For January. 1922 



Sedum — Stone-crop 



RICHARD ROTHE 



T! II'" number of species of the genus Scdiim — a niem- 

 ])er of the order Cra^ssnlacca- — runs up to about one 

 hundred fifty. A o-Iance over the trade lists from 

 here and abroad shows great divergency in naming- and 

 standard wortcs mention synonyms to an extent betraying 



ScdiiL 



tiic present chaotic state of the nomenclature of stone- 

 crops. This, in some instances, renders it imjiossiijle for 

 growers and the trade in general to absolutely guarantee 

 correctness of name. 



Sedums are divideil in a dwarfy, low and dense grow- 

 ing evergreen class and a more or less succulent, hardy, 



Si'duiH album 



herbaceous class of mostly medium height, species of 

 both classes abounding within the temperate and arctic 

 zones of northern hemisphere. The largest assortment 

 in any of the American catalogs I have seen did not 

 e.xceed the two dozen figure. By nature they prefer an 

 open sunny rather dry situation, and when well estab- 

 lished prove exceptionally resistible to hot weather and 

 prolonged drought as well as to the most severe of even 

 our northern Winters. Many of the low creeping ever- 

 green species have frequently served as a most useful 

 material for covering dry and sandy embankments, where 

 grass growth turns brown every Summer. Scdiiiii acre. 

 dasYl^iixHiim, :^!aHCHiti and lyduin glaucniii. on account 



of their l.iw and dense habit of growth, are the best 

 mediums for tilling up crevices of rough slab stone walks 

 and stairwork in formal gardens. Sedum album. Ezversi, 

 reflexiim, spuriiiiii and stolonifenim are distinguished by 

 creeping and more spreading growth and, for this rea- 

 son^ best adapted for ground covering on a larger scale. 

 The best known representative of the herbaceous class 

 is Sedum sj^ectabile, the garden form of Sedum Fabaria, 

 a lilac-purple flowering native of Central Europe. Of 

 a sturdy erect growth, attaining a height from 15 to 20 

 inches, the large flowerheads of Sedum spectabile in 

 handsome rosy pink or, if we prefer the new variety 

 spectabile "Brilliant," in bright amaranth red, are a con- 

 spicuous feature in the later Summer and early Fall dis- 

 plays of many of our hardy borders. More recently I have 

 seen this sedum occasionally used for mass effects with 

 surprisingly good results. Sedum kanitschaticmn and 

 Sichnldi. both hailing from the Far East, are special 



Sec! Kin s/^ccltibile 



favorites for dr_\- wall planting, while Sedum obtiixi- 

 foliiim and the tallest growing of all, Telephinum piir- 

 piireum. with their large brown or reddish brown leaves, 

 are very interesting subjects for collectors. All the 

 stone-crops have figured prominently in rockgarden 

 plantings. Being late flowering, their red, pink, white, 

 and yellow blossoms very noticably bri,ghten color arrays 

 in gardens of our northern states. South of New Eng- 

 land vividness of hue diminishes perceptibly. According 

 to my observation the spec'es album, kamtschatienin, 

 Sicboldl, spectabile and spitrium. throughout the Middle 

 Atlantic and Southern States, thrive also in light or 

 partial shade. 



Whoever contemplates using stone-crops for ground 

 cover should enrich and prepare the soil to the same 

 depth as required for a first class lawn. 



Herbaceous sedums are raised from seed or propa- 

 gated by cuttings or division. Evergreen species are 

 divided and replanted any time during the growing- 

 season. 



The nations must be behind the statesmen, and that can 

 onlv be if the nations are educated to distinguish between 

 right and wrong in international as well as national 

 affairs. Such capacity to distinguish is the ultimate 

 sanction of law. — Public Opinion. London. England. 



