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How to Grow Low-Growing & Upright Sedum (Stonecrop) in Your Garden

Image Credit:
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Sedum spp., Hylotelephium spp.
Grown as
Perennial
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Orange
Pink
Red
White
Yellow
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Fall Color
Long Blooming
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds
Plant Type
Flowers
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Sedums have it all! This perennial plant has succulent green foliage and produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. It’s easy to care for and beloved by pollinators, too! Here’s how to grow sedum in your garden.

Perennial plants don’t get much easier than sedum, a genus of succulents with fleshy stems and succulent leaves—also called “stonecrop” or “live-forever.” A hardy plant that grows well in shallow soil, there is a sedum variety for almost every garden.

We like to divide sedum into two main categories based on the plants’ growth habits: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.

  • Low–growing sedum spreads along the ground, reaching only a few inches (or less) in height. This makes them perfect for use as a ground cover along paths, in rock gardens, or cascading down a stone wall.
  • Tall or upright sedum tends to form tall, upright clumps that produce large flower heads in tight masses of tiny reddish-pink flowers. Their height and attractive flowers make them good candidates for border gardens or pollinator gardens. A few years ago, upright sedum was reclassified to another genus, Hylotelephium, but it is still commonly referred to as a “sedum.”

Planting

Where to Plant Sedum

Sedum enjoy full sun but will tolerate some shade. If growing sedum in an area that gets long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder), plant in full sun to improve overwintering capability.

Sedum grows well in poor or sandy soil, but it’s important to have well-draining soil to avoid fungal diseases. It is very susceptible to root rot if grown in soil that holds too much moisture. Overly rich soil can also encourage leggy growth, which can result in upright sedum varieties becoming top-heavy when they bloom.

When to Plant Sedum

  • Sedum is usually bought in plugs or pots and transplanted into the garden. The best time to plant sedum is in the spring—after the threat of frost but before the heat of summer kicks in.
  • Plant sedum seeds in early spring in well-draining, average to rich soil. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)

Sedum with yellow flowers

How to Plant Sedum

  • Space plants between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Low-growing sedums will readily spread to fill any gaps, while upright sedums tend to stay more compact.
  • Planting full plants or divisions: Dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil, then place the plant in the hole and fill in around it. Be careful not to bury the stems of upright sedum, as this can lead to rot.
  • Planting cuttings: Like other succulents, sedum can be readily propagated via cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil, and the cutting should have no trouble rooting under proper lighting and watering conditions.

Growing

  • Once established, sedum plants require little care. During the summer, check your plants regularly to make sure they are not too dry and water (sparingly) if needed. As long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, sedum shouldn’t need any extra watering.
  • After flowering, cut back the plants to maintain their shape or contain them in one area.
    • Tip: For added winter interest, leave the flowers of upright sedum alone after they bloom. They will form attractive seed heads.
  • Remember to divide your plants in the spring or fall to control their spread. Throughout the summer, divisions and cuttings root readily.

Sedum

Pests and Problems

  • Mealybugs
  • Scale insects
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Birds, deer, squirrels, and voles may nibble on the succulent foliage of sedum.

Types

  • Sedum humifusum makes for a great ground cover and has beautiful, bright yellow flowers
  • ‘Brilliant’, ‘Autumn Fire’, and ‘Autumn Joy’ upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile, aka Sedum spectabile) add bursts of bright pink and magenta to your garden
  • ‘Blue Spruce’ (Sedum reflexum) is a low-growing sedum with blue-green, spruce-like foliage and yellow flowers

Flowers

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 10/05/2017 - 13:35

That sounds like very interesting research!

Without knowing more about the study, especially which other species were planted and the weather and soil conditions, we can't say with any real certainty what the cause of the Sedum sediforme's weakness is. Perhaps this study, performed by Michigan State University in the US, would be helpful to you: Green Roof Research: Plant Evaluations.

 <span>Kulin Shah</span> Mon, 10/02/2017 - 17:35
We are at cape cod , Massachusetts. We have several Autum joy seedum in our yard. Should we cut them back to the ground level in winter or should we leave them alone in winter? If left intact in winter should we cut them back in spring. What kind of fertilizer should we use for them? Thank you
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 10/04/2017 - 09:46

Sedum is a very hardy plant and doesn't require much care. In the fall, you could prune back the growth to about 6 inches if you want to manage its size.  We tend to leave sedum until early spring and let the birds enjoy the seed heads. Then cut or break the stalks at ground level. If your sedum is getting too large, it's easy to dig up and divide to make more plants.

 <span>Mary</span> Tue, 09/26/2017 - 13:01
Hi... I live in the Pocono area in Pa., and I have sedum in a container... can it survive in my garage? Do they need sun during the winter as well? I'd hate to lose them, I bought them over from my old home when we moved recently, therefore, they are sentimental. Thank you!
<span>Margaret Brademeyer</span> Tue, 08/29/2017 - 09:10
We live in SE North Dakota. When is the best time to divide and/or move my sedum. Also are there also more colors then the shades of purple in the 15" sedum?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 08/31/2017 - 11:10

The best time to divide or transplant sedum is in early spring, so it would be best to wait until then to move your plant, if possible. However: if it has to move, it has to move.

Most varieties of upright sedum have flowers in various shades of pink or red with just hints of other colors. Some varieties you might enjoy are 'Thundercloud' (whitish-pink flowers), 'Elsie's Gold' (yellowish-pink), or 'Red Cauli' (red flowers with purple-green foliage).

 <span>Brenda Morris</span> Fri, 08/25/2017 - 12:38
What is correct ph level for sedum? Thank you
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 08/25/2017 - 14:52

Hi Brenda,

The best pH level for sedums is different depending on the variety, but the overal best pH is 6. 

 <span>Luther</span> Mon, 08/21/2017 - 08:34
I have a rooftop garden measuring about 3200sq ft. I have a variety of Sedum planted. Unfortunately, Yellow Nutsedge is taking over the garden. There is just too much to realistically pull and stay on top of as I take care of a 37 acre area here in Columbus Ohio. Is there an herbicide that you know of that will help in conjunction with pulling them?