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.
Can sedum stand 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.
Where should a sedum plant be placed?
Sedum, often known as “stone crop flower,” thrives in full to part sun. While creeping varieties can thrive in partial shade, taller hybrids require full light for the finest flowering.
Soil: Sedums prefer a pH range of neutral to slightly alkaline soil that is extremely well-drained. Root and stem rot can result from wet, heavy clay.
Tall growing sedums should be spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. Depending on the kind and how rapidly you want it to fill in an area, space low-growing, creeping sedums 6 to 12 inches apart.
Sedums should be planted in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. Till the end of the summer, you can still plant transplants in northern regions. Planting season is spring or fall in drier regions.
Sedum spreads quickly, right?
Sedums can survive in less-than-ideal environments, therefore the author covers a stone wall with a variety of them (identified in chart below).
A creeping sedum may be the ideal plant for you if you want something attractive that can survive with almost complete neglect. Sedums show off where many other plants would be afraid to tread. For instance, they settle in the crevices of a garden wall or pathway, on roofs or the tops of birdhouses with slightly sloping roofs, or even under huge trees where their gigantic roots control the majority of the soil’s moisture. Additionally, they function well in borders, containers, and rock gardens.
Many gardeners have started looking more closely at plants in the genus Sedum as seasonal and protracted droughts become more frequent across the United States. The ground-hugging relatives of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ which is well-known for its late russet blooms, are also gaining popularity.
In my yard, creeping sedums, often called stonecrops, provide endless fascination. Over the course of my many years as a gardener, they rank among the most adaptable, drought-tolerant, and simple-to-grow perennials I’ve ever grown. Sedums really require less work from a gardener as their area grows. These slow-growing plants, which are renowned for their propensity to spread swiftly, prevent weeds from taking root. Since they eventually just fade away, it is not required to deadhead the spent blooms, but it is simple to get rid of old blossoms using a string trimmer. They rarely contract illnesses or pests as long as they aren’t overwatered.
Even the poorest soil may support sedums, and small amounts of soil are really their preferred medium. However, the key to cultivating them is proper drainage. A sedum will be quickly killed by excessive wetness, especially standing water, which will accomplish what no drought can.
Even in the driest conditions, sedums practically never need further water after they are established. Sedums function admirably almost anyplace as long as they receive proper drainage, but they are particularly well suited for gardens in hot, arid regions like the western United States. They can also be found sticking up from boulders or sprouting from only a few inches of scree in cold, alpine environments where they are widespread. For almost every USDA Hardiness Zone, there is at least one Sedum species. The majority of creeping sedums can tolerate little shade but prefer full sun. Native to North America, Sedum ternatum is one sedum that prefers shade and a little bit more moisture than its relatives.
Creeping Sedums
Hardiness: The Northern Hemisphere’s Sedum genus has more than 400 species of succulent annuals, perennials, biennials, subshrubs, and shrubs. Sedums are commonly grown as creeping ground coverings. Each USDA Hardiness Zone has at least one species that can withstand it. Most thrive in Zones 4 through 9. OUTLINE: Five-petaled flowers in shades of yellow, white, or pink lie above mats of succulent leaves that range in color from green to blue-gray to reddish bronze. In the winter, the leaves of evergreen species take on colours of crimson and russet. PROPAGATION: From spring to midsummer, propagate plants by division or seed in the spring or fall. Plant in rock gardens, walls, recesses in walkways, and pots. You may also use it as a border edging or in sweeps on slopes. The majority of creeping sedums like full sun, although they can also tolerate little shade. They prefer medium to poor garden soil that drains well; once they are established, no additional watering is required. They cannot endure any amount of time in standing water.
The author’s favorite sedums
Except for S. ternatum, all of these exceptional sedums prefer full sun or mild shade. The numbers in the chart that come before the name in the image below provide a key.
First S. album
2. S.’s “Murale” album
S. divergens 3.
S. ewersii 4.
S. kamtschaticum (5)
S. kamtschaticum (6)
S. reflexum 7. (S. rupestre)
‘Rose Carpet’ 8.
S. sexangulare 9.
S. spurium, “Fuldaglut” 10.
S. spurium “John Creech,” 11.
S. stenopetalum 12.
S. ternatum 13.
Creeping sedums change from season to season
Creeping sedums are attractive for their dependability and lack of fussiness, but I’m also drawn to them for their succulent leaves, lengthy flowering cycles, and, in some cases, year-round attractiveness in the garden. Sedum blooms often come in little, star-shaped clusters that range in color from white to yellow to purple to pink, and are no larger than an inch in diameter and 4 to 5 inches tall. The carpets of blossoms they generate when planted in large numbers are stunning. Many evergreen sedums, such as Sedum album “Murale” and Sedum stenopetalum, blush to a rich red or bronze color in the fall and even throughout the winter. These stunning contrasts to an otherwise inert landscape last until early spring. They look particularly lovely on a snowy background.
One of the simplest plants to grow from seed, cuttings, or divisions is the sedum. Stem cuttings or divisions will guarantee the maintenance of a plant’s traits once you’ve found one you like because sedums don’t always grow true from seed. Sedums spread quickly, yet they are not invasive. They are easily lifted and transported because of their thin roots. As long as there is adequate drainage, they may survive the winter in most planters and come out of dormancy in the early to midspring.
I complained as I pulled boulders from the cultivated sections of my father’s fields as a young child working on the family farm in northeastern Maryland. In a fitting irony, decades later I still wander the same fields looking for fascinating stones to use as backdrops and accents for my ever-growing collection of sedums.
A few ways to use creeping sedums
Sedums that are resilient make lovely staples. In a section of my rock garden, I utilize a lot of sedums to simulate a cascade. You can blend several sedums, such as the white-flowered Sedum album, the S. grisebachii, and the yellow-flowered Sedum sexangulare (foreground, first photo below) (background). They perform well in a region that can be seen from above.
These year-round, low-maintenance plants are ideal for containers. You won’t need to bring the pots indoors for the winter because creeping sedums do well in containers. Additionally, because of their drought tolerance, you won’t need to locate someone to water them while you are away. Sedums, like the yellow-flowered S. sexangulare (Sempervivum spp. and cvs., Zones 410, second photo below), can be used as underplantings or in combination with other succulents like hens and chicks.
Make stepping stones or rock walls’ sharp edges softer. Within cracks in a stone wall or between stepping stones, sedums, like S. spurium ‘Fuldaglut,’ grow with almost no soil (third photo, below). Use small, mature seedlings, usually referred to as plugs, and combine with some fine gravel and soil.
Utilize a patchwork of sedums to tame a difficult terrain. Maybe you have a spot where gardening and lawn mowing have never worked well together, like a hillside with compacted soil. It might be the perfect place to use creeping sedums, like the pink-flowered S. spurium ‘John Creech’ and others, to intertwine regions of color and texture. The “quilt will vary three times a year as the sedums exhibit the colors of their early-season foliage, then their blossoms, and finally their winter leaves in various tones.