This compact broad-leaved succulent is notable for its visual effect on the landscape and the garden – during its blooming period, the entire ground it covers turns bright yellow. Orange Stonecrop is the double winner of a Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The second specific epithet of the Latin name, kamtschaticus, refers to the plant’s natural range, although it has also naturalized elsewhere.
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Phedimus kamtschaticus, the orange stonecrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It is native to China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East north to Chukotka, and has been introduced to the states of New York, Norway, Germany, Austria, and the Baltic States.
Under its synonym Sedum kamtschaticum it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. In addition, the putative variety Sedum kamtschaticum var. ellacombeanum and the ‘Variegatum’ cultivar have also gained the award.
It is a glabrous herbs which reaching 7-25 cm tall with a strong and woody rhizome and numerous spreading-ascending stems. The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate to narrowly oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, spatulate or rhombic, obtuse, usually dentate, glabrous, shortly petiolate, 3.4 – 5 cm long, dark green.
 Orange stonecrop blooms in June to August from the terminal, flattish inflorescence with 1-5 (usually 3) cincinni. The flowers are 5- to 6-meros, (sub-)sessile, sepals linear to lanceolate or ovate, obtuse, to 4.5 mm, petals connate for up to 2 mm, oblong to lanceolate, apiculate or rather long-mucronate, carinate, 7 – 9 mm, yellow, filaments nearly as long as the petals, yellow, anthers orange.
II. How to Grow and Care
Orange Stonecrop is a succulent plant that thrives with minimal fuss, suited for gardeners seeking low-maintenance flora. Key care points include ensuring well-draining soil and providing full sun to encourage vibrant foliage coloration. Overwatering is a special care concern for orange Stonecrop, as it is prone to root rot. Adequate spacing to promote airflow is also crucial to prevent pest infestations. Its resilience and ability to withstand periods of drought render orange Stonecrop an ideal choice for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts.
Sunlight
Generally speaking, orange Stonecrop needs sufficient scattered light which should be bright and transparent. If there is not sufficient sunlight for a long time, the plant will be spindling, the tissue will become brittle, and the original color will fade slowly, as a result, the plant will grow into a loose shape, the color will turn green and yellow, and the resistance will decline.
Strong sunlight in summer may burn its leaves and stems.
When exposed to the sun, it tends to grow slowly or even stop growing, its leaves grow compactly and internodes shorten, which results in shorter plant. For some succulent plants, their old leaves wither in summer and new leaves tend to be short and compact, showing a bare rod shape as a whole. In summer, you can set up a sunshade for it or move the potted plant indoor.
Temperature
Orange stonecrop can grow in USDA zone 3-8. The plant prefers the night temperatures of above 13 °C and day time temperature must be at least 18-21 °C. However, the hot days of summer will not be a problem and the temperature of 38 °C can still produce good quality plants. High temperatures and high humidity can create a lot of disease issues, so stay on the lookout.
The plant can tolerate freezing temperatures. When the temperature drops below 10 °C the plant starts to go dormant. If you experiment with plants that are borderline resistant to freezing temperatures, or if you live in an area where the temperature frequently drops below freezing, then consider growing the plant in containers so you can move them indoors for protection from cold conditions.
Watering
Orange stonecrop are drought-tolerant but do need some water. They do their best with regular watering from spring through fall. Water thoroughly and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Young plant will need supplemental water for the first couple of weeks to establish roots. Established plants, as long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, shouldn’t need any extra watering. Avoid wetting the leaves, stems, and flowers when watering. In winter, water just enough to keep your plants from shriveling.
Soil
Soil is very important for the growth of orange Stonecrop, which must be loose and ventilated. Generally speaking, the soil is divided into three layers from top to bottom, namely, the top deco layer, the middle planting layer, and the lower hydrophobic layer, which requires different types of soils.
