Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a genus of hardy, low-maintenance perennials that offers a wealth of benefits for gardeners of all experience levels. These resilient plants are celebrated for their ability to thrive in challenging conditions, providing vibrant color and texture from late summer well into fall. With succulent-like foliage and an array of shapes and sizes, sedums are perfect for attracting pollinators and adding lasting beauty to any landscape.

Plant Profile

• Botanical Name: Hylotelephium (formerly Sedum)
• Common Name(s): Stonecrop, Showy Stonecrop, Border Stonecrop
• Description: Sedums are a diverse group of plants, with varieties that are either low-growing and creeping or tall and upright. They are a type of succulent, storing water in their thick, fleshy leaves and stems. This gives them their characteristic drought tolerance. The foliage can be an incredible range of colors, from blue-green and chartreuse to deep burgundy and even variegated with pinks and creams. Their star-shaped flowers appear in clusters, creating a stunning visual display and providing a crucial food source for bees and butterflies late in the season. The dried flower heads of taller varieties add valuable winter interest to the garden.

Growing Conditions

• Hardiness Zones: Most sedums are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 10, though specific hardiness varies by species. This wide range makes them a reliable choice for gardens across the lower 48 states.
• Sunlight Requirements: Sedums perform best in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day). In too much shade, they can become leggy, weak, and may not flower as profusely. While they can tolerate some partial shade, brighter light enhances their foliage color and promotes sturdier growth.
• Soil Type Preferences: These plants are incredibly forgiving when it comes to soil, but they demand one thing above all: excellent drainage. They thrive in poor, sandy, or gravelly soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Heavy clay or waterlogged soil is their biggest enemy, as it can lead to root rot.
• Water Needs: Once established, sedums are highly drought-tolerant and require minimal watering. Their succulent leaves store water, allowing them to withstand dry spells. Overwatering or poor drainage is the primary cause of plant failure, leading to crown rot and mushy foliage.
• Habit, Mature Height, and Spread:
• Creeping/Groundcover Types: These low-growing sedums can form dense mats, reaching heights of 2 to 12 inches and spreading up to 36 inches wide.
• Upright/Clumping Types: These varieties form tight, mounding clumps, growing from 18 to 36 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide.
• Bloom Time and Flower Colors: Sedums bloom from late summer into fall, with some creeping varieties flowering earlier in the season. Flower colors include shades of pink, red, purple, white, and yellow.
• Deer/Rabbit Resistance: Sedums are generally considered deer and rabbit-resistant due to their thick, fleshy leaves and bitter taste. While no plant is 100% immune, they are not a preferred food source, and browsing is usually minimal.
• Pest & Disease Resistance: Sedums are largely pest and disease-free. The most common issues are related to overwatering, which can cause crown rot or powdery mildew in humid conditions. Occasionally, slugs and snails may feed on new spring growth.

Maintenance and Care

• Pruning: Sedums require very little pruning. You can pinch back the stems of upright varieties in late spring or early summer to encourage bushier, more compact growth and prevent them from flopping over. For most varieties, simply cut back the old, dried stems to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Leaving the dried stems in place over winter provides a source of food for birds and adds architectural interest to the dormant garden.
• Fertilizing: Fertilizer is not necessary and can be detrimental. Soil that is too rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen, promotes weak, leggy growth at the expense of flowers. If your soil is extremely poor, a single spring application of compost is more than enough.
• Overwintering Tips: Most sedums are incredibly cold-hardy and will die back to the ground and go dormant in winter, only to return in the spring. Potted sedums, however, are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures because their roots are not insulated by the surrounding ground. To protect them, you can either move the pots to a sheltered location or wrap the containers in burlap or bubble wrap.

Propagation

Propagating sedum is remarkably easy and a great way to get more plants for free. The most successful methods are from stem cuttings or division.

• Stem Cuttings: In late spring or summer, cut a 4- to 6-inch piece of a healthy stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom half, then simply stick the cutting into a pot of well-draining soil or succulent potting mix. Keep the soil lightly moist in bright, indirect light. The cutting will root quickly, and you'll soon have a new plant.
• Division: When a clump of sedum becomes crowded or starts to die out in the center, it's a good time to divide it. In early spring, before new growth is too far along, dig up the entire clump and separate it into smaller sections with a sharp spade or knife. Replant the sections in new locations, keeping them watered until established.

Uses and Landscaping

Sedums are an incredibly versatile plant with a wide range of uses in the landscape.

• Borders and Edging: Their neat, mounding habit and vibrant colors make upright sedums excellent for defining pathways and the front of a garden bed.
• Containers and Planters: Both upright and trailing varieties work beautifully in containers. The upright types add structure, while the trailing ones spill over the sides for a lush, full look.
• Groundcover: Creeping sedums form dense, low-maintenance mats that suppress weeds and control erosion on slopes and banks. They are also perfect for rock gardens, green roofs, and planting between pavers.
• Focal Point: Taller varieties with striking foliage and large flower heads can serve as a focal point in a mixed perennial bed.
• Attracting Pollinators: The late-season blooms are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making sedum an essential addition to any pollinator garden or a habitat for beneficial insects.
• Mass Plantings: Planting a large group of sedums creates a stunning, low-maintenance display of color and texture, especially on slopes or in curbside strips.
• Landscaping Design Techniques: Sedums are a top choice for xeriscaping—a type of landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water—due to their extreme drought tolerance.

Companion Planting and Success Tips

Sedums pair well with a variety of other plants, particularly those that also prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

• For Upright Sedums:
• Ornamental Grasses: The fine texture of grasses like fountain grass (Pennisetum) or switchgrass (Panicum) provides a beautiful contrast to the bold, fleshy foliage of sedum.
• Coneflowers (Echinacea): These hardy perennials share similar sun and soil needs and their daisy-like flowers complement sedum's dense flower clusters.
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): The vibrant yellow of Rudbeckia provides a striking contrast to the pink, purple, or white blooms of sedum.
• For Creeping Sedums:
• Ice Plant (Delosperma): Like sedum, ice plant is a low-growing succulent that thrives in dry, sunny spots and adds a splash of brilliant color.
• Russian Sage (Perovskia): The tall, airy plumes of Russian sage provide an excellent backdrop for low-growing sedums.
• Perennial Salvia: The vertical flower spikes of salvia pair well with the low, mounding habit of creeping sedum.

Success Tips:

• Choose the Right Spot: Always select a location with full sun and excellent drainage. This is the single most important factor for success.
• Don't Overwater: When in doubt, hold off on watering. Sedums are much more likely to die from too much moisture than not enough.
• Avoid Rich Soil: Resist the urge to add lots of compost or fertilizer. Lean, gravelly soil is exactly what sedums love.

Sedums offer a fantastic blend of beauty, resilience, and versatility, making them a must-have for any garden. Their ability to provide late-season color and support pollinators with minimal effort makes them a true gardening superstar.