Hylotelephium cauticola, commonly known as cliff stonecrop, is a succulent perennial plant native to rocky outcrops and cliff faces in East Asia, particularly in Japan. It is a low-growing, carpet-forming species that reaches a height of 8 cm (3 in) and spreads up to 30 cm (12 in) wide. The plant features trailing stems with pink-tinged, grey-green, rounded leaves that form a dense mat. During the autumn season, it produces clusters of purplish-pink, star-shaped flowers that add a splash of color to the garden landscape.

Cliff stonecrop is valued for its drought tolerance and its ability to thrive in poor soils, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, alpine gardens, and as ground cover in xeriscaping. It is particularly well-suited to growing in crevices and over stones where other plants might struggle. This plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its reliability and performance in gardens. It prefers full sun exposure and requires very low to low amounts of water, thriving in well-drained soils with an alkaline to neutral pH. While it is generally low-maintenance, it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions as this can lead to root rot.CC BY-SA 4.0