Also known as October Daphne, Siebold's Stonecrop or October Stonecrop, Sedum sieboldii 'Mediovariegatum' is one of the prettiest small succulents you can grow. Slim pink tinged stems arch out from a central crown, each strung with whorls of three rounded, fleshy leaves in a soft powdery blue green, every one brushed through the middle with a wash of buttery cream. In late summer and early autumn the stems finish in clusters of small star shaped flowers in a warm rose pink. Botanists now file it under Hylotelephium sieboldii, though it still trades widely under its old Sedum name.

It grows in a low, spreading mound and spills gently over the rim of a pot, which makes it a natural on a shelf edge, a bright windowsill or in a small hanging planter. It looks especially good in a shallow bowl or a plain terracotta pot, where the trailing stems can hang free, and it sits happily alongside other succulents that want the same bright, dry conditions.

Care at a glance

Light: The brightest spot you have. A sunny windowsill is ideal, and good light keeps the cream markings strong

Water: Let the compost dry out fully between waterings, then water thoroughly. Keep almost dry through winter

Soil: Gritty and free draining. A cactus and succulent mix is ideal

Humidity: Average rooms are fine, no misting needed

Temperature: Normal room temperatures suit it well. It can summer outside in a sheltered sunny spot, but bring it in before the first frosts

Feed: A half strength liquid feed once a month through spring and summer

Note: Semi evergreen, so it may thin out and rest over winter before fresh growth returns in spring. Not known to be toxic, though best kept out of reach of curious pets

As a living plant, size, colour and the amount of variegation vary from one to the next, so yours will be one of a kind.