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Hi everyone,

This topic was brought up on the 3-rail site, saying now was the time to harvest seedum to make scale trees. My question was; what is Seedum, what does it look like, where does it grow, and how do I find it?? So far no one has responded, so I'm trying this page to get those answers.
I've heard about it before, but wasn't paying attention. The Cherry Valley Club is going to need a lot of "scale" trees, and I'm thinking this might be an easy way to do that.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Buzz
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Seedum is a plant that sort of looks like broccoli flower heads, comes in several varieties and makes excellent tree foliage. The stems are really too thin and sparse to use as is, so most people bundle the stems together or use another technique. You can also lay the seedum on its side to mimic the smaller trees and bushes that make up the undergrowth in a forest.

Here's some seedum drying in my barn:

Painting assembly line. I usually spray the trunks grey and the foliage various shades of green. While the paint is still wet I sprinkle on ground foam:

Here's a shot of the finished product:

And on the layout:
Buzz, it is not a wild plant, but a cultivated one. You can find it as an ornamental in gardens, parks, yards, etc. One of the typical varieties is called Autumn Joy sedum. Do a search for it and you can see what the plant looks like. At this date, the remaining flower heads will be brown in color and the stems and leaves will look yellowish to brown. Now is the time to harvest. Just cut the stems close to the ground and allow the remaining plant to completely dry (the stems will look grey and the leaves will have fallen off or just be dried stubs). It is a perennial so when you find a source, you will have tree source year after year.

Rick
I found some interesting Seedum info on the U of Fla Coop website for you southerners:

Seems this seedum will tolerate drought and salt and also will attract Butterfly's and bees (see..that way the missus will think you have taken up
gardening when you show an interest in it!!!).

One of the more interesting varities down in the Deep South is Seedum Acre which
has golden carpet/gold moss colour.

Hope this helps for you follow Southern Train Guys.

Rufus
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