Sedum Plant Information

Gardeners epecially concerned with maintenance or water conservation should consider planting sedums.

Sedum, commonly referred to as stonecrop, is a low-maintenance succulent plant. Very little supplemental water is needed because the foliage holds the water needed for the plant to thrive. For the occasional gardener looking for the biggest impact with minimal effort, sedum is truly ideal. Aside from the easy care and low maintenance, sedum is good for cut flowers and attracting butterflies to the garden.

Perennials, Annuals and Biennials

Most types of sedum are perennials, but some are also annuals and biennials. Perennial sedums are typically sold to gardeners, while annual and biennial sedums are considered collectors plants, making them harder to come by for the typical gardener. The blooms, which for many sedum varieties are starry flowers, typically come at the end of summer or in fall and last until winter.

Types

Sedum ground covers, trailing and uprights can fulfill any garden need. Ground coverings grow to as little as one inch, making them ideal for borders or rock gardens. Uprights grow upwards of two feet or more, making them more ideal for garden focal pieces. Gardeners creating certain color themes can choose from a wide color spectrum with this plant: white, pink, red, orange, bronze, gold, green or yellow. Sedum "Autumn Joy" or showy stonecrop such as "Brilliant," "Pink Chablis" or "Purple Emperor" are just a few types of sedum to consider.

Planting

Sedums thrive in well-drained soil and full sun to light shade and should be planted during the spring. Depending on the type of sedum, spacing between each plant should be six inches to two feet. The hole should be 12 to 15 inches deep with the diameter being twice the size of the pot. Two to four inches of compost should be mixed with the soil before planting the root ball. The top of the root ball should be level with the ground surface, gently covered with soil and thoroughly watered.

Care and Maintenance

While sedum is drought-resistant and will make do with a lack of rain fall, it does need watering on extremely hot days or when there's been less than an inch of rain during the week. Since blooms last until winter, deadheading is unnecessary; if deadheading during fall cleanup, however, cut stems back to an inch or two above the soil. To ensure the health of these plants, divide them every four to five years to avoid overcrowding, and add a little bit of compost and mulch each spring.

Propagation

Sedum is very easy to propagate. One way is by simply breaking off a leaf or a stem and sticking it into the ground and watering it until there's no new signs of growth visible. In full sun and well-drained soil, the sedum will thrive and establish itself within one to two years. The best time to do this is in early spring so that new root stems have a few months to establish before the winter season begins.

References

• National Gardening Association: Sedum
• Gardenology: Sedum

Resources

• WSU Whatcam County Extension: Stonecrop.
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Propagating House Plants.