Sedum 'Matrona'

Questions about sedum 'Matrona'

Does sedum 'Matrona' need sun or shade?

Sedum 'Matrona' grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants dry, sharply drained soil, on the lean side, with no feeding, and little watering once settled.

What zones does sedum 'Matrona' grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 9. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does sedum 'Matrona' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid August to early October. As a summer flower it moves about half a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should sedum 'Matrona' be planted?

18 in (45 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 24 in (60 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 24 in (60 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many sedum 'Matrona' plants do I need?

At 18 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 5 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 7 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 17 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as a group of three or five, with a second group further along in the other number.

In the bed above, the planner used three in one group.

Is sedum 'Matrona' poisonous?

Yes: mild toxicity to people. May cause mild stomach upset if eaten.

Rated from NC State Extension. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a native plant like sedum 'Matrona'?

Sedum 'Matrona' is not native to North America. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Texas hummingbird mint: the same job in a bed and the same colour; 8 in taller, flowers mid July to early October.
• Yarrow: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers mid June to late August, fine leaves, not bold.
• Tennessee coneflower: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers mid June to late August, fine leaves, not bold.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What flowers after sedum 'Matrona'?

Sedum 'Matrona' is over by early October. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Japanese onion 'Ozawa': from early October to early November, 10 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Chrysanthemum 'Sheffield Pink': from late September to early November, 2½ ft tall.
• Tatarian aster 'Jindai': from early October to early November, 4 ft tall.

What does sedum 'Matrona' look like in winter?

Sedum 'Matrona' dies down, but leave the stems standing: the seed heads stand through the winter. Cut them down in early spring, before the new shoots come.