BBC Gardeners' World

Plant details

• Common Name: Ice plant
• Genus: Sedum
• Species: spectabile
• Cultivar: 'Brilliant'
• Skill Level: beginner
• Exposure: full sun
• Hardiness: hardy
• Soil type: dry, sandy, well-drained/light
• Height: 0.45m
• Spread: 0.45m
• Time to divide plants: March to May

Sedum spectabile is an old-fashioned perennial with cabbage-like rosettes of succulent foliage throughout summer. Towards mid-summer, flat tightly-packed heads of green buds appear just above the foliage these form a feature in their own right, and floral artists often cut them at this stage. In late summer the buds gradually open to reveal masses of tiny flowers, in this variety bright rose-magenta. They are highly attractive to butterflies, and several species can be found crowding over the flowers, making an additional attraction in the autumn garden. This is sometimes listed as Hylotephium spectabile. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).