Perennial · Crassulaceae family
showy stonecrop
Hylotelephium spectabile
In short a 10-second read
Showy stonecrop (perennial) grows to 0.3–0.5 m tall and 0.3–0.5 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in August–October; the flowers are pink or white. Hardy to −26 °C.
× spread 0.3–0.5 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −26 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: little
Soil: sandy, loamy, gravelly
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
August–October · pink or white
Pruning
pinch out the tips (March–April); cut back by a third (September–October)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −26 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −26 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
lemon day-lily
0.7–0.8 m
Martagon lily
0.6–0.8 m
Chinese peony
0.45–0.75 mReady-made Studio combinations that include showy stonecrop
Purple lavender and salvia over silver fescue, with pink sedum in…
Blue globe thistles and sea holly over grey grass and houseleeks —…
Anemones, sedum and low blue flowers open as the rest fade — from…
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does showy stonecrop flower?
In August–October; the flowers are pink or white.
Does showy stonecrop tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does showy stonecrop need?
At maturity 0.3–0.5 m wide and 0.3–0.5 m tall; recommended spacing 38 cm.
Does showy stonecrop survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −26 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 14 October 2026.
Show sources (18)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- RHS Plant Finder
- Plants For A Future
- Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Finder
- EPPO Reporting Service — update of the EU list of invasive alien species
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Sarastro Stauden, katalóg
- Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
- Plant Lust
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
- perennials.com (Bressingham/Perennial Resource)
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