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Jelly Bean Succulent Sedum rubrotinctum — "Pork and Beans"
The Jelly Bean plant (Sedum rubrotinctum) is one of the most beginner-friendly succulents you can grow — and one of the most satisfying. Its plump, glossy leaves look exactly like little jelly beans, shifting from bright green to a fiery red-orange when it gets plenty of sun, which is how it earned its other nickname, "Pork and Beans." It roots from a single dropped leaf, tolerates neglect, and packs a lot of color into a small pot, making it a staple of assorted cutting mixes and a favorite first succulent.
| Common names | Jelly Bean Plant, Pork and Beans, Jelly Bean Sedum |
| Botanical name | Sedum rubrotinctum |
| Family | Crassulaceae |
| Mature size | 6–8 in tall, trailing & spreading |
| Light | Full sun to bright light (sun brings out the red) |
| Water | Low — soak, then let dry completely |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 9–11 (protect from frost) |
| Propagation | Stem & leaf cuttings — very easy |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic if ingested; sap may irritate skin |
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Fresh-cut Sedum rubrotinctum cuttings from our Los Angeles garden — ready to root.
Get Jelly Bean Cuttings →How to identify Sedum rubrotinctum
Jelly Bean is easy to recognize: cylindrical bean-shaped leaves, glossy and plump, growing alternately along short sprawling stems. In shade they stay uniformly green; under bright sun and cool nights the tips (and eventually the whole leaf) blush red to copper. A close lookalike, Sedum × rubrotinctum 'Aurora', is the pale pink-and-cream version; the classic Jelly Bean is the green-to-red one. Leaves drop at a touch — and every dropped leaf is free propagation material.
Jelly Bean plant care
Light. Give it as much sun as you can — minimum 4–6 hours of direct light. Sun drives the red "pork and beans" color; in low light the plant stays green and stretches.
Water. Soak-and-dry: water thoroughly, then wait until the soil is bone dry. Wrinkled leaves = thirsty; translucent, squishy leaves = too much water.
Soil. A gritty, fast-draining mix (cactus soil cut with perlite or pumice) and a pot with a drainage hole.
Temperature. Happiest between 60–80°F. Not frost-hardy — below about 30°F the leaves turn to mush, so bring it under cover in winter outside zones 9–11.
How to propagate Jelly Bean from cuttings
This is where Sedum rubrotinctum shines — one of the easiest succulents on earth to multiply.
1. Take a cutting or drop a leaf. Snap off a stem tip or gently twist off whole leaves (base included).
2. Callus 2–3 days. Planting a fresh, wet cut is the #1 cause of rot.
3. Lay on dry, gritty soil. Leaves flat on top; stem cuttings poked shallowly in.
4. Bright light, almost no water. Mist lightly every few days. Roots appear in 2–3 weeks.
New to cuttings? Follow our step-by-step 21-Day Rooting Guide, and match your delivery with the Succulent ID Chart.
Skip the wait — start with rooted-ready cuttings
We ship fresh, healthy Jelly Bean cuttings that callus in transit and are ready to propagate on arrival.
Get Jelly Bean Cuttings →Common problems
Why is my jelly bean succulent turning red? That's sun stress, and it's a good thing — bright light and cool nights turn it from green to the red-orange "pork and beans" look. Move it somewhere shadier if you prefer it green.
Why are the leaves falling off? Jelly Bean drops leaves easily when handled — normal, and free propagation material. Sudden mass leaf drop with mushy leaves points to overwatering; with shriveled leaves, to prolonged drought.
Is it safe around pets? It's considered mildly toxic if eaten and the sap can irritate skin, so keep it out of reach of pets and kids, and rinse your hands after taking cuttings.
My plant is stretching and pale — what's wrong? Not enough light. Move it to your brightest spot; leggy stems can be beheaded and re-rooted as cuttings.
Related pages
All Sedum → · Ghost Plant · Gollum Jade · Succulent ID Chart