In this yet another absurdly dry week in the garden, I’d like to introduce a pair of perennials that has never disappointed us in 20 years of HORTVS: Hylotelephium telephium paired with Euphorbia. The former is better known to many by the outdated genus name “Sedum,” while the latter belongs to a circumpolar genus comprising a wide variety of perennials, succulents, and shrubs. The common stonecrop is just as native as the cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) shown in Photo 1. The second photo shows a red-leaved variety of stonecrop paired with the Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites).
It’s not just the incredible drought and heat tolerance of both genera that make them so valuable as a garden duo. Their different blooming periods (Euphorbia = March–April, Hylotelephium = July–September) are also perfect for creating a consistently attractive display. Insects are incredibly drawn to both plants!
