Sedum reflexum 'Yellow Bouquet' is all about colour. Its short, needle-fine leaves crowd the stems in soft tufts of butter yellow, and a single pot of it can lift a patio corner the way a bunch of daffodils lifts a kitchen table.
Published data on this particular selection is thin, so the sizes and hardiness here are based on the reflexed stonecrop species it belongs to, and we say so where it applies. What follows is a colour-led guide to keeping the gold bright, growing it in containers, watering, winter care, propagation and partners that make it shine.
Sedum reflexum 'Yellow Bouquet' at a glance
- Botanical name Petrosedum rupestre 'Yellow Bouquet', usually sold as Sedum reflexum 'Yellow Bouquet'
- Common name Yellow Bouquet stonecrop, golden reflexed stonecrop
- Plant type Evergreen, mat-forming succulent perennial
- Hardiness RHS H5 for the species (down to about -15 to -10°C)
- Height and spread Species guide of roughly 10 to 15cm in leaf, flower stems to about 15cm above, spreading 30cm or more
- Flowering Starry yellow flowers on upright stems in summer
- Foliage Needle-like leaves in golden yellow, more lime-green in shade, often with warm tints in cold weather
- Position Full sun for the richest gold
- Soil Gritty, free-draining soil or compost, neutral to alkaline
- Good for Containers, window boxes, mixed succulent bowls and lighting up dark-leaved planting
Light decides the shade of gold
Golden foliage needs sun to stay golden. In a bright, open spot Yellow Bouquet holds a clear, warm yellow, while in part shade it fades towards lime and the stems lengthen. Golden forms of this species often blush orange or amber at the tips in frosty weather, then return to yellow in spring.
One caution in a heatwave is that very young plants under glass can scorch. Outdoors, established plants handle full summer sun well.
Growing it in pots and window boxes
Yellow Bouquet is a natural container plant because it trails gently over the rim and looks good every month of the year. Shallow terracotta bowls, zinc troughs and window boxes all suit it.
Use a peat-free compost mixed with about a third grit or perlite, and always check for drainage holes. A top layer of fine gravel keeps the leaves clean and dry and sets off the yellow.
- Choose a pot at least 15cm wide so it has room to spill over the edge.
- Plant it towards the front of mixed containers where the gold catches the eye.
- Raise pots on feet over winter so excess rain drains away freely.
- Repot or divide every two to three years when the centre becomes congested.
Planting in beds and borders
In the ground it forms a low golden mat in a rockery, gravel bed or along the front of a sunny border. Dig in grit on heavy soils and plant in spring so roots establish before winter, spacing plants around 25cm apart for quick cover.
It is useful for brightening dull areas of dark gravel or under taller, airy plants that do not cast heavy shade.
A light hand with water and feed
Container plants need water only when the compost is dry right through, perhaps weekly in a hot July and hardly at all from November to February. Plants in the ground get by on rainfall once settled, even on Lincolnshire's dry east side.
Hold back on fertiliser. Extra nitrogen turns the gold greener and the growth softer, so a single half-strength feed in spring is the most a potted plant needs.
Keeping colour through winter
The reflexed stonecrop species is rated H5 by the RHS, so it should come through most UK winters outdoors. As with all golden succulents, sodden compost is a greater threat than cold, especially in pots that sit in a puddle.
Tuck containers against a sunny wall or under the eaves where they miss the worst of the rain. A clear cloche over plants in the ground during a very wet spell is a simple extra safeguard.
Taking cuttings for more gold
Every stem tip is a potential new plant. Pinch off pieces 4 to 6cm long between April and August, let them dry for a few hours, then insert them around the edge of a pot of gritty compost.
Keep them in bright light and barely moist. Roots form within a few weeks, and you can pot them up to fill window boxes or give away as small presents.
How it differs from blue and silver forms
Yellow Bouquet belongs to the same group as Blue Spruce and the silver reflexed stonecrop, but it plays a different role in a design. Blue Spruce gives cool, conifer-like texture and the silver form reads pale and misty, whereas Yellow Bouquet is a warm accent that draws the eye.
Use it where you want contrast rather than calm, for instance beside purple sage, black ophiopogon, dark heuchera or the burgundy mat of Dragon's Blood. More warm-toned and silver ideas can be found in our guide to drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens.
Common problems
Mushy, browning stems mean rot, nearly always from waterlogging, so trim back to healthy growth and improve drainage. Stretched, pale shoots signal low light. Vine weevil grubs can attack potted plants, and aphids occasionally cluster on flower stems in summer.
Reflexed stonecrop is generally thought to be low risk to pets and children, though it is wise to discourage chewing.
Questions about Sedum reflexum 'Yellow Bouquet'
Why is my yellow sedum turning green?
Too little sun or too much fertiliser will turn golden sedum lime green. Move it to a brighter spot and stop feeding, and new growth should come through yellow again.
Is Sedum Yellow Bouquet the same as Sedum Angelina?
They are both golden forms of reflexed stonecrop and look similar. Detailed published descriptions of Yellow Bouquet are scarce, so treat them as close cousins rather than identical.
Can I grow Yellow Bouquet sedum in a hanging basket?
Yes, its trailing stems drape nicely over the sides of a sunny basket. Use a gritty compost rather than standard basket mix, and water less often than you would for bedding plants.
Can Yellow Bouquet sedum stay outside in a pot all winter?
Usually, yes, as the species is hardy to around -10°C. The key is drainage, so raise the pot on feet and keep it out of standing water.
If you want a splash of year-round gold on a patio or windowsill box, Yellow Bouquet is an easy place to start. It is grown on our Lincolnshire farm with many other colourful stonecrops in the sedum collection.