Angelina Sedum

As I walk into my nearby sector, I sit upon the stones of my rocky path and marvel at the color of the plant nearby. Whether I am right next to it or peering at it from my perch by my bedroom window the color and shape of the plant fascinate me. It looks like something out of an alien world with giant yellow-orange tendrils soaring towards the skies. I can vividly imagine walking between the stalks over the tangling roots. The life of an ant between these stalks does not seem so bad. How would it feel to only know of these beautiful shapes and colors and know nothing else? I remember when I had helped plant it. It was less than a foot wide then only about as big as my hand, but now it stretches over a vast expanse of our bed, lighting up the vision of any who look at the bed. While contemplating this it begins to rain and that makes the colors seem even more vibrant. As I hurry inside I resolve to research this plant knowing only that it is a type of stonecrop sedum. This is that research.

Sedum ‘Angelina’ is scientifically known as Sedum reflexum or Sedum rupestre. They are native to rocky, mountainous slopes in Europe and Asia. Also commonly called Angelina stonecrop or Angelina stone orpine, Angelina sedum plants are low growing, spreading plants that only get about 3-6 inches tall, but can spread up to 2-3 feet wide. They have small shallow roots, and as they spread, they produce small roots from lateral stems that penetrate the small crevices in the rocky terrain, anchoring the plant. Sedum ‘Angelina’ are known for their brightly colored chartreuse to yellow, needle-like foliage. This foliage is evergreen in warmer climates, but in cooler climates the foliage turns an orange to burgundy color in autumn and winter.