Sedum Sedum
Other plants called Sedum:
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEE-dum
- Description
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Sedum is a genus of succulent, herbaceous perennials with fleshy, flat or rounded leaves depending on the species. In general, the plant is upright and spreads along the ground. The genus has over 300 species, though many have been moved to the genus Hylotelephium. Genus name comes from the Latin word sedeo meaning to sit in reference to the habit of many of the sedums species to sit and sprawl over rocks.
It can be grown as a houseplant, ground cover, or interiorscape or landscape. When grown outdoors, most species need sun to part sun. They are easy to grow indoors with bright direct light from a window or grow light. Use a coarse, well-drained soil, preferably a cactus mix. Sedum tolerates rocky and poor soils well, establishes itself quickly, and most species are cold tolerant. The succulent leaves make them drought and dry soil tolerant. They can be damaged by deer.
The taller Sedum species produce large clusters of flowers, in white, yellow, pink, or red 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. The leaves tend to fall off easily; however, the fallen leaves can be used to propagate new plants.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails. Avoid wet or poorly drained conditions. Taller sedum species with large flower heads are susceptible to flopping. Site in full sun and pinch back in spring to force thicker stems.
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:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Xeriscape Garden for a Dry, Sunny Site Backyard Patio Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Crevice Garden Container Gardens Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Parking Lot Berms Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Souto Sun Garden Koi Pond & Water Garden Daylilies Galore, Cabarrus County Coastal Shade Garden Shady Garden in Cabarrus County Water Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'African Sunset'
16 inches tall, glossy, smooth, purple foliage, red stems and flowers.
'Birthday Party'
- 'Blue Spruce'
Low growing, blue foliage, grows quickly. - 'Chocolate Drop'
Mounding, 12 inches tall, brown leaves, pink flowers. - 'Cutting Edge'
Short, clumping, vigorous, patent PP28926. - 'Garnet Brocade'
Compact, 14 inches high, bronze foliage, red flowers. - 'Hopewell'
16 inches tall, mounded, blue-grey leaves, pink flowers. - 'October Sunset'
Mauve flowers, good fall color of leaves - 'Peace and Joy'
In the Pure Joy series; red margins, late summer bloom of magenta flowers on foot long stems. - 'Pillow Talk'
Patent pending; purple-red stems, 6 inch wide pink blossoms. - 'Plum Perfection'
Mounding, grey-green dense foliage, pink flowers. - 'Rock Star'
Patent PP29036; pointed foliage, late blooming pink flowers. - 'Rosy Glow'
8 inches tall, bluish green leaves, clusters of dark ruby flowers. - 'Soft Cloud'
Patent applied; grey-green foliage, pink flowers last until winter.
SunSparkler® Series
- 'Thundercloud'
Patent 21,833; pointed foliage, star-shaped white flowers.
'Touchdown Teak'
- 'Twinkling Star'
Patent 21507; upright, compact, yellow-green flowers.
Bright pink flowers with lime green leaves
Glossy red-brown to purple-brown leaves, red stems, with rose-red flowers and low habit - 'African Sunset'
- 'African Sunset', 'Birthday Party', 'Blue Spruce', 'Chocolate Drop', 'Cutting Edge', 'Garnet Brocade', 'Hopewell', 'October Sunset', 'Peace and Joy', 'Pillow Talk', 'Plum Perfection', 'Rock Star', 'Rosy Glow', 'Soft Cloud', SunSparkler® Series, 'Thundercloud', 'Touchdown Teak', 'Twinkling Star'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'African Sunset'
16 inches tall, glossy, smooth, purple foliage, red stems and flowers.
'Birthday Party'
- 'Blue Spruce'
Low growing, blue foliage, grows quickly. - 'Chocolate Drop'
Mounding, 12 inches tall, brown leaves, pink flowers. - 'Cutting Edge'
Short, clumping, vigorous, patent PP28926. - 'Garnet Brocade'
Compact, 14 inches high, bronze foliage, red flowers. - 'Hopewell'
16 inches tall, mounded, blue-grey leaves, pink flowers. - 'October Sunset'
Mauve flowers, good fall color of leaves - 'Peace and Joy'
In the Pure Joy series; red margins, late summer bloom of magenta flowers on foot long stems. - 'Pillow Talk'
Patent pending; purple-red stems, 6 inch wide pink blossoms. - 'Plum Perfection'
Mounding, grey-green dense foliage, pink flowers. - 'Rock Star'
Patent PP29036; pointed foliage, late blooming pink flowers. - 'Rosy Glow'
8 inches tall, bluish green leaves, clusters of dark ruby flowers. - 'Soft Cloud'
Patent applied; grey-green foliage, pink flowers last until winter.
SunSparkler® Series
- 'Thundercloud'
Patent 21,833; pointed foliage, star-shaped white flowers.
'Touchdown Teak'
- 'Twinkling Star'
Patent 21507; upright, compact, yellow-green flowers.
Bright pink flowers with lime green leaves
Glossy red-brown to purple-brown leaves, red stems, with rose-red flowers and low habit - 'African Sunset'
- 'African Sunset', 'Birthday Party', 'Blue Spruce', 'Chocolate Drop', 'Cutting Edge', 'Garnet Brocade', 'Hopewell', 'October Sunset', 'Peace and Joy', 'Pillow Talk', 'Plum Perfection', 'Rock Star', 'Rosy Glow', 'Soft Cloud', SunSparkler® Series, 'Thundercloud', 'Touchdown Teak', 'Twinkling Star'
- 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:
- East Asia
- Distribution:
- Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa, North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees enjoy the nectar. Birds enjoy the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- 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. Not poisonous, but when eaten in quantity, can cause stomach upset.
- 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
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit follicular, membranous or leathery, often surrounded by a persistent membranous corolla, opening on the adaxial side, Seeds mostly minute, usually with fleshy endosperm.
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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 small flowers usually have 4-6 petals. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. Inflorescence is cymes and star-shaped. Color varies by 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
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are fleshy, flat to terete, opposite to whorled, or alternate; variable in shape, size, and teeth by species. Frequently cylindrical.
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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
- Vertical Spaces
- 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