Orpine
Hylotelephium telephium
- Succulent
- Easy to grow
- Drought tolerant
- Nectar plant
- Rock garden
An upright succulent perennial whose fleshy stems are crowned in late summer with dense clusters of pink to ruby flowers.
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Orpine is an upright succulent perennial — once classified as Sedum telephium — grown for its fleshy, blue-green foliage and the broad clusters of tiny, star-shaped pink to ruby flowers that open from late summer into fall. As the blooms age they deepen to a rich burgundy that holds well into the cooler months.
Easy and architectural
The erect, fleshy stems give beds a bold, structural look, and many stay standing through winter for off-season interest. Bees and butterflies flock to the late nectar.
Care tips
Plant it in full sun and gritty, well-drained soil; like most succulents it will rot in soggy ground. It propagates almost effortlessly from division, stem cuttings, or even a single leaf. Look for the popular cultivars ‘Matrona’, ‘Purple Emperor’, and ‘Xenox’ for darker foliage.
Habitat & form
Where it's from and what to expect.
- Native range
- Europe and Asia
- Plant type
- Succulent
- Mature size
- 2–2.5 ft tall and 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Bloom
- Tiny star-shaped pink to purplish-red flowers in dense clusters from August to October, fading to burgundy.
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–9.
Care
How to keep it happy.
- Sunlight
- Full sun.
- Water
- Low — medium to dry soils. Its taproots store water, and it rots in wet conditions.
- Soil
- Sandy or shallow-rocky soil with good drainage; neutral to alkaline pH.
- Pruning
- Maintenance: leave the seed heads standing for winter interest, then cut old stems to the ground in early spring; an optional late-spring 'Chelsea chop' keeps the plant compact and upright. Divide every few years to rejuvenate.