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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

<span>Tom</span> Mon, 05/29/2017 - 01:39
Can I fertilize with water soluble Miracle Grow rather than the granual kind suggested ