About Sedum burrito Moran
Introduction Sedum morganianum, commonly called donkey tail or burro's tail, is a flowering succulent perennial plant species in the Crassulaceae family, native to Mexico. It produces trailing stems that grow up to 60 cm (24 in) long, bears fleshy blue-green leaves, and produces terminal pink to red flowers in summer. Wild populations of this species have been found in two ravines in Tenampa county, central Veracruz, eastern Mexico, growing on vertical igneous rock cliffs within the Tropical Deciduous Forest zone. Due to this very restricted geographic distribution, it is classified as a micro-endemic species.
Cultivation This species requires a minimum temperature of 5–7 °C (41–45 °F). In temperate regions, it is most often cultivated as a houseplant grown in suspended containers, where its trailing stems hang vertically. If trailing stems are left in prolonged direct contact with the ground, soil, or another growing substrate (such as that in an adjacent container), nodes on the stems will be triggered to root and attach, a growth habit common to many genera within the Crassulaceae family. This plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
In suitable climates where frost does not occur, Sedum morganianum grows well outdoors. It needs very good light, but should be protected from the brightest, hottest portions of the day, and sheltered from extreme heat and excess rainfall. Indoors, the plant grows best in a sunny window to support strongest growth and intensify leaf coloration. It needs regular moderate watering throughout the year, except in winter, when it should be watered very infrequently. Excess irrigation combined with poor drainage can cause the plant to rot very quickly.
The plant has delicate, fragile leaves that detach extremely easily—often falling off with the slightest touch, and particularly easily during rainstorms. Even at high latitudes, detached or fallen leaves readily develop roots and propagate, often rooting directly where they fall. These rooted leaf propagations eventually grow into full new plants, especially when placed in a southern exposure in the Northern Hemisphere, or a northern exposure in the Southern Hemisphere. This species is most commonly propagated via stem or leaf cuttings. Leaf attachment to stems is naturally loose, so leaves often break off immediately when the stem is disturbed. Detached leaves remain alive for many days, and roots will emerge within a few days, especially in humid conditions. A single detached leaf will grow into a new plant several inches long. A clearly visible waxy layer called farina covers this plant's leaves and stems, a trait that signals its preference for bright shade and shelter from hot sun.
