This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definition of the genus Sedum as Sedum telephioides Michx. 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 telephioides is a perennial plant with a short, stout rootstock; it produces a cluster of stems 20 - 40cm tall, occasionally to 60cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

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

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Range

Eastern N. America - Minnesota and Ontaria to Pennsylvania, south to Kentucky and South Carolina

Habitat

On rocks, ledges and crevices of cliffs, rocky slopes, crests of bluffs, rocky woods; at elevations from 50 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hylotelephium telephioides is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when dormant.
Prefers a sunny position but also succeeds in some shade. Grows best in a well-drained soil that retains some moisture during the growing season, though it is also drought tolerant once established[]. Succeeds in poor thin soils.
This species has white or pink tinged to pinkish 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[, ].
The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies.
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

A poultice of the crushed leaves is used as a disinfectant poultice on wounds and infected wounds[].

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.
Cuttings at almost any time in the growing season. Very easy, even a single leaf will produce roots and form a new plant.