Many gardeners recognize upright sedum species, such as Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ as good plants for color in late summer and early autumn’s hot, dry days. Several low-growing sedum types, on the other hand, operate well as ground cover plants in hot, arid climates where other plants struggle to survive.
The Sedum genus contains 400500 species known as sedums, or stonecrops, many of which have been widely embraced as garden plants. It belongs to the Crassulaceae family, which is noted for plants with mushy, succulent leaves. Stonecrop gets its name from the fact that these plants not only withstand but thrive in dry, rocky soil. Sedums can grow to be 2 inches tall or 3 feet tall. Some species can withstand temperatures as low as USDA hardiness zone 3, while others are best suited to warmer regions. Sedums come in both annual and perennial varieties, but they’re always fleshy succulents. Sedums store moisture in their leaves, which is why they thrive in arid environments. Despite the fact that all sedums flower, they’re most commonly planted for their foliage, which comes in unique colors of green not found in other plants.
All sedums are incredibly easy to grow and propagate, and the only way to kill them is to overwater them or plant them in excessively moist soil. A single branch or even a leaf stuck in the ground will swiftly root and grow into a new plant in upright kinds. Low-growing sedums spread quickly but aren’t invasive, and their shallow root systems make them easy to remove, making them great ground cover plants.
For your ground cover needs, here are ten sedum, or stonecrop, varieties to consider.
How many colors of sedum are there?
Sedums are perennials with distinctive, colorful, fleshy foliage that comes in a variety of colors ranging from pink, rose, purple, burgundy, blue, green, chartreuse, and gorgeous combinations. Sedums are available in a wide range of shapes, colors, and sizes, ranging from tall types to groundcovers. Star-shaped flowers are commonly seen in clusters or sprays, and they change color frequently during their blooming period. They prefer direct sunlight, but may tolerate moderate shade as well. They’re so close to being a perfect plant. They look wonderful as soon as they emerge in the spring and continue to look nice throughout the season, unlike many perennials that begin to show symptoms of age after blooming. Even in the winter, when the withered foliage is left standing, some are appealing.
Sedums have a number of qualities that every good landscape designer seeks for:
All of these plants do well in full sun with proper drainage. Weeds are effectively suppressed by ground cover types. Sedums are a favorite fall hue of our designers since they can be used in a variety of settings. Even the driest, stony bed will seem rich with them.
“Gardeners will be sold on adding these plants to their planting palette once they learn the variety of intriguing shapes and colors and how easy they are to grow.”
Two we love for their great show of color are:
With low fall temperatures, the red-margined green leaves of the Dragon’s Blood Stonecrop turn brightly red. In warm weather, the deep scarlet blossoms contrast with the green leaves. This plant is ideal for use as a groundcover, border, or in a rock garden.
Autumn Fire Stonecrop has rosy-pink flowers that turn a coppery crimson as they age. For arrangements, both fresh and dried flowers are suitable.
“Once gardeners see the plethora of unique shapes and colors and how easy these plants are to grow,” according to one grower, Monrovia, “they will be sold on adding them to their gardening palette.” Sedums thrive in containers as well! Because there are so many alternatives, you’ll have no trouble finding something you like in a variety of hues.
Are sedum and stonecrop the same?
Sedum is a flowering plant genus with succulent properties such as water-storing leaves and stems. The Crassulaceae family includes sedums. Because of its stone-like look, Sedum is also known as stonecrop. The white blossom of the Appalachian stonecrop. Sedums are annuals, perennials, creeping herbs, and shrubs with 600 species in the Northern Hemisphere. Succulent features are shared by both sedum and cactus, but they belong to two separate plant families.
Do sedums like sun or shade?
Sedum don’t need much water, and if they get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, they’ll produce their greatest colors. In thick, mucky, or high clay soils, they will not thrive. If you have some high spots and some low locations in your yard, the higher spots that drain well after a heavy rain will be preferable for sedum, while low spots tend to collect water.
Some succulents thrive inside, but sedum isn’t one of them. They simply require an excessive amount of direct sunshine.
How do I identify my sedum?
Succulents are plants that grow on the ground. They have a wide range of appearances as a group, with the stonecrops having the most variability. Combine the blues and greens with yellow foliage, such as Sedum “Angelina.” Foliage might be needle-like or spherical in shape. Pink, white, or yellow flowers can be found. The tall sedums have green, variegated, or purple foliage (Sedum “Black Jack” is so purple, it looks black). The flowers on the tall sedums are white and pink in color. Sedums are resistant to deer.
What is the tallest sedum?
“Autumn Joy,” a hybrid created in 1955 by crossing two species, Sedum spectabile and Sedum telephium, is the most popular tall sedum on the market. It reaches a height of about 24 inches and produces enormous broccoli-like flowerheads in the summer. The star-shaped blossoms begin as a pale green color and turn rose pink in the early fall. They turn a darker crimson and then brown as they age. If the brown flowerheads are left on the plants at the conclusion of the growing season, they add winter interest. “Autumn Fire,” a similar hybrid, has the same form but a stronger fall color.
What is a golden sedum?
Golden sedum (Sedum adolphi) is a rangy color accent that works well in succulent landscapes, borders, and pathways, as well as pouring out of planters. The greenish-yellow foliage hue, which glows golden orange in intense light, is offset with star-shaped white blooms. It thrives on sandy, weak soils.
The variety of ways succulents express themselves throughout the year, depending on light, season, temperature, soil, and hydration, is part of what makes them so fascinating. Because of these and other factors, the plants you receive may differ slightly from those shown on our website.
What plants go well with sedum?
Sedum’s Companion Plants
- Chrysanthemums and asters Hardy perennials like asters and chrysanthemums bloom in the fall.
- Fescue in the color of blue. Autumn Joy’s gentle green stems and leaves contrast wonderfully with blue fescue’s spiky, blue-gray foliage.
What are sedums called now?
Hylotelephium is a flowering plant genus belonging to the Crassulaceae family of stonecrops. It consists of approximately 33 species found in Asia, Europe, and North America.
The genus Orpine includes popular garden plants like as “sedum,” “stonecrop,” “live-for-ever,” and “orpine,” which were previously placed in Sedum. Many of the species have been hybridized by horticulturists to generate new cultivars. Many of the more recent ones are patented, so they can’t be spread without a permission.
What is firecracker sedum?
Chris Hansen, a plant breeder, created Sedum Firecracker. Because it will softly drape over edges, it is ideal for troughs, stone walls, live roofs, or a massed groundcover. Summer and fall color is provided by Stonecrop, a low-maintenance plant.
Where is the best place to plant sedum?
Sedum (also known as’stone crop flower’) thrives in full to part sun. While taller hybrids require full sun to flower well, creeping varieties can thrive in partial shade.
Sedums prefer a well-drained soil with a pH range of neutral to slightly alkaline. Root and stem rot can be caused by 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.
Plant sedums when the risk of frost has passed in the spring. Planting transplants till late summer is possible in northern locations. Plant in the spring or fall in warmer climates.