crassulaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- HYLOT
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
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.
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.
Elsewhere
Where autumn sedum sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily