Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans)

Brighten up your garden beds and patio containers with Sedum rubrotinctum, affectionately known as the Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans. This delightful evergreen succulent features swirling clusters of glossy, bean-shaped leaves that start as a brilliant emerald green and flush into a striking cherry-red when kissed by the sun. Tracing its provenance to Mexico as a natural hybrid of Sedum pachyphyllum and Sedum stahlii, this plant is uniquely adapted to thrive in arid climates and rock gardens. Reaching up to 6–8 inches tall, its cascading stems naturally trail over the edges of pots or root into the ground to create a colorful, drought-tolerant mat. In the springtime, look forward to an extra layer of charm when clusters of tiny, star-shaped yellow flowers bloom at its tips.

• Scientific Name: Fouquieria macdougalii
• Family: Fouquieriaceae (Ocotillo family)
• Genus: Fouquieria
• Provenance: Endemic to northwestern Mexico, specifically the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua. It inhabits thornscrub and tropical deciduous forests, often growing on rocky slopes and volcanic soils.