Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans, is a charming and easy-to-care-for succulent that’s highly popular for its vibrant, colorful leaves and compact growth habit. Here’s a detailed description:
Appearance:
Leaves: The Jelly Bean Plant gets its name from its small, plump, bean-shaped leaves that grow in dense clusters along its stems. The leaves are typically a bright green, but they turn a beautiful reddish or purple tint at the tips when exposed to full sun or during cooler weather. The color intensifies when the plant is stressed, giving it a more dramatic, colorful appearance.
Size: This succulent grows in a compact, spreading form, typically reaching about 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm) in height and can spread outwards, forming a ground cover or trailing over the edges of containers.
Stems: The plant has thin, succulent stems that support the fleshy leaves, giving it a soft, bushy appearance. These stems can branch out and fill in a pot or garden space quickly.
Flowers: In late spring or early summer, Sedum rubrotinctum produces small, star-shaped flowers that are typically yellow. The flowers appear in clusters atop thin stalks above the plant's foliage.
Growth Habit:
Spreading: The Jelly Bean Plant is a spreading succulent that grows in clumps. Its trailing nature makes it ideal for containers, hanging baskets, or as ground cover in warmer climates.
Growth Rate: It is a relatively fast-growing succulent, especially during the growing season when provided with the right amount of sunlight and care.
Zone:
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant) is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11. This means it thrives in areas with mild winters, where temperatures generally stay above 20–25°F (-6 to -4°C).
In cooler climates outside these zones, it is best grown as an indoor plant or in containers that can be brought inside during the colder months to prevent frost damage.
If you're considering growing it outdoors, it can be used as a ground cover or in rock gardens in warmer climates, but it should be protected from frost in colder regions.