Sedum kimnachii

The more obscure corners of the Sedum world hold genuine treasures, and Sedum kimnachii is one of them — a Mexican stonecrop with a different constitution than most of the European and Asian species that dominate rock garden collections. The rosettes have a compact, architectural quality, and the plant has a succulent robustness that reflects its origin in the highland regions of Mexico. Yellow flowers appear in season, bright against the green-gray foliage. It's a genuine collector's item with garden value for those who grow it in appropriate conditions.

Tender by most PNW standards — Zone 8 to 9 — it performs best as a container plant in most Pacific Northwest locations, or outdoors in the warmest, most protected microclimates of western Oregon's maritime valleys. For gardeners who bring their tender succulents indoors in October and set them back out in April, S. kimnachii is the kind of interesting specimen that rewards that extra attention. The compact rosette habit and unusual origin make it a conversation piece. Sometimes the most interesting plants in a collection are the ones that require you to pay a bit more attention — and Sedum kimnachii is worth it.