Looking for a vibrant perennial that can withstand harsh conditions and is simple to grow? The next time you go plant shopping, consider sedum. These succulent plants are incredibly simple to grow as long as they receive enough of sunlight and have proper drainage.
All sedum flower, but the variety of leaf forms and colors is what will make you want to grow these low-water plants. Sedum comes in a wide variety of hues, including chartreuse, pink, gray, blue, purple, and multicolored. The leaves can range in size from the size of your pinky fingernail to that of a spinach leaf. They are the ideal selections for giving the garden a splash of color.
How to Select the Right Sedum
Sedum comes in two basic varieties: upright and low-growing (sometimes sprawling) varieties. Which one fits you best? What you want it to accomplish in the garden will determine how. In many perennial gardens, taller cultivars like “Autumn Joy,” “Matrona,” and “Frosty Morn” are essential. They get along well with other perennials, such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and spurge, that do well in full sun and soil that drains well. Low-growing species make great groundcovers, borders, and container plants since they frequently have the most vibrant leaf colors.
When to Plant Sedum
Sedum should only be planted in the spring and summer, when the plants are expanding rapidly. Sedum are often more cold-hardy than many other varieties of succulents, but if they are not established before the winter wetness arrives, they will rot.
Where to Plant Sedum
Sedum don’t need a lot of water, and they benefit from at least six hours of sunlight each day to produce their greatest hues. In heavy, muddy, or high clay soils, they won’t thrive. The higher locations in your yard that drain after a severe rain will be better for sedum because low spots typically end up accumulating water. If your yard has both high and low points.
Sedum is not a succulent that does well inside, although some are. Simply said, they need an excessive amount of sunlight.
How to Prepare the Soil for Sedum
Spend time prepping the soil before planting sedum in the ground for the greatest results. To accomplish this, combine current soil and an equal amount of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Garden Soil. This will not only make your soil lighter—your sedum will thank you for it!—but it will also provide your plants with the nutrition they require for a healthy start.
How to Plant Sedum
1. Lay out the plants and gauge their spacing before you dig the holes (the plant tag will tell you how far apart they should go). Sedums that are shorter and more sprawling than those that are upright usually require more space.
2. Once the spacing is ideal, make a hole that is slightly broader and deeper than the root ball.
3. To give your sedum a good start, place a Miracle-Gro Quick Start Planting Tablet into the bottom of the hole. Next, cover the tablet with a thin layer of dirt.
4. Combine the soil as directed.
5. Set the sedum in the ground so that the top of the root ball is parallel to the surface.
6. Water sources.
How to Grow Sedum in Containers
Sedum are excellent plants for containers! Start by selecting a pot that is no wider than the plastic bag that the sedum was packaged in. When gardening in an area with a lot of rain, prefer unglazed clay or terra cotta containers over glazed pottery or plastic pots since they dry out more rapidly.
Fill one-third of the pot with quickly draining Use Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, a Miracle-Gro Quick Start Planting Tablet, some soil, the plant, and more soil until the mixture is approximately 3/4 inch below the rim (so the soil won’t wash out when you water the plants). Thoroughly water. When the top 2 inches of soil are dry, water again. Bring the containers under cover if it’s raining a lot until the weather clears up.
Use a little larger container if you’d like to mix sedum with other plants that require about as much water, such lavender, oregano, rosemary, or spurge.
How to Feed Sedum
For Sedum to continue growing healthily and attractively, it needs a reliable source of nutrition. For optimum development, feed them Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed All Purpose Plant Food a month after planting. Your sedum will be fed by this plant food for up to three months. It contains natural components including earthworm castings, feather meal, and kelp. Make sure to adhere to label instructions!
How to Deadhead and Prune Sedum
Sedum plants require little water and require little upkeep because they don’t require much time to be spent deadheading and cutting. However, there is a simple way to prolong the bloom time of taller varieties. Cut a couple plants back by one-third of their length when they are around 8 inches tall. The season will be extended because they will bloom a little later than the uncut plants. (Although sedum is mostly grown for the foliage, the flowers are a charming addition.) The wasted blooms can then be removed to tidy up the plants, or you can leave the blossoms standing for winter appeal.
The only time you’ll need to prune the sprawling variety is if they outgrow the space you’ve allocated because their purpose is to spread out. The trimmed ends may re-root and produce additional sedum if you scatter them throughout the garden.
How often should a sedum be watered?
Newly planted sedum needs a good watering, whether it is in a pot or a garden area. After the plant has taken root, water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Sedum can withstand drought and do well in well-drained soil. The best course of action is to give the plant a big, slow drink and let the soil dry out completely before watering it again. Stonecrops thrive under conditions of full sun and dry weather. Plan to water your plants every 7 to 10 days throughout the hot summers. Water in the fall and winter every two to three weeks.
