Autumn Joy sedum with dusty rose-pink flat flower heads above fleshy blue-green leaves

Sedum Autumn Joy

Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Categories:
Perennials  ·  
Perennials
Light
Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)
Water
Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, then let the soil dry between waterings; provide supplemental irrigation during extreme heat without keeping roots wet. Reduce watering during winter dormancy.
Size
1-2 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Habit
Perennial clump – upright
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A clump-forming succulent perennial with fleshy leaves and broad flower heads that age from pink to coppery rust. Also known as Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’; Phoenix’s extreme summer heat makes it a challenging rather than reliably desert-adapted choice.
Bloom Time
Late summer to fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Deciduous
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Perennial clump – upright
Mature Size
1-2 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Flower Color
Pink to rose / aging to rusty red
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Cactus / Succulent Garden, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Amended / Rich, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Afternoon shade, Autumn sage, Bulbine, Society garlic
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat and hot west-facing exposures.

Water: Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, then let the soil dry between waterings; provide supplemental irrigation during extreme heat without keeping roots wet. Reduce watering during winter dormancy.

Soil: Very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. Use raised beds or containers with drainage holes where native soil drains poorly; avoid rich soil and heavy fertilization.

Mature size: 18–24 inches tall and wide, including flower stems.

Bloom: Typically late summer through fall; flowering may be reduced or delayed by Phoenix’s extreme heat.

Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous perennial; usually dies back in winter and regrows from the crown in spring.

Growth rate: Moderate; growth may slow during extreme summer heat.