The top deco soil is paved on the soil surface for the decoration and fixation of plants. Some can prevent diseases and insect pests. When it’s completely dry, it’s time to water. There are many types of soil that can be used as top deco soil, such as white pebble, akadama soil, kiryuu sands, kanuma soil, etc. You can select proper ones according to different pots and plants.
The middle layer soil can fix plants and provide nutrients for plants to grow. You can buy the configured succulent planting soil directly in store, or buy soil materials to mix by yourself. The common soil formulation for this layer is peat moss : perlite : volcanic rock : vermiculite = 4:2:2:2.
The soil of the lower hydrophobic layer is placed at the bottom of the flowerpot or garden pit. It can evacuate the excess water in the succulent root system and prevent the root system from rotting due to water accumulation. The hydrophobic layer can be made of ceramsite, volcanic stone or other large-scale culture media. Coal slag or charcoal are also good choices. If it is planted in the garden, it is necessary to make sure that the bottom drainage layer is in good water permeability.
Fertilizing
Phedimus kamtschaticus typically needs no supplemental fertilization and can tolerate nutrient-poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich, this can cause weak, leggy growth. If you have very poor soil, mixing some compost into it will generally be enough to give your plant a boost. Chemical fertilizer can lead to stretching and flopping.
Pruning
Orange stonecrop don’t need deadheading (removing spent blooms), and they often look good even into winter. However, extreme heat and a lack of sunlight both can cause sedum plants to get a bit leggy. Cutting back the plants after they are done flowering can help to maintain their shape and encourage bushier, sturdier growth.
Propagation
Phedimus kamtschaticus is very easy to propagate either by stem cuttings or division. For a stem cutting, take cuttings in spring when the plants are in the period of active growth, simply trim off a portion of stem from a healthy plant that’s roughly 3 to 6 inches long, and remove the leaves on the lower half. Then, plant the cut end in soil wherever you wish. These prolific stems often will send out roots even if they’re just lying on top of soil, but planting them will give them a better shot at healthy growth.
Each leaves could potentially become a new plant. Choose healthy leaves, remove them from the plant, and allow them to callus for several days. Place the leaves on a well-draining soil mix and keep the soil slightly moist. They should be well rooted after about 2 to 3 weeks, with new plantlets forming at the base.
To propagate by division, gently dig up a mature plant, and carefully pull apart the roots to separate it into sections. Then, simply replant the sections, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil line. Like the stem cuttings, divided sections also will typically be quick to take root.
Propagation with seeds is the slowest method. Spring or summer is the best time to sow the seeds. Use a well-draining soil mix. Sow the seeds on the soil surface and gently press them down. Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate. Provide a consistent temperature between 15-21 °C. The seeds usually start to germinate after 2 to 4 weeks.
Winter period
Care needs to be taken to avoid overwatering and over-fertilizing any of these plants especially during the short days, lower light levels, and cooler conditions of winter.
Covering the plant with a layer of straw or placing a tent made from plastic or bed sheets over the plants can protect them from sudden freezing temperatures; don’t allow plastic to touch the plants, however. Remove any kind of covering as soon as the temperature warms.
Pests and Diseases
If over watered or overcrowded, the plant may be subject to infestation by scale insects and/or mealybugs. Slugs and snails may also be problematic outdoors. As with all succulents, overwatering, overcrowding and lack of good air circulation can lead to root and stem rot. To avoid these problems, be sure to give your plants plenty of space to grow and spread. Use an appropriate pesticide to deal with mealybugs and scale insects indoors.
Outdoors, encourage natural predators, such as ladybugs and lacewings. Pickoff slugs and snails by hand. Thin plants to reduce hiding places and improve air circulation. Reduce watering to make the environment less welcoming to slugs and snails. Crushed eggshells and/or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on the ground around affected plants may discourage these gastropods.
III. Uses and BenefitsÂ
Orange Stonecrop is perfect for rock gardens, city gardens, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, banks and slopes, edging, containers or as a groundcover
