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Sedum Matrona is a beautiful succulent with lush pink flowers collected in large umbrellas and dark green leaves on red petioles. The plant is unpretentious and can take root in almost any soil. Does not require special care - just regularly weed and loosen the soil.
Description of sedum Matrona
Sedum (Sedum) Matrona is a type of perennial succulent from the Crassulaceae family. The variety was developed in the 1970s. Along with the scientific name Hylotelephium triphyllum "Matrona" has several other common names:
- hare grass;
- creaky;
- young;
- sedum;
- common sedum.
This perennial plant is a powerful, compact bush with straight, cylindrical stems. The height of the Matrona sedum is about 40-60 cm. It does not take up much space and at the same time decorates the garden thanks to its large (up to 6 cm in length) gray-green leaves with dark red edges, as well as stems of a rich purple color.
Produces numerous pink flowers with pointed petals (late July to mid-September). They are combined into corymbose inflorescences-panicles, the diameter of which reaches 10-15 cm. Matrona sedum grows for 7-10 years or more, life expectancy directly depends on the quality of care.
Matrona sedum attracts attention with its numerous graceful pink flowers
Sedum Matrona in landscape design
Matrona sedum is mainly used as a ground cover. The bush is quite branched, the flowering is lush. Therefore, sedum hides nondescript places well, especially when planted tightly (20-30 cm between plants). Plants can be planted even on rocky soils with crushed stone and gravel.
Since Matrona is short-growing and also produces beautiful pink flowers, it looks good in various compositions:
- Alpine slides: bushes are planted between stones; they hide the soil well and create a general, continuous background.
- Flower garden: in combination with other flowers of the same height.
- Multi-tiered flower beds: in combination with other flowers with height differences.
- Mixborders: compositions of bushes and shrubs.
- For decorating paths, borders.
Interesting options for using Sedum Matrona (pictured) will help to rationally use the crop in landscape design.
Matrona sedum looks good in single plantings
The plant is unpretentious, so planting on rocky soil is possible.
Features of reproduction
Matrona sedum can be diluted in 2 ways:
- Using inflorescences (cuttings).
- Growing from seeds.
The first method is the simplest. In August or September, the wilted inflorescences are cut off along with the stems. The dry parts are removed, and the green stems (cuttings) are placed in pre-settled water. In a few days, cuttings will begin to actively develop on them. Then they can be left in the container until spring, periodically changing the water, or planted in containers with moist soil. In the spring (April or May), Matrona sedum seedlings are transplanted into open ground.
If, when propagated by cuttings, you can obtain an exact copy (clone) of the mother plant, then when grown from seeds, the new sedum may have different properties. Seeds are planted in a box or containers with fertile soil in mid-March. First, they are grown under glass, placed for 12-15 days on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator (as far as possible from the freezer). Then the containers are transferred to the windowsill, and after 2 leaves of the Matrona sedum appear, they are seated (dive). They are grown indoors, and in May they are transferred to open ground.
Optimal growing conditions
You can easily grow Matron sedum, even in an infertile area. In nature, this plant takes root on rocky, sandy soils and easily tolerates even long-term droughts due to its ability to accumulate water in its leaves. The bush is winter-hardy and easily copes with frost.
Therefore, the growing conditions are the simplest:
- loose, light soil;
- regular weeding;
- moderate, not too abundant watering;
- rare application of fertilizers (once a year is enough);
- pruning in spring and autumn to form a bush and prepare it for the winter.
Matrona sedum does not require special growing conditions
Planting and caring for sedum Matrona
Growing sedum is quite simple. For planting, select a well-lit place where the flowering bush will look especially attractive. The soil is first dug up and fertilized with organic matter.
Recommended timing
Matrona sedum is a heat-loving plant, so planting in open ground is done at the moment when the threat of return frosts has completely passed. Depending on the region, this may be:
- end of April - in the south;
- mid-May - in the middle zone;
- the last ten days of May - in the Urals and Siberia.
