Coppertone Stonecrop Info
Stonecrop plants come in sizes that are knee high to just a couple of inches (5 cm.) from the ground. Coppertone sedum plants grow 8 inches (20 cm.) tall with short stems that support large rosettes of nearly 2 inches across (5 cm.). These rosettes are the source of the name, as they can be yellowish green, but in full sun turn an orange rust or copper-like tone. The unique hue provides a startling contrast to common green succulents, like jade plants, or as a complement to the alien looking euphorbia. Sedum nussbaumerianum is native to Mexico and is perfect for dish gardens, desert landscapes, and even Mediterranean themes. It was first discovered in 1907 but was not named until 1923 as a tribute to Ernst Nussbaumer, head gardener at Bremen Botanic Garden. The stems of the rosettes are rusty brown and wiry and those rosettes multiply every year until a mature plant has many pups clustered around her. In time, the plant becomes a low growing shrub 2 to 3 foot (61-91 cm.) wide. Starry, slightly scented, flowers with pink-blushed anthers appear in spring.
Growing Coppertone Succulents
This versatile plant requires full sun to bring out the orange tones but has a bright yellow green in partial shade. In warmer regions, the plant will cascade down a rockery or tumble out of a vertical wall. Sedums are even used in roof gardens, where the heat generated from roofing material would punish most other plants. Outdoor plants look charming dotted around paving stones or tumbling along the edges of paths. Place them at the fronts of beds with larger sun-loving plants at the rear. Indoor plants can hold their own in a container or be part of a dish garden with several other types of desert denizens nestled together.
Caring for a Coppertone Succulent
Like most succulents, Coppertone is a very tolerant plant with few needs. The main requirement is well-draining soil. Containers should have prominent drainage holes and the growing medium must be partially gritty to allow excess water to easily percolate through it. Choose a container that is unglazed in order to encourage evaporation of excess moisture. Water infrequently but deeply. These plants need half the water in winter when they are dormant. If you wish to start more of these cute plants, separate a rosette from the parent and simply lay it on gritty growing medium. In time, it will send out roots and establish itself.
