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Hylotelephium spectabile

Butterfly Stonecrop · Debela Koka · Showy Stonecrop

Family CrassulaceaeGenus Hylotelephium

A dense flat head of pink star flowers among pale unopened buds, above thick blue-green succulent leaves.
FlowerAndré Karwath aka AkaCC BY-SA 2.5

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herbaceous Perennial, SucculentExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
succulent perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Brown/Copper, Pink, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
China North-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Korea, Manchuria, PrimoryeGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Showy stonecrop, also called butterfly stonecrop, comes from China and Korea and reached France in the mid-1860s. Both the species and its cultivar 'Brilliant' hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia: Hylotelephium spectabile

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

90% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213Public domain
Show the original text
Sedum (Crassulaceae). All Sedums tolerated OS and germ. largely at 70. Germination in S. spectabile germ. 70(90-100% in 1-6 d) and 40(90-100% in 2-4 w) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 and 70(90% in 2-12 d) and 40(75%)-70(25%) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 1, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 days

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

90% germination in 1–6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213Public domain
Show the original text
Sedum (Crassulaceae). All Sedums tolerated OS and germ. largely at 70. Germination in S. spectabile germ. 70(90-100% in 1-6 d) and 40(90-100% in 2-4 w) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 and 70(90% in 2-12 d) and 40(75%)-70(25%) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

90% germination in 2–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213Public domain
Show the original text
Sedum (Crassulaceae). All Sedums tolerated OS and germ. largely at 70. Germination in S. spectabile germ. 70(90-100% in 1-6 d) and 40(90-100% in 2-4 w) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 and 70(90% in 2-12 d) and 40(75%)-70(25%) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    25 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

75% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213Public domain
Show the original text
Sedum (Crassulaceae). All Sedums tolerated OS and germ. largely at 70. Germination in S. spectabile germ. 70(90-100% in 1-6 d) and 40(90-100% in 2-4 w) using seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 and 70(90% in 2-12 d) and 40(75%)-70(25%) using fresh seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Sedum p. 213. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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