Stonecrop (Sedum)

Roseroot, Sedum, Stonecrop

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There are few plants more forgiving of sun and bad soil than sedum plants. Growing sedum is easy; so easy, in fact, that even the most novice gardener can excel at it. With a large number of sedum varieties to choose from, you will find one that works for your garden. Learn more about how to grow sedum in the article below.

I. Appearance and Characteristics 

Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species, subsequently reduced to 400–500. They are leaf succulents found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, but extending into the southern hemisphere in Africa and South America. The plants vary from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves. The flowers usually have five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. Various species formerly classified as Sedum are now in the segregate genera Hylotelephium and Rhodiola.

Well-known European species of Sedum are Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum dasyphyllum, Sedum reflexum (also known as Sedum rupestre) and Sedum hispanicum.

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Sedum praealtum, Siempre Viva, Mexican Bush Sedum hortulus CC BY 2.0

Sedum was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, with 15 species. Of the genera encompassed by the Crassulaceae family, Sedum is the most species rich, the most morphologically diverse and most complex taxonomically.

Sedum is a genus that includes annual, biennial, and perennial herbs. They are characterised by succulent leaves and stems. The extent of morphological diversity and homoplasy make it impossible to characterise Sedum phenotypicaly.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

These plants need as much sun as you can give them. If they are in too much shade, they are prone to weak growth that will cause the upright types to flop over. More sun is also better for foliage color. Brighter light intensities bring out deeper colors in the leaves and promote better flowering.

Temperature and Humidity

Many sedums grow over a wide range of zone and are both cold-hardy in subzero winters as well as tolerant of hot summer weather. As long as there is good air circulation between plants, high humidity is generally not a problem.

Watering

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Sedum – Autumn Joy James P. Mann CC BY-SA 2.0

Water new sedum plants roughly once a week during the first year to prevent the soil from drying out and give young plants a good start. Once established, sedum plants typically won’t need any supplemental watering unless you have a long stretch without rainfall and/or very hot temperatures. Thanks to their thick succulent leaves, sedum plants have good drought tolerance.

Soil

In general, sedum prefers a loose loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with sharp drainage. When the soil retains too much water, as is often the case with a heavy wet clay soil, this can easily lead to root rot and fungal diseases for sedum.

Fertilizing

Sedum typically needs no supplemental fertilization and can tolerate nutrient-poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich, this can cause weak, leggy growth. If you have very poor soil, mixing some compost into it will generally be enough to give your sedum a boost.

Planting Instructions

Sedum can be planted in the spring or fall. In northern climates, wait until the danger of frost has passed. If planting in the fall, do it early enough in the fall so that the plant can get its roots established before the ground freezes.

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. Gently tamp it down so that the crown (the spot from where the stems grow) is just at soil level and not below. Water it well and keep it moist for the first few weeks until the plant has adapted to its new location.

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.

Pruning

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Sedum acre single – Niitvälja Ivar Leidus CC BY-SA 4.0

Other than removing any broken or diseases stems, sedum does not require much pruning. In cooler climates, sedums that die back in the winter benefit from removing all the dead plant parts in the early spring to make room for new growth. If a sedum grows taller than you prefer or looks leggy, pinch off the stem at a growth point in early summer to create a bushier plant. It does delay flowering, but it will create a fuller, more vibrant plant.

Propagation

Provided its propagation is not prohibited because the variety is protected by a trademark or a plant patent, you can propagate sedum from stem cuttings, which is easy and has a good chance of success:

  • With clean, sharp pruners or a knife, cut a 4- to 6-inch piece from a healthy stem. Remove the bottom leaves.
  • Insert the cutting in a 4-inch pot filled with soilless potting mix. Water it well and keep it evenly moist.
  • After a few weeks, you should see new growth, which indicates that the plant is rooting. You can also gently tug on the plant. If you feel resistance, it tells you that roots have formed.

You also can divide sedum plants to make more plants. Older plants may also indicated that they need to be divided, as they can die in the center of the plant, leaving a hole. The best time to divide plants is in the spring when new growth starts:

  • If the clump is large, water it well before dividing it, which makes it easier to lift it out of the ground with all its roots.
  • Remove the entire clump with a garden spade and separate it into individual sections with a trowel, or with pruners.
  • Replant the sections in a new location at the same depth as the original plant. Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist at all times until you see new growth.