Site selection and soil preparation
Sedum prefers light, fertile soil - classic loam. However, it can grow even on rocky, sandy soils. The planting site should be open and sunny (although weak partial shade is also allowed). If possible, this should be a hill, and not a lowland, in which moisture constantly accumulates. It is also worth planting sedum away from deciduous trees and shrubs.
First, the area should be cleaned, dug up and any organic fertilizer applied - for example, humus in an amount of 2-3 kg per 1 m2. All large clods of earth are broken to make the soil loose. If the soil is heavy, fine-grained sand is added to it - 2-3 whispers per 1 m2.
How to plant correctly
The landing algorithm is simple:
- First you need to form several small holes at a distance of 30-50 cm. With a denser planting, you can get a green “carpet” that will completely cover the ground, and with a sparser planting, a beautiful row or zigzag, depending on the design features.
- Lay a drainage layer (5-10 cm of pebbles, broken bricks, gravel).
- Install the Matrona sedum seedling so that the root collar is exactly level with the surface.
- Bury with fertile soil (if the area has not been fertilized beforehand, you can add compost or humus).
- Water generously and mulch with peat, humus, pine needles, and other materials.
The most important rule of care is regular weeding.
Features of cultivation
Matrona sedum can be grown in almost any area. The plant is undemanding to soil quality and does not require care. It is enough to water it 2 times a month, periodically loosen and weed the soil. Fertilizing and special preparation for winter are also optional.
Watering and fertilizing
Like any other succulents, Matrona sedum does not need too frequent watering. If there is not enough rain, you can give 5 liters of water 2 times a month. During drought, watering should be increased to weekly, but in any case the soil should not be too wet. It is advisable to leave the water at room temperature for 24 hours. By autumn, watering begins to be reduced, then reduced to a minimum. There is no need to spray the bushes - Matrona sedum loves dry air.
This plant also does not need constant fertilizers. If they were applied during planting, new fertilizing can be done no earlier than next year. At the beginning of summer, you can cover up any organic matter: humus, manure, chicken droppings. You should not use complex mineral fertilizer and other inorganic products.
Loosening and weeding
Matrona sedum prefers light soil.Therefore, it should be loosened 2-3 times a month, especially before watering and fertilizing. Then the roots will be saturated with oxygen, moisture and nutrients. Weeding is carried out as necessary.
To keep weed growth to a minimum, it is recommended to lay down a layer of mulch.
Trimming
Sedum pruning is carried out regularly - in autumn and spring. When preparing for winter, it is enough to remove all old shoots, leaving stems 4-5 cm tall. In the spring, old leaves, damaged branches and strongly prominent young shoots are removed, giving the bush its shape. It is advisable to do this before the buds begin to swell.
Wintering
In the south and in the middle zone, Matrona sedum does not need special preparation for winter. It is enough to trim old shoots, leaving 4-5 cm above the soil surface. Then cover with dry leaves, spruce branches, and hay. In early spring, the mulch must be removed so that the plant shoots do not rot due to accumulated moisture.
In the Urals, Siberia and other regions with harsh winters, along with the described actions, it is also necessary to make a shelter. To do this, you can lay agrofibre or burlap on top and fix them on the surface with bricks.
Shelter is made only for young bushes, and adult specimens easily overwinter under a layer of ordinary mulch
Pests and diseases
Matrona sedum has good resistance to various diseases, including fungal ones.Occasionally, it may suffer from rot, which usually appears due to excessive watering.
As for pests, the following insects most often settle on the leaves and stems of the plant:
- aphid;
- grooved weevil (weevil);
- thrips.
You can cope with them using insecticides, which are usually used to treat blackcurrant bushes:
- "Aktara";
- "Tanrek";
- "Confidor Extra";
- "Spark".
It's not always easy to get rid of weevils. These are nocturnal insects, to catch which you can lay white paper under the plants. Then, late in the evening, shake them off the bushes and kill them.
Conclusion
Sedum Matrona allows you to decorate the garden with its attractive leaves and flowers that appear until the first frost. The plant is unpretentious and does not require fertilizing or watering. The only important condition for growing is regular weeding and loosening of the soil.
