Adding a new splash to your home garden can be a bit daunting. The houseplant selection is big, and there is something for everyone. If you want to enjoy the presence of sedum plants in your living room, you will love either lemon ball or lemon coral.
Both have beautiful foliage different from the more common scindapsus or philodendron.
However, many growers feel that the issue of lemon ball and lemon coral sedum is difficult to settle. The close resemblance between both plants might cause this. You don’t have to be that confused any longer.
This article will discuss the differences between them so you can easily recognize each plant.
Table of Contents
What is a Lemon Ball?
The scientific name of the lemon ball is Sedum Rupestre lemon ball. It is one of the succulent plants. Lemon ball is also a member of the Crassulaceae family and Sedum genus.
Lemon ball is one of those evergreen perennial plants that maintains its attractive foliage all year long. The natural habitat of the lemon plant is Mexico. It is also found in various parts of Central America.
It is a flowering plant that produces its blooms during the summer. Its flowers are small and yellowish and look like stars. The plant’s leaves reflect a bright neon greenish-yellow shade.
In addition to its hardy nature, this plant can tolerate drought. The lemon ball plant is very easy to maintain and grows relatively quickly. The beautiful leaves are dense and soft with a linear appearance.
What is Lemon Coral Sedum?
The botanical name of this plant is Sedum mexicanum lemon coral. This plant is an ideal option for decorating your landscape. Also, it will look its best when placed in a container indoors.
The beauty of lemon coral comes from its stunning lemon-lime foliage. This plant is like many other succulents in tolerating high temperatures and drought.
Lemon coral sedum is a dwarf plant that shows flexibility in growing habits. Depending on the desired growing style, it can spread, trail, or cascade.
This plant produces its tiny golden flowers during spring. For this plant to thrive, you will need to expose it directly to sunlight.
What are the Differences between Lemon Ball and Lemon Coral Sedum?
Both plants come from the same plant family and genus. They are all succulents, which means they do well with heat and lack of water. Another thing they have in common is that they are not toxic and have edible foliage.
The physical appearance of lemon ball and lemon coral sedum causes common confusion. But there are apparent differences in size, density, hardiness zones, and light needs.
1. Plant size
In terms of size, you will notice that the lemon ball is smaller than the lemon coral sedum. A mature lemon coral sedum grows up to 3 times larger than the lemon ball. A grown lemon ball plant is around 20 cm long.
It spreads to reach a diameter of approximately 41 cm. Mature lemon coral sedum can reach 61 cm in height.
2. Foliage density
Another notable difference in their sizes is the foliage density. Both plants have dense foliage. However, the lemon coral sedum produces denser leaves. The nature of its leaves and stems is thicker as well.
3. Foliage color
Both plants have different levels of yellowish-green or lemon-lime color. But this is not always the case, as these colors could change with the weather.
For instance, the leaves of a lemon ball would turn red with hints of orange when it is cold. The Lemon Coral Sedum plant maintains its original color all year long.
4. Hardiness zones
Both plants grow in similar hardiness zones, but there is a slight difference. The ideal hardiness zone for lemon coral sedum is between 7a and 11b. On the other hand, the lemon ball plant grows outdoors in zones between 7a and 9b.
5. Flowering time
Lemon Coral sedum and lemon ball are both flowering plants. They bloom and produce beautiful small golden flowers. However, the time to see these blooms is a bit different from one plant to the next.
Lemon coral sedum flowers during spring, while lemon ball flowers during summer.
6. Growth speed
Another major difference in comparing lemon ball and lemon coral sedum is that they show different growth speeds. Mexicanum lemon coral is a slow-growing succulent. Lemon ball, on the other hand, is more on the moderate or fast-growing side.
7. Pruning time
There is no rule for this maintenance routine. You are required to prune your houseplants when you see dead or damaged ends. However, the best time for pruning lemon ball differs from lemon coral sedum.
It is better to trim the lemon ball plants in the spring. The best time to prune lemon coral sedum is during winter.
8. Light needs
Lemon ball and lemon coral sedum love direct sunlight for hours. However, lemon coral sedum seems slightly more tolerant of partial sun. Remember that you can’t leave it on partial light for a long time.
Lemon coral sedum can take partial natural light for a limited time. But the same scenario won’t apply to the lemon ball plant. The latter needs constant direct exposure.
Lemon Ball vs Lemon Coral Sedum: are they the same?
No, lemon ball and lemon coral sedum are not the same plants. Despite being referred to as identical plants, they are different varieties of sedum. They are beautiful succulents with evergreen lemon-lime foliage. However, they grow a bit differently in terms of size and density. The lemon coral sedum is the larger of the two.
Their flowering seasons are also different, as the lemon ball blooms in summer, while the lemon coral sedges flowers in spring. Also, lemon coral sedum is slow-growing, while lemon ball grows relatively faster. The best hardiness zones for the lemon ball are between 7a and 9b, while the other plant thrives between 7a and 11b.
The best time for pruning lemon ball is spring, while lemon coral loves winter pruning. Both plants adore direct exposure to natural sunlight, but the lemon ball is more demanding in this matter. While lemon coral sedum can tolerate partial light for a little while, the lemon ball can’t.
