Featuring colorful foliage and pretty flowers, this perennial is easy to grow and drought-tolerant.
Jo-Ann Richards
A diverse group of plants,sedumscome in myriad shapes, colors, and sizes.
The foliage ranges from needle-like to broad, rounded, paddle-like leaves.
Credit:Jo-Ann Richards
Along with many different shapes, there are also a number of foliage colors.
With so many species and varieties available, sedums can be found in bloom three seasons a year.
Bees and butterflies love the flowers, making this plant perfect forpollinator gardens.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
On taller blooming varieties, the dried bloom stems add winter interest to the garden.
And the best thing: Sedum is easy to grow and requires very little maintenance.
There are two main types of sedums: creeping or upright.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
The creeping types are great as groundcovers in rock gardens and growing through cracks in walls.
Many creeping sedum types will root wherever they have soil contact and can easily spread to fill a space.
How and When to Plant Sedum
Sedum can be planted in the spring or fall.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
In northern climates, wait until the danger of frost has passed.
Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root system and has the same depth.
Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with the original soil.
Credit: William N. Hopkins
The spacing depends on the variety and growth rate.
Tall sedums should be spaced 1 to 2 feet apart and low-growing creeping sedums 6 to 12 inches apart.
Sedum Care Tips
Light
These plants need asmuch sun as you could give them.
Credit: Jason Wilde
More sun is also better for foliage color.
Brighter light intensities bring out deeper colors in the leaves and promote better flowering.
The best soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral (6.0 to 7.0).
Credit: Richard Hirneisen
The plant isdrought-tolerantthanks to its succulent leaves and stems in which it stores water for the future.
As long as there is good air circulation between plants, high humidity is generally not a problem.
Fertilizer
Adding nutrients to the soil is not required.
Credit: Andy Lyons
If the soil is poor, amend it with compost in the spring.
Potting and Repotting Sedum
Because sedums have shallow roots, they lend themselves to container planting.
Fill it with a well-draining potting mix or succulent potting mix.
Credit: Jason Wilde
Remember that potted plants, unlike plants in the landscape, need more frequent watering and fertilization.
Pests and Problems
Sedum is rarely bothered by pests and diseases.
The plants may attract slugs and snails.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Deer, on the other hand, tend to leave sedum alone.
How to Propagate Sedum
Sedum can be easily propagated from stem cuttings ordivision.
Water it well and keep it evenly moist.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Wait until the cutting has grown into a strong healthy little plant before transplanting it in the landscape.
Keep the soil most until the seeds germinate.
It grows 4 inches tall.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It grows 15 inches tall and wide.
Zones 4-8
Autumn Joy Sedum
Sedum’Autumn Joy' is a classic.
It grows 1 foot tall.
Credit: Perry L. Struse
Yellow-green flowers are produced in summer.
This is a fine groundcover plant in rock and crevice gardens.
It grows 8 inches tall and is hardy in Zones 7-9.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
It grows 2 feet tall.
It grows 2 inches tall.
Its bright yellow starry flowers bloom from summer into fall, gradually becoming orange.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
It grows 4 inches tall.
This plant self-seeds freely, sometimes to the point of becoming invasive.
It shows off well against most flowers and provides an elegant look to flower borders.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
The aromatic leaves are oblong and deeply cut along the edges.
Foot-long panicles of flowers bloom for many weeks.
Excellent drainage and full sun are ideal, although very light shade is tolerated.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Plant close to avoid staking, since the tall plants tend to flop.
Black-Eyed Susan
Add a pool of sunshine to the garden with a massedplanting of black-eyed Susan.
Tall varieties look especially appropriate among shrubs, which in turn provide support.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Add black-eyed Susans to wildflower meadows or native plant gardens for a naturalized look.
Average soil is sufficient for black-eyed Susans, but it should be able to hold moisture fairly well.
Corner of Grasses
Create an exquisite corner garden with ornamental grasses.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
The distinct heights in the garden plan make a dramatic statement in the landscape.
Summer Cottage Garden Plan
Stately delphiniums are the backbone of this colorful cottage garden plan.
A decorative birdbath adds a focal point.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Beginner Garden for Full Sun
This easy-care, sun-loving design is a great introduction to perennial gardening.
Sedums for gardens are usually perennials but there are also numerous sedum species that are tropical.
They are either grown as annuals or succulent houseplants, suchburrow’s tail(Sedum morganium).
