Sedum (SEE-dum) succulents are prized for their resilience, colorful foliage, and easy spreading habit. They make popular choices for rock gardens, living walls, and container arrnagements. Within this diverse group you can find the perfect variety for your climate or indoor growing conditions. The adaptability and ease of Sedum plants make them an excellent choice for novice and experienced gardeners alike.
APPEARANCE
- Form: While all characterized by fleshy, water-storing leaves, Sedum can vary widely in their growth habits. They can be dense mats of low ground covers, mounded clumps, trailing stems, or upright growers.
- Colors: Sedum colors can be bold and bright or soft and pastel, and they gain vibrancy with added sunlight. Explore the photos below to see the full range of colors exhibited.
- Foliage: Sedum leaves can be fleshy or thin, sometimes with a powdery coating of farina to enhance drought tolerance. The leaves are often arranged in a rosette or along branching stems, depending on the species.
- Flowers: Star-shaped blooms tend to appear in early summer in shades of white, pink, or yellow. If grown outdoors in the summer, they’re great for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
CARE
- Light: Grown indoors, Sedum need as much sunlight as they can get and should be near bright windows. For outdoor planting, pick partial to full sun locations with afternoon shade if temperatures tend to rise above 90F. Adequate light exposure promotes thick, compact growth and encourages flowering.
- Soil: Use a well-draining soil mixture that is gritty or sandy in texture. Add grit like pumice or perlite to standard succulent soil mixes to prevent waterlogging and rot. Sedum tolerates poor, rocky soil well, making them ideal for rocky crevices like the nooks of retaining walls.
- Water: Sedum can survive months of drought but will rot easily if over-watered. If potted, we highly recommend using a container with a drainage hole. Drench thoroughly then wait for soil to fully dry before watering again. Watering frequency will vary based on soil, container, climate, and time of year. Withhold water through winter to prevent rot.
- Hardiness: The Sedum here can be frost hardy, outdoor varieties or frost tender. “Soft” or tender succulents need protection from temperatures below freezing and should be brought inside before any chance of frost. Check each plant's description to find its cold hardiness rating.
- Propagation: Sedum have particularly high success rates of re-growing from stem cuttings and some varieties can re-root from a single leaf. If you want to try propagation, remove a large leaf or the top 2″ of stem, leave to dry 3-5 days, and then follow our Guide to Propagating Cuttings.
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