Container sedums’ watering requirements vary depending on a few variables. An outdoor container may not require any watering, depending on the amount of rainfall; in contrast, an inside container will require weekly watering. In comparison to a small or shallow container, a large one will hold more moisture and require less watering. Until the water begins to dribble out of the drainage holes, give the sedum a thorough drink. Before the following watering, let the soil dry out. Checking the soil once a week is a reasonable rule of thumb.
How frequently do I need to water my succulents?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.
How do you tell whether a succulent needs to be watered?
Succulents are better off dry than wet, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the need to water them. In fact, the plant needs water to survive, and much like people, it will exhibit dehydration symptoms. Your succulent clearly needs extra water if its leaves are wrinkled and shriveled.
The cells attempt to bring in more water to make up for the water that has been lost as they release their stored moisture to the rest of the plant. The cells shrink as they run out of water and the plant is forced to rely on its limited reserves, which causes the once-firm and full leaves to collapse and shrivel.
Can sedum withstand direct sunlight?
Sedums that are perennial have so much to offer! They are resilient, sun-loving perennials, but that doesn’t sum up all of their wonderful garden qualities. Because they are succulents, these plants contain leaves and other plant parts that can store water. When the plants are in need of water but cannot get it from another source, they can use the stored water. These plants are heat and drought resilient once established, as you might expect.
Sedum comes in numerous variants, and there are significant differences between species in terms of size, leaves color, flower color, and morphology. Star-shaped blooms are typically found in clusters or sprays. Throughout the season, flower colors frequently change, adding to the visual appeal. There are tall plants that produce wonderful cut flowers, groundcover varieties that are great at controlling weeds, and even smaller varieties that thrive in containers. Sedums are frequently referred to as stonecrop.
How to Grow Sedums
In full sun, everything grows without much effort. Plant in a well-draining section of the garden or a planter that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Some types can withstand 4 hours of direct sunlight, but those with colorful leaves may start to lose some of their color if they don’t. To prevent root rot from developing in plants, modify heavy soils to improve airflow and drainage. Spring is the time to remove winter-damaged foliage.
These are some of the varieties we currently have as of June 2020; to check on availability, call. For in-depth details on some of our favorite hardy, sun-loving sedums, keep reading!
This sedum’s deep plum foliage contrasts nicely with lime green groundcover sedums like “Lemon Ball” or “Angelina.” The SunSparkler collection of sedums were selected for their brilliant flower and leaf color. Magenta pink flowers are produced by “Plum Dazzled” in the late summer. Bees and butterflies are drawn to the blossoms. Although it’s deer resistant, not all fauna enjoys this plant.
‘Plum Dazzled’ (seen above) is a good container filler plant. Plant them in large groups as border plants in landscape plantings or put one in here and there for a bright accent.
This sedum stands out thanks to its lime green leaf with a distinct ruby red edge; yes, it belongs to the SunSparkler line. “Lime Zinger” is a low-growing groundcover that only reaches a height of 6 inches and a width of 18 inches. They thrive just as well in containers as well. They have a nice additional quality—rabbit resistance!
Hot pink flower clusters that draw butterflies appear in late summer and linger into early fall.
Although this sedum resembles “Plum Dazzled” in appearance, there are a few variances. ‘Dazzleberry’ grows to the same width of 18 inches as its related but matures at a height of 6 to 8 inches. In addition, the leaves have a smokey blue-gray hue rather than a plum hue. Additionally, it blooms earlier and has enormous clusters of raspberry-colored flowers, which is one of the key contrasts. The clusters’ maximum diameter is 9 inches!
It is resistant to rabbits, like many other sedums, and it is also immune to disease.
With a mature size of 4-6 inches tall and 10–12 inches wide, this one is a little smaller than some others. Despite its small size, the vivid chartreuse hue has a powerful visual impact. In the garden, “Lemon Ball” is very noticeable, whether it’s one plant or a mass planting. It is ideal for accentuating a higher layer in a perennial border due to its low height. It also thrives when grown in a container, either alone or in a low bowl planter when combined with other plants.
In the summer, yellow blossom clusters emerge. Here in Central Arkansas, “Lemon Ball” has a little winter presence and is resistant to deer. In warmer climates, it is regarded as an evergreen tree.
Small, burgundy, spherical leaves and a mounding appearance characterize this diminutive sedum (6–8 inches tall and broad), which gently falls over the sides of containers or stones. This sedum has very dense growth and blooms in the late summer and early fall with pink flowers.