This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definition of the genus Sedum as Sedum mingjinianum S.H.Fu. 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:

General Information

Hylotelephium mingjinianum is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a cluster of unbranched stems 20 - 40cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

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

E. Asia - southeastern China (Anhui, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang)

Habitat

Moist places on mountains, beside streams; at elevations around 700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hylotelephium species are generally very easily grown and tolerant plants that can succeed in most soils, though preferring a fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position[, ]. The plants native habitat will often give further ideas on the plants needs, though established plants of most species are usually drought tolerant[].
The flowers are purple[]. 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

We have no specific mention of edibility for this species but, in general, the leaves of all members of this genus are edible, though not always very desirable[, ]. Some caution should be employed however, particularly if the plant has yellow flowers - see the notes above on toxicity[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No further details are given.

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.