Some late summer flowering plants such as Lavender, Buddleia and Nepeta have begun to wane; however others were starting to look their best. One which started performing last week was Hylotelephium spectabile (‘Brilliant’ series), also referred to as Sedums, Stonecrop or Ice plants.
Loved by pollinators (especially bees) Sedum are great plants to grow in gardens to extend the nectar and pollen season.
These hardy perennials die back to ground level over winter; however until then the seedheads can be left for structural interest allowing hiding places for hibernating insects. They are succulents and therefore like well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Once established they can cope with dry conditions, continuing to flower until November.
Mature plants can begin to flop, so to prevent this the Chelsea Chop can be carried out. This technique of cutting every stem by a third enables the plant to grow with a bushier habit as well as prolong the flowering period. It is called the Chelsea Chop because this job is done in the last week of May, when the RHS Chelsea flower show takes place. This technique can be used with other perennials that bloom later in the year too. Further information on this can be found on the RHS website.
These Sedums look wonderful in herbaceous borders alongside other fantastic pollinator plants which flower at this time of year.
and Ceratostigma willmottianum.
Bee in the Moment 