Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant'

Questions about showy stonecrop 'Brilliant'

Does showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' need sun or shade?

Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' 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. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' 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 showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid August to late September. 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 showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' be planted?

18 in (45 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is about its full width, so each plant keeps its own outline.

It grows 18 in (45 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' 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 showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' 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 showy stonecrop 'Brilliant'?

Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' comes from China and Korea. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Goldenrod 'Golden Fleece': the same job in a bed, the same size and the same flowering time; yellow, not pink, medium leaves, not bold.
• Sundrops: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late May to mid July, yellow, not pink.
• Purple love grass: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same flowering time; purple, not pink, 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.

Do deer eat showy stonecrop 'Brilliant'?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What flowers after showy stonecrop 'Brilliant'?

Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' is over by late September. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Autumn crocus: from mid September to mid October, 5 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Japanese onion 'Ozawa': from early October to early November, 10 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Aromatic aster 'October Skies': from mid September to late October, 20 in tall.

What does showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' look like in winter?

Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' dies down, but leave the stems standing: the seed heads stand through the winter, and songbirds eat the seed. Cut them down in early spring, before the new shoots come.

Is showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' good for bees and butterflies?

Showy stonecrop 'Brilliant' is visited by pollinators, butterflies and songbirds.