This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definition of the genus Sedum as Sedum anacampseros L. We are following the treatment in the Flora of China[] and the Flora of N. America[] which treat the genus Sedum in a stricter sense and move various species from there into a number of other species, including Hylotelephium[].

Common Name: Love Restorer

General Information

Hylotelephium anacampseros is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces a cluster of sparsely-branched, decumbent stems up to 10cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It has at times been cultivated as a medicinal plant, especially in Germany[]; is grown on a commercial scale for use in 'green roof' systems; and is also grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to provide ground cover.

Known Hazards

All species in the genus Sedum (including the closely allied genera such as Hylotelephium and Phedimus) have more or less edible leaves and young flowering stems, though they are not always totally desireable with several species having bitter, acrid or peppery flavours!
However, the plants contain various alkaloids including sedine and sedamine. These can sometimes cause gastric upsets, usually of a mild nature[]. This is most likely to happen with species that have yellow flowers, though eating large quantities of any species could be problematic[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Central Europe - France, northern Spain, Italy, Switzerland

Habitat

Rocks in mountains[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hylotelephium anacampseros is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when dormant.
Shade tolerant[], though it prefers a sunny position[]. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil[]. Dislikes lime[]. Prefers a well-drained but moist soil, though established plants are drought tolerant[, ].
Often grown as an ornamental, the plant is also sometimes cultivated for its medicinal uses[].
Leaving the dead flowering stems on the plant overwinter can help to give extra frost -protection to the roots[].
Spreads rapidly at the roots, but it is easily controlled[].
This species has pale mauve to purple flowers[]. All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity[, ].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. Used as a vegetable in soups[]. There is a distinctive bitterness in the flavour[].

Medicinal

The mashed fresh leaves are applied as a poultice on wounds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be used for ground cover[]. They are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[].
The plant is planted into 'green roof' and 'green wall' systems. These systems are incorporated into the structure of the building, providing habitats for wildlife as well as insulating the building and helping to improve the environment[]. The main drawback for this species is that it dies down over the winter, although its dense root system still binds the soil and helps to provide insulation.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise keep them in a cold-frame or greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year[].
Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though is probably best done in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.