Light
Give it full sun. In hot-summer areas it accepts a little light shade, but too much shade gives weak, floppy stems and fewer flowers.
Water
Once it's settled in the ground, it's drought tolerant and only needs a drink after a long dry spell. Pots are different, because the roots can't go looking for moisture, so water containers when the mix has dried out. Wet, poorly drained soil is what rots it.
Soil & pots
Average or lean, well-drained soil suits it best, and it copes with clay as long as water doesn't sit. Rich soil and heavy feeding give soft growth that splays open, so go easy on fertilizer. It also grows well in outdoor containers with a drainage hole.
Temperature
Hardy in USDA zones 3–9. The stems die back in winter and new shoots push up in spring. The dried flower heads stand well into winter, so you can cut them back after flowering or leave them for winter interest.
Is Autumn Joy sedum safe for pets?
Pet safety not yet confirmed. It isn't on the ASPCA's toxic or non-toxic plant lists, and we haven't found a veterinary source. NC State Extension rates it low-severity for people, with possible stomach upset if eaten. We haven't found a reliable source yet, so keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.
Propagation
Older clumps are easy to divide in spring, and cuttings from non-flowering shoots root readily in late spring and early summer. Even a detached leaf can grow into a new plant.
- In spring, lift the clump as the new shoots appear.
- Split it into pieces, each with several new shoots and some roots.
- Replant the pieces in sun and well-drained soil, and water them in.
- Or take cuttings from non-flowering shoots in late spring or early summer and root them in gritty mix.
Common problems
FAQ
Is Autumn Joy a sedum or a hylotelephium?
Both names point to the same plant. Botanists moved the tall, clump-forming sedums into Hylotelephium, and the RHS now lists it as Hylotelephium × mottramianum 'Herbstfreude' (Herbstfreude is German for autumn joy). Most nurseries still label it Sedum 'Autumn Joy'.
Why is my Autumn Joy sedum flopping over?
Usually too much shade, soil that's too rich, or too much water, which all make soft, top-heavy stems. Move it into full sun, skip the fertilizer, and next year cut the stems back by half in late May.
Why do Autumn Joy flowers change color?
That's the show. The heads start as pale green-pink buds in summer, open pink, deepen to rose-red in early fall, then age to coppery rust. Butterflies and bees visit the flowers, which makes it a useful late-season nectar source.
Is Autumn Joy sedum deer resistant?
Not reliably. NC State Extension lists deer among its problems, though rabbits tend to leave it alone.
Is Autumn Joy sedum toxic to cats and dogs?
We don't know for sure. It isn't on the ASPCA's lists and we haven't found a veterinary source. NC State Extension rates it low-severity for people, so it's best not to let pets graze on it.
Sources
- Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' (Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden)
- Hylotelephium × mottramianum 'Herbstfreude' (RHS)
- Hylotelephium spectabile 'Autumn Joy' (NC State Extension Plant Toolbox)
- How to grow hylotelephium (RHS)
- Chelsea chop (RHS)
- Hylotelephium × mottramianum (Plants of the World Online, Kew)
- Hylotelephium spectabile (Plants of the World Online, Kew)
- Hylotelephium maximum (Plants of the World Online, Kew)
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, Cats (ASPCA)
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, Dogs (ASPCA)