Common Name: Stonecrop
It was truly a joy to watch this plant progress through the seasons here in our trials. In the spring, very small, sharply serrated leaves emerged a cool shade of blue green, a color reminiscent of the lovely Sedum sieboldii. They formed a perfectly rounded, low mound that was perfect for edging the front of the border.
As the plant aged through the season, the leaves expanded and turned lighter green, forming a short, semi-upright clump.
When late summer and early fall arrived, we understood exactly why the breeder had selected this plant for its flowers. A massive dome of bubblegum pink, star-shaped flowers completely covered the foliage followed by deeper pink seed heads later in fall.
This plant pairs perfectly with other fall bloomers like hardy garden mums, asters, and Black-Eyed Susans. Try a few in containers and at the front of the border.
Sedum is one of the most popular perennials grown in American gardens because it is very easy to grow and hardy in most areas of the country. Because of its thick, succulent leaves that can store water, sedum is drought tolerant. It should be sited in average to poor soil that is well-drained. Plants grown in rich soil tend to be lanky and open. Most varieties should be grown in full sun to light shade. The lower growing types, however, will survive in partial shade.
This plant is not usually bothered by pests or diseases. The seed heads of the taller varieties provide excellent winter interest and food for birds. Remove them in spring when the new growth begins to show.