Sedums (SEE-dumz) are a group of remarkably varied succulent plants with many uses in residential yards and gardens. Also called Stonecrop, they are perennials, dying back in the fall and returning anew each spring. Vigorous growers, they offer interesting foliage and colorful flowers in many heights and habits. Also, they are able to flourish in inhospitable sites. Showy Sedums (Sedum spectabile) is among the most satisfactory of the larger types, and Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre) is representative of the sedum groundcovers. They are very easy to care for.
Sedum does need full sun to perform at its best. Most varieties want at least six hours of direct light a day, and that sun is what keeps the foliage compact and colorful and pushes out the heaviest bloom. A few types will tolerate light or afternoon shade, but expect looser growth and fewer flowers when sedum does not get enough sun. If your bed gets more shade than sun, sedum can still survive there. It just will not be the tight, colorful groundcover it becomes in a sunnier spot.
TLDR
- Sedum is a low-maintenance succulent perennial that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
- Showy types grow upright 18 to 24 inches tall; groundcover types like Goldmoss spread low and fast.
- Blooms appear from late summer into fall in colors from white to deep red, or bright yellow for Goldmoss.
- Struggling sedum is almost always a soil or watering problem, not a sun problem.
How Big Does Sedum Grow?
Showy sedums grow upright on sturdy stems 18 to 24 inches tall. They grow rapidly in a compact clump. Low-growing sedums such as Goldmoss creep along about 2 inches above the ground. Also rapid a grower, it forms a dense mat and will spread enthusiastically.
What Does Sedum Foliage Look Like?
Showy sedum leaves are succulent, the water they store making them plump and fleshy. They are usually 3 inches long, oval, and carried in pairs opposite each other on the stems. Colored a pale gray-green, they have slightly toothed edges. Some varieties have reddish or variegated foliage. Many children are aware that if they rub these leaves gently to separate their outer membranes, they can puff them up like tiny balloons. Although they are perennial plants, showy sedum leaves and stems die back at frost, emerging again in the spring. Goldmoss sedum leaves are among the smallest of any of the sedums. Only about 3/16 inch long, they are light green, and pointed, creating a very fine texture. They are slightly succulent but are hardy enough in the cold weather to be evergreen.
When Does Sedum Bloom?
Showy sedums are aptly named because their blooms are the showiest of all the sedums. Tiny star-shaped flowers bloom in flattened clusters 3 to 6 inches wide that grow at the ends of the stems. Flowering normally from August to first frost, their colors range from ivory white to pink to wine red. While they have no fragrance, they are very attractive to bees and butterflies. Goldmoss flowers are tiny and delicate, about 1/2 inch across. They bloom early in the summer in brilliant golden yellow.
Popular Sedum Varieties for Full Sun
Showy sedums:
Autumn Joy' has excellent fall flowers, darkening from pink to dark red as the season wanes;
`Brilliant' has raspberry-red flowers;
`Carmen' has deep pink flowers,
`Star Dust' has white flowers, blue-green foliage;
`Variegatum' has yellow-green foliage, pink flowers.
Goldmoss:
`Magus' has larger leaves and flowers;
`Aureus' has bright yellow shoot tips;
`Elegans' has silver shoot tips;
`Minus' is extremely tiny, usually 1/2 inch tall or less.
Which sedum variety fits your yard depends on how you plan to use it. Upright, showy types like Autumn Joy work well in a border or as a cut flower, while low, spreading types like Goldmoss make a true groundcover between stones and along slopes.
Even in full sun and well-drained soil, sedum can run into trouble, most often from too much water rather than too little. Learn to spot and fix the most common sedum problems.
Sedum Rewards Full Sun With Nearly Effortless Color
Sedum is one of the easiest perennials to grow in a full sun garden, asking for little beyond good drainage and a spot that gets direct light most of the day. Whether you choose an upright, showy type for a border or a low groundcover like Goldmoss for a rock garden or slope, the plant does the rest with almost no fertilizer, water, or attention. Get the planting right and stay ahead of a few common problems, and sedum will keep coming back bigger every spring.
