Sedum (Sedum)

Sedum Plant Features

Plant them and forget them! That basically sums up why you should include a variety of sedum in your garden and landscape. Available in a seemingly endless selection of sizes, colors, and shapes, sedum vary from 3-inch-tall ground huggers to 3-foot-tall. Their adaptable nature also allows sedum to work as well in the landscape as it does in containers. Most sedum bloom in the late summer and fall and produce nectar-rich heads of rose, red, yellow, or white flowers that will attract butterflies from miles around. And, when not in bloom, sedum shows off fleshy bright green, gray, red, maroon, chartreuse, or variegated foliage from early spring till frost. Sedum is also deer resistant. Hardy from zones 3-8.

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Sedum Growing Instructions

Plant sedum in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. Low-water, sun-loving sedum is not fussy about soil type, but hates standing in water, so make sure the site doesn't stay wet very long after storms. If you have a low spot or area that floods after heavy rains, plant sedum on a raised mound to keep its roots above the water.

Once established, sedum is exceedingly drought tolerant and rarely needs watering, even in the heat of summer. That said, it is helpful to water newly planted sedums regularly for the first couple of months after planting to help it become settled in the garden.

In the early spring it helps to pinch taller varieties of sedum to promote more compact growth. Upright-growing varieties can be left standing all winter long for winter interest or pruned back to the ground after freezing temperatures kill the stems in autumn. However, if you lave the faded flowers in place over winter, songbirds can eat the seeds and you can enjoy their winter color and cheery sounds.

Sedum can be dug and divided at most any time to make more plants. Get tips for dividing sedum and other perennials.

Sedum is not recommended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Low water needs
Light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Green

Pink

Red

Variegated

White

Yellow
Special Features

Attracts butterflies

Attracts hummingbirds

Colorful foliage

Deer/rabbit resistant

Groundcover

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Sedum

Mum
Taller varieties of Sedum look terrific paired with Mums. They both bloom at the same time and match each other in height.

Aster
Fall blooming Aster makes a great companion for Sedum that also flowers at the same time.

Sedum
It may sound silly, but often the best companion for Sedum is more Sedum. There are so many types available you can easily mix and match to create a gorgeous pot or border.

Our favorite varieties

Angelina

Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'

Looking for a colorful groundcover or container plant? Be sure to check out ‘Angelina’ sedum. This sun-loving, ground hugger is loved for its bright, chartreuse foliage that retains its color all year long. Although it only grows 4 inches tall, ‘Angelina’ can spread 2 feet wide. Zones 5 to 8

Blue Spruce

Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce'

The rich, blue-green spruce-like foliage of ‘Blue Spruce’ sedum looks terrific in any sunny spot. An excellent groundcover, ‘Blue Spruce’ grows 5 inches tall and spreads 15 inches wide. Use it in containers, rock gardens, or massed along a path or walkway. Small yellow flowers add to the color show in early summer. Zones 3 to 11

Coral Reef

Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef'

Quick-growing and easy-care, ‘Coral Reef’ sedum makes a terrific ground cover with its rounded bright green leaves that turn shades of bronze and cinnamon in the fall. It’s a sun lover, but will tolerate light shade. The plant develops white to pale pink flowers in the summer. ‘Coral Reef’ sedum grows 3 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Zones 5 to 8

Fuldaglut

Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut'

Add texture and color to your garden with ‘Fuldaglut’ sedum. This fast-growing groundcover has thick green leaves delicately brushed with red that turn burgundy in fall. Because it only grows 3 inches tall it makes an amazing container plant. Rosy-red flowers appear on the plants in late summer and early fall. Zones 4 to 8

John Creech

Sedum spurium 'John Creech'

Small, slightly serrated, green leaves edged with red make ‘John Creech’ sedum an eye-catching groundcover or container plant. It’s a fast-growing variety that turns a pretty shade of deep burgundy in the fall. ‘John Creech’ grows 3 to 6 inches tall and with a 12-inch-wide spread. Reddish-pink flowers appear in mid-summer and attract butterflies. Zones 3 to 8

Tricolor

Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'

Hot, dry weather is no match for ‘Tricolor’ sedum. In fact, this rugged groundcover still looks great even when rainfall is scarce. ‘Tricolor’ shows off small green leaves beautifully striped with pink and cream. Plus, in midsummer the 4- to 6-inch-tall plants display short stalks of soft pink bloom. It’s a top pick for rock gardens and containers. Zones 3 to 9

Weihenstephaner Gold

Sedum kamtschaticum 'Weihenstephaner Gold'

Easy to grow is a great description for Weihenstephaner Gold sedum! This tough little groundcover holds up to heat and drought, deer and rabbits. It grows 6 inches tall and spreads 14 inches wide, bearing cheery yellow flowers from early to late summer. Zones 3-8

Dazzleberry

Sedum 'Sunsparkler Dazzleberry'

This groundcover sedum shows off lovely blue-gray foliage (tinged with purple) and topped by warm pink flowers in late summer and early autumn. It grows 8 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 4-9

Lime Zinger

Sedum 'Sunsparkler Lime Zinger'

Lime Zinger sedum is a cute groundcover showing off green leaves edged in reddish-purple. In late summer and fall, it bears clusters of soft pink flowers that attract butterflies. Lime Zinger sedum grows 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 4-9

Pool Party

Sedum 'Pool Party'

An upright-growing sedum that puts on a late-summer show, you'll love it in spring and summer for its silvery-blue foliage. Come July and August, it bursts into bloom with big pink flowerheads that butterflies love. Pool Party sedum grows 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Zones 4-9

Blue Elf

Sedum 'Sunsparkler Blue Elf'

You'll fall in love with Sunsparkler Blue Elf, which is an easy-growing groundcover that has silvery-blue foliage and sweetly scented pink flowers (that attract butterflies) in late summer and autumn. It grows 6 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 4-9