Sedum
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEE-dum
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Sedum is a succulent perennial herb with fleshy, flat or rounded leaves. The genus has over 300 species, though many have been moved to the genus Hylotelephium. It can be grown as a houseplant or interiorscape or landscape as a herbaceous perennial. Most species need sun to part sun and well-drained soil. They can grow indoors with bright direct light from a window or grow light. Use a coarse, well-drained soil, preferably a cactus mix, and they tolerate rocky and poor soils well. The succulent leaves make them drought and dry soil tolerant. They can be damaged by deer.
The tall perennial species produce large clusters of flowers and can be used in borders or pollinator gardens. The low-growing species are generally grown for their foliage and spread by rooting stems and work great on a slope, rock garden, ground cover, hanging baskets, and even green roofs. Sedums withstand only light foot traffic.
Quick ID
- Succulent plants, erect to decumbent
- Leaves whorled or appearing whorled
- Flowers small, clustered in compound cymes, star-shaped with 4-6 petals
- Flowers may be yellow, white, or pink
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Souto Sun Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Crevice Garden Wild Side- A Shady Garden Water Garden Gazing Ball Garden Coastal Shady Garden Xeriscape Dry Sun Garden Dry Stream Garden Backyard Planting Water Garden Gazing Ball Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Souto Sun Garden Fence Planter Dry Stream Garden Sun and Shade Demo Garden, Buncombe County Water Koi Pond Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Crevice Garden Sea of Daylilies Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Backyard Patio Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Parking Lot Berms Backyard Planting Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Greenhouse Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Birthday Party'
- 'October Sunset'
Bright pink flowers with lime green leaves 'Matrona'
Pale pink flowering plant with fleshy, gray-green leaves and purple veins and stems
S. album
S. lineare
S. makinoi
S. mexicanum 'Lemon Coral'
S. morganianum
S. rupestre 'Angelina'
S. sarmentosum
S. ternatum
S. tetractinum
SunSparkler® Series
'Touchdown Teak'
Glossy red-brown to purple-brown leaves, red stems, with rose-red flowers and low habit - 'October Sunset'
- 'Birthday Party', 'Matrona', 'October Sunset', S. acre, S. album, S. lineare, S. makinoi, S. mexicanum 'Lemon Coral', S. morganianum, S. rupestre 'Angelina', S. sarmentosum, S. ternatum, S. tetractinum, SunSparkler® Series, 'Touchdown Teak'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Birthday Party'
- 'October Sunset'
Bright pink flowers with lime green leaves 'Matrona'
Pale pink flowering plant with fleshy, gray-green leaves and purple veins and stems
S. album
S. lineare
S. makinoi
S. mexicanum 'Lemon Coral'
S. morganianum
S. rupestre 'Angelina'
S. sarmentosum
S. ternatum
S. tetractinum
SunSparkler® Series
'Touchdown Teak'
Glossy red-brown to purple-brown leaves, red stems, with rose-red flowers and low habit - 'October Sunset'
- 'Birthday Party', 'Matrona', 'October Sunset', S. acre, S. album, S. lineare, S. makinoi, S. mexicanum 'Lemon Coral', S. morganianum, S. rupestre 'Angelina', S. sarmentosum, S. ternatum, S. tetractinum, SunSparkler® Series, 'Touchdown Teak'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sedum
- Family:
- Crassulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees enjoy the nectar. Birds enjoy the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Textural
- Edibility:
- The stems and leaves can be eaten raw when very young and tender. Later, until they flower, they may be eaten after briefly cooking.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers usually have 4-6 petals. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. They are general in cymes and star-shaped. Varies per species.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are fleshy, flat to terete, opposite to whorled, or alternate; variable in shape, size, and teeth by species.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are erect, decumbent, or tufted, usually more or less glaucous and fleshy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Foot Traffic
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
