Rhodiola pachyclados
Description and General Information:
Rhodiola pachyclados, aka Sedum pachyclados, is a low, slowly spreading plant with succulent, blue-green to grey-green foliage. The leaves are so crowded on the short stems as to appear rosetted. The small, 4-6 mm leaves are spoon-shaped with toothed tips. The white, star-shaped flowers are in somewhat flat-topped clusters of 2-10 held on 3-10 cm stems. It blooms July and August.
In the wild, this species is confined to the Kurram Valley of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Cultivation:
This plant is a sun-lover and requires a gritty, well-drained soil. It is very drought tolerant. While very suitable for the rock garden, it is perhaps even better suited to alpine troughs where its small size and intricate beauty can be best appreciated. It does not like competition, another reason why it seems to do better in a trough than the open garden. It is considered hardy to zone 5.
Propagation:
Seed, cuttings and division
Seeds:
The seeds should be surface sown. It does not require stratification.
Division:
Larger clumps may be dug at almost any time during the growing season and easily divided.
Cuttings:
Rosettes may be struck in late spring in pure sand, rooting in a matter of weeks.