Love Restorer is a herbaceous perennial and succulent whose stems radiate from the center with smooth spiraling, bluish-green to grayish-green leaves. The leaves gradually get smaller as they reach the ends of the stem. The plant is only a few inches tall and measures about 1 foot wide. Their flowers bloom in the summer and appear star-shaped, pale purplish-red in color. The roots are tuberous. This plant is a native of Southwest Europe including Spain, southern France, southwest Switzerland, and northern Italy. It is formerly of the genus, Sedum but was reassigned to Hylotelephium. The genus name, Hylotelephium , is Greek in origin. "Hylo," translated, means forest or woodland. "Telephium" means distant lover. The species name, a nacampseros , is also Greek. Translated, it means to return or turn back. "Eros" means love and desire. The common name, Love Restorer, reflects the belief that this succulent has the power to bring back lost love. Love Restorer requires very little care and has a moderate growth rate. It prefers well-drained soils and is drought tolerant once established. This plant is propagated by seeds, division, or stem cuttings. It is recommended to sow the seeds in spring. Plant division is best done in spring to early summer. Stem cuttings may be obtained during the summer. It is grown as an ornamental to provide ground cover. Love Restorer is also planted as a "green roof" or "green wall" system to provide shelter for wildlife and insulation for buildings. More information on Hylotelephium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are grayish-green to bluish-green. They are rounded and up to 1.2 inches in diameter.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Cyme; Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowerheads are tight and round. The flowers are star-shaped and cluster at the end of the stem. They are purplish-red on the interior and have a purple covered powdery bloom on the outside.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Allow the seed heads to dry on the plant, then remove and collect the seeds.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems decumbent, sparsely branched, and measure 6-8 inches long. The leaves are mostly arranged toward the tips of the reddish to pale green-colored stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Pyrenees, Southwest to Southern Alps, South Central Alps
Distribution
Native to Southwest Europe--Sapin, Southern France, Southwest Switzerland, and North Italy Introduced: Czechoslovakia and Norway
Wildlife value
This a pollinator plant for bees and butterflies. It also provides shelter for small wildlife.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The plant leaves are reportedly edible but bitter. They can be served either raw or cooked.
Uses (ethnobotany)
This plant is grown commercially for use as a "green roof or "green wall" system. In Germany, it is cultivated as a medicinal plant. A poultice can be made from mashed leaves.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden