This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definition of the genus Sedum as Sedum spectabile Boreau. 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: Ice Plant

General Information

Hylotelephium spectabile is a succulent, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces a cluster of erect, unbranched stems 30 - 70cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated as a medicinal plant and is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a late-flowering 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

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Range

E. Asia - northeast China, Korea

Habitat

Valleys, rocky cliffs and damp places along woodlands[]. Forest margins, rocky slopes on low mountains[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hylotelephium spectabile is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when dormant.[]
A very easily grown and tolerant plant, it succeeds in most soils[] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[]. Tolerates poor soils[], and does surprisingly well in heavy clays[].. Established plants are drought tolerant[], they can also tolerate considerable neglect, surviving even in the dense growth of weeds[].
This species has pink 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 have a honey-like smell similar to Buddleias[].
The plant is sometimes cultivated in Korea for its medicinal uses[].
A very ornamental plant[], there are some named varieties[]. The flowers are very attractive to bees and lepidoptera[].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[]. The leaves are very mucilaginous but have a fairly bland flavour[].

Medicinal

The plant is antiinflammatory, depurative, sialagogue[]. A decoction is taken internally to treat sore throats, remove toxins from the body[].
A poultice of the crushed leaves and stems is applied as a poultice on abscesses and erysipelas, sore skin and swellings[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 30cm apart each way[].

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.