Easy to grow | Sedums
Sedums are herbaceous perennials with thick succulent leaves and stems. They are also sometimes called Stonecrops. They produce clusters of fascinating star-shaped flowers that often change colour throughout their blooming time which are also very popular with beneficial insects.
There are 2 main categories of sedums: creeping and upright.
Sedum Coca-Cola
Creeping sedums
These reach only a few inches in height, making them useful as groundcover or in rockeries. They do not require cutting back in winter unless they grow out of their allotted space.
Varieties we have include ‘Lime Zinger’, ‘Coca Cola’ and ‘Firecracker’.
Sedum Stardust
Upright sedums
These can grow up to 90cm (3ft) tall. They mix very well with other late summer/early autumn flowering perennials. During late autumn/early winter as the flower clusters fade, the dead flowers are attractive when covered by frosts. In late winter prune them back down to the base.
Varieties we have include ‘Stardust’, ’Autumn Joy’ and ‘Frosty Morn’.
Growing requirements
Sedums are very low maintenance plants. They all require well-drained soil and do best in full sun (their roots are prone to rot if there is too much moisture in the soil). When established they require little watering; their water-storing fleshy leaves and stems means they can tolerate drought. They can also tolerate poor soil with little feeding. An organic feed in spring such as Fish, Blood & Bone will be sufficient.
The best time to plant Sedums is in the spring when the threat of frost is past but before the heat of summer. Throughout the summer you can take cuttings as they root easily. In the autumn you can divide them to control their spread and get new plants.
They can easily be grown in containers. All you need is a well-draining potting mix, such as sandy or gritty soil, and then only water once it has completely dried up.
