Versatile Sedums

 

 

Sedums are succulents that come in many varieties. Their growing heights and habits make them versatile garden plants that are well suited to be grown in small containers, vertical gardens, rock gardens or planted as a border. The easy-care versatility makes sedum one of the most popular and enduring garden plant of all time.

Ground Covering Sedum

Fireglow (Sedum spurium) grows to 4 inches tall and covers the ground in a red-glow that resembles burning embers. Blooms mid to late summer. Hardy in USDA growing zones 4-10.

Kamtchaticum (Sedum kamtschaticum) is a compact sedum with variegated leaves. This ground-covering sedum will be less than 4 inches tall and produces a 12 inch lateral spread. Kamtchticum is low maintenance, drought tolerant and produces a red or yellow summer bloom that attract butterflies. Hardy in USDA growing zones 4-10.

Angelina (Sedum rupestre) produces needle-like foliage in bright shades of chartreuse that turns to orange in the winter. Angelina sedum hugs the ground and reaches a mature height of 3 inches with a 3 feet-wide lateral spread. This sedum grows well in partial shade and is hardy in USDA growing zones 3-11.

Blue Spruce sedum (Sedum reflexum) looks like miniature blue spruce trees and creates a dense mat of blue foliage wherever it’s planted. Plant in any sunny location and Blue Spruce sedum will quickly form an tight ground cover that will choke out all weeds. Mature height is 10 inches with indeterminate lateral spreads. The blue ornamental foliage repeals deer, attracts butterflies and is hardy in USDA growing zones 3-9.

Medium Tall Sedum

Purple Emperor sedum (Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’) is a brilliant shade of purple from top to bottom. This upright-growing sedum will reach a mature height of 15 inches and is cold hardy in USDA growing zones 3-7.

Frosty Morn sedum (Sedum ‘Frosty Morn’) looks like it’s covered with a layer of frost. The white frosted plant produces pink flowers in mid-summer, reaching a mature height of 15 inches. Hardy in USDA growing zones 3-9.

Vera Jameson sedum (Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’) loves to grow in the sun and will reach a mature height of 12 inches. Pink flowers appear in mid-summer atop purple foliage. Hardy in USDA growing zones 4-11.

Tall Sedum

As a general rule, the taller the sedum, the more cold hardy it the succulent will be. Most tall sedum varieties are cold hardy to USDA growing zone 3. These include the popular Autumn Joy sedum and Autumn Fire, both of which will  reach a mature height of 2 feet. Matrona sedum produces a 2-foot tall plant with 4-season interest and Pink Bomb sedum is a 2 foot tall stunner that has green leaves a large pink bloom.