Iceplant (Hylotelephium spectabile) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Iceplant is a perennial with thick leaves and upright stems, widely grown in U.S. gardens. Its flat-topped clusters of small pink flowers open from late summer into fall and attract butterflies. It is also widely called showy stonecrop.

Appearance

Growth form: This clump-forming perennial grows about 1–2 ft (30–61 cm) tall and wide on upright, unbranched stems.
Leaves: The blue-green fleshy leaves are up to about 3 in (8 cm) long, with coarse teeth. They grow opposite each other or in of three.
Flowers: Dense, flat-topped clusters about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) wide are packed with small star-shaped pink flowers that darken with age.
Flowering time: In North Carolina gardens, flowers open from late summer into fall.
Fruit: Dry seed heads can remain standing into winter.

Look-alikes

OrpineHylotelephium telephium

Orpine usually has yellow and a more rounded flower head; iceplant has purple anthers and a flatter head. Leaf positions overlap, so check open flowers rather than relying on leaves alone.

Why they get mixed upBoth are tall garden stonecrops with fleshy leaves and dense late-season flower heads.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: sunny borders
rock gardens
containers
Range: It is native to Korea, northeastern China, and nearby parts of eastern Asia. In the United States it is widely cultivated as an ornamental perennial.
Preferred conditions: It grows in full sun or partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It tolerates occasional dry periods once established. Gardeners grow it in 4a–9b.

Growing it

Propagation: Garden plants can be propagated from stem cuttings or by division.

Name and classification

About the name: It was formerly called Sedum spectabile.
Varieties and forms: Garden forms of this species include the deep pink ‘Brilliant’ and the white-flowered ‘Iceberg’.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The familiar plant sold as ‘Autumn Joy’ is the separate hybrid Hylotelephium × mottramianum, not this species alone.

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