Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Moon Stones, Hens And Chicks

Description:

This drought tolerant variety produces rosettes of chubby, teardrop shaped, gray-blue foliage; leaves will flush rosy-purple when stressed; red flowers on tall stems in spring; ideal for containers or rock gardens; protect from frost

Ornamental Features

Sticky Moonstones is primarily valued in the garden for its distinctive form, with the flower stalks towering over the foliage. It features unusual bracted rose tubular flowers with red overtones rising above the foliage from early to mid spring. Its attractive succulent oval leaves emerge lime green in spring, turning silvery blue in colour with showy plum purple variegation and tinges of gray the rest of the year. The lime green stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Sticky Moonstones is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Sticky Moonstones is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Sticky Moonstones will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. Like most succulents and cacti, this plant prefers to grow in poor soils and should therefore never be fertilized. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Sticky Moonstones is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.