Plant of the Month August 2022: Jelly Bean Plant (Sedum rubrotinctum)

Hello Plant Lovers!

This month we’re revisiting one of our favorite plants, that’s right, it’s the good ol’ Jelly Bean Plant. This is a succulent of many names including ones we’ve discussed before such as Pork & Beans or Maiden’s heart (if you didn’t get to, check out our last post covering Jelly Bean Plants). Although it’s less common, they can also be referred to as Christmas Cheer and Banana Cactus. I find it ironic however that they’re called Banana Cactus, despite not being classified as a cactus (aka the Cactaceae family), rather they’re a sedum in the Crassulaceae family!

Jelly Bean plants are a hybrid succulent of Sedum pachyphyllum, from which it gets its cute bean-shaped leaves, and Sedum stahllii, which gives it the color changing properties these plants are so well known for. Jelly Bean plants can change colors year round: a rich green in the winter, lime green in the spring, pink in the fall, even red in the summer depending on its environmental conditions. This variety of colors is a protective adaptation of the plant to protect the leaves from sunburn and dryness.

What I love most about Jelly Bean plants? They are the easiest plant I’ve ever propagated, even easier than Burro’s Tail plants! It’s been incredible to see how many Jelly Bean plants we’ve managed to grow since we covered them last year in our POTM. Much like the Burro’s Tail, Jelly Bean plants have very fragile leaves, they almost always propagate into new plants with pretty much no effort. Even when when the leaves have yellowed from overwatering, this resilient succulent will find a way to bloom! All you have to do is leave them on some soil in a nice sunny spot.

New growth sprouting in one of our 6” Hanging Terrariums

However fair warning to my fellow pet owners: contrary to what its name suggests, Jelly Bean plants are poisonous to both humans and animals! So make sure to keep them high and away from any fur babies. We recommend our clear hanging terrariums to avoid any possible accidents (stares at my cat Buffy as I write this).