Sedum Matrona [SEE-dum, ma-TRO-na] is a lesser-known version of a large genus, sedum, which belongs to the family Crassulaceae.
The members of the Sedum plant family are known as “stonecrops”.
Sedum matron is native to the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere in Africa and South America.
The succulent plant is known by the following common names:
- Autumn stonecrop
- Matrona stonecrop
- Showystonecrop
Matrona is also known by the botanical name:
- Sedum telephium
- Sedum telephium ‘matrona’
Sedum Matrona Care
Size & Growth
Under ideal conditions, the showy matrona sedum grows up to 20″ inches tall and 24″ inches wide.
The perennial plant has a medium growth rate, typically blooming from late summer to early fall.
The plant survives best in sandy, loamy soil, and full sun.
Sedum matrona is popularly cultivated in any region of the United States.
In regards to hardiness, the perennial plant thrives in the USDA hardiness zone from 3 to 9.
Flowering & Fragrance
Sedum matrona is a tall, sturdy garden adornment with stunning blue-green foliage.
The bloom time of this drought tolerant plant starts in late summer, welcoming mauve pale pink flowers.
These adorable flower heads are clustered along the tips of the bright red stems and are slightly fragrant.
The light-colored blooms stay in their full glory from late summer to early fall.
As the chilly weather comes around, the pretty flowers begin to dry and flower color turns to a dark hue.
Light & Temperature
The plant performs best in full sun to partial shade, depending on the variety.
The ideal light requirement for sedum is the morning sun and afternoon shade.
Sedum can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
For example, it is adaptable to dry and humid growing conditions.
However, they do not survive well in standing water.
During winters, the houseplant requires 60° – 70° degrees Fahrenheit (15° – 21° C) which is possible to provide through artificial lights.
If the temperature falls below 50° degrees Fahrenheit (10° C) indoors, the plant may go dormant.
Watering & Feeding
Since they are drought-tolerant plants, they prefer deep, irregular watering.
Watering is crucial to ensure the proper health and growth of the plant.
Lack of watering dries up sedums which may hinder the plant’s performance.
When watering the plant, use a soaker hose to ensure deep ground watering.
Don’t let the stems, leaves, and flowers soak up the water.
Sedum matrona does not require fertilizers as long as it is supplied with sandy, alkaline soil.
Soil & Transplanting
Unlike many plant species, sedum matrona doesn’t need rich soil type to survive.
- Be sure the soil is light and well-drained when transplanting the plant to a new location.
- Dig deep holes for transplanting potted sedum.
- The plant needs maximum space of at least 10″ inches wide to fully mature.
- Amend the sowing place with organic, compost matter and cover it with adequate soil.
- Water thoroughly for a week or so.
- Keeping the soil moist is crucial for the plant’s optimum condition.
- After the first two weeks, the plant needs to be watered once a week only.
- Fertilizer is not needed for sedum growth; however, a complete fertilizer like 10-10-10 is usually used once a month.
Grooming & Maintenance
Once sedum plants are mature, they do not need a lot of care.
- Prune as required to avoid unwanted spread.
- Remember – deadheading hampers blooming of the plant.
- Eliminate dead or faded flowers as they come.
- Maintain the shape of the plant by cutting them back whenever need be.
How To Propagate Matrona Tail Stonecrop
There are many ways to propagate sedum plants.
This autumn joy relative is commonly grown from seeds, cuttings, or by planting bare root divisions.
Seeds need to be sown in well-moist soils early in the spring.
It begins to germinate in a couple of weeks.
When cultivating from divisions, the plant should be divided into two or more sections and transfer it into a container.
Top it with the root ball so it is leveled with the surface of the soil.
Propagating through cutting is the easiest of all.
Simply cut the end of a bare stem and cover it with rich, moist soil.
The plant will start to flourish in simply a matter of weeks.
Matrona Tail Stonecrop Pests & Diseases
Scale insects, mealybugs, snails, and slugs are the biggest threat to sedums.
The plant is subject to pest infestation when it is overwatered.
To get rid of these insects, use a pesticide such as neem oil.
Predators like ladybugs and lacewings may help kill the plant destroyers.
Overcrowding of the succulent often leads to stem and root rot.
To keep this problem at bay, make sure to give your plant enough space to grow and spread.
Matrona Sedum Uses
The tail stonecrop looks attractive when paired with Asters, Solidago, Ornamental Grasses, and Boltonias.
This Sedum telephium matrona is drought tolerant, deer resistant, attracts butterflies and often recommended for a wide variety of landscape applications such as:
- Border edging
- Mass planting of the showy pink flowers
- Groundcover
- Rock garden
- Container planting
- Dried seed heads add winter interest
If planting outdoors, sedum pots and containers are the best options.
But for other purposes, perennial borders and groundcovers are ideal!