How to Grow from Seed

Most sedum varieties grown in home gardens are cultivars and their seeds won’t produce plants that are true to the parent. Therefore it is not recommended to use sedum seeds for propagation.

Potting and Repotting 

Because sedums have shallow roots, they lend themselves to container planting. Choose a container with large drainage holes that fits the root ball plus at least 2 inches to accommodate future growth. Fill it with a well-draining potting mix or succulent potting mix. To prevent tall sedum varieties from toppling over, plant them in a container made of terra-cotta or other heavy material. Remember that potted plants, unlike plants in the landscape, need more frequent watering and fertilization.

Once the roots fill the pot or grow out of the drainage holes, repot it in a large pot with fresh potting mix.

Overwintering

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Sedum spectabile – blossom top (aka) André Karwath aka Aka CC BY-SA 2.5

Depending on the variety, sedum is a very hardy plant and does not need protection even in climates with harsh winters. The only exception is when the plant is grown in pots, as the roots are only surrounded by a thin layer of soil, unlike in a garden bed. Wrap the containers in burlap and bubble wrap, or place them in an insulating silo over the winter.

Pests and Diseases

Sedum is rarely bothered by pests and diseases. Wet, soggy soil, however, might cause crown rot and in very humid conditions it could get powdery mildew. The plants may attract slugs and snails. Deer, on the other hand, tend to leave sedum alone.

III. Uses and Benefits 

  • Ornamental uses

Many sedums are cultivated as ornamental garden plants, due to their interesting and attractive appearance and hardiness. The various species differ in their requirements; some are cold-hardy but do not tolerate heat, some require heat but do not tolerate cold.

  • Culinary uses

The leaves of most stonecrops are edible, excepting Sedum rubrotinctum, although toxicity has also been reported in some other species. The juice from the stems and leaves may irritate skin if handled excessively.

Sedum reflexum, known as “prickmadam”, “stone orpine”, or “crooked yellow stonecrop”, is occasionally used as a salad leaf or herb in Europe, including the United Kingdom. It has a slightly astringent sour taste.

Stonecrop (Sedum)
Sedum pachyphytum hortulus CC BY 2.0

Sedum divergens, known as “spreading stonecrop”, was eaten by First Nations people in northwest British Columbia. The plant is used as a salad herb by the Haida and the Nisga’a people. It is common in the Nass Valley of British Columbia.

Biting stonecrop (Sedum acre) contains high quantities of piperidine alkaloids (namely (+)-sedridine, (−)-sedamine, sedinone and isopelletierine), which give it a sharp, peppery, acrid taste and make it somewhat toxic.

  • Roofing

Sedum can be used to provide a roof covering in green roofs, where they are preferred to grasses. Examples include Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan Truck Plant, which has a living roof with 454,000 square feet (42,200 m2) of sedum. The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars plant in Goodwood, England, has a 242,000 square feet (22,500 m2) roof complex covered in Sedum, the largest in the United Kingdom. Nintendo of America’s roof is covered in some 75,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of Sedum. The Javits Center in New York City is covered with 292,000 square feet (27,100 m2) of Sedum.

  • Green tramway

Berlin’s Prenzlauer Allee, Le Mans, and Warsaw, for example, plant sedum in between rails of some tramways as a low maintenance alternative to grass. This provides beautification, a permeable surface for water management, and noise reduction.

Stonecrop (Sedum) Details

Common name

Roseroot, Sedum, Stonecrop

Botanical name

Sedum

Family

Crassulaceae

Origin

East Asia

Life cycle

Plant type

Hardiness zone

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Sunlight

Maintenance

Soil condition

Drainage

Growth rate

Flowering period

Height

3 in. – 2 ft.

Width

3 in. – 2 ft.

Flower color

,

Leaf color

Fruit type

Leaf benefit

Flower benefit

Garden style

Uses

Dimensions
Dimensions 63630675053 × 63630675017 cm
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