Sedum monoregalense

Commonly knows as Turkish Balm, Sedum monoregalense forms tight, compact mats of small, cylindrical-leaved rosettes that have a slightly tufted, almost mossy quality at distance — precise and refined at close range. The green rosettes turn red burgundy in high stress. Yellow flowers appear in summer, proportionally small and clustered, appropriate to the overall scale of the plant. It has the characteristic of good alpine plants everywhere: small stature, tight habit, and a quality of detail that rewards close examination.

Hardy to Zone 5 and suited to PNW conditions with the standard alpine sedum requirements: full sun, sharply-drained gritty soil, and the kind of lean conditions that keep the growth tight and attractive. It's a natural trough plant and a good addition to detailed alpine rock garden compositions. On the west side of the Cascades, good drainage and a gravel mulch help it navigate our wet winters without the root rot that can afflict tight mat-formers in persistently damp soil. For gardeners who appreciate the precise, gem-like quality of well-grown alpine plants, this Turkish species is a worthwhile addition — obscure enough to be interesting, tractable enough to be genuinely growable.