‘Autumn Joy’ grows in almost any soil and is completely maintenance-free, pest-free, and absolutely reliable—in other words, you can’t miss with this garden favorite. The rusty brown seed heads are one of the joys of winter gardens. Plants often self-sow. Watch for the small plants to appear in the garden and transplant to a new location. Large clumps should be divided every 3 to 4 years so they don’t become weak and floppy.
A showy sedum cultivar, ‘Autumn Joy’ is one of the most popular flowering perennials of late summer. It has such a strong personality that it dominates its surroundings. Green buds appear in late summer and look like broccoli heads (but don’t eat them). Gradually they turn light pink, mature to a warm pink, then become rusty red and finally a rich brown. The flowers are long lasting and dry well for winter arrangements. The fleshy foliage is an attractive grayish green and very succulent. In winter, lightly dusted with snow, ‘Autumn Joy’ adds a strong architectural feature to the garden.
It is probably impossible (and maybe illegal) to have a garden without at least one clump of ‘Autumn Joy’. Many gardeners can’t resist planting lots of it—in perennial and mixed borders, by itself in huge drifts, or in containers. Plant enough to use for flower arrangements. It is a spectacular addition.
ZONES: 3–9
BLOOM TIME: Late summer to fall
LIGHT: Full to part sun
HEIGHT: 18–24 inches
INTEREST: Abundant flowers that vary in shades of pink and red as the season passes; much loved by butterflies and bees; attractive, succulent foliage