Other Names:  Graptosedum Bronze

Description:

An attractive succulent for hot, dry locations, featuring reddish-bronze foliage in rosettes that rise up, retaining older foliage; pinkish buds open to yellow flowers in spring; a colorful addition to the garden or containers; protect from severe frost

Ornamental Features

Vera Higgins Graptosedum has masses of beautiful clusters of yellow flowers at the ends of the stems from early spring to early summer, which emerge from distinctive coral-pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive succulent pointy leaves remain brick red in color with showy coppery-bronze variegation and tinges of grayish green throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Vera Higgins Graptosedum is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Vera Higgins Graptosedum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Vera Higgins Graptosedum will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 10 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Vera Higgins Graptosedum is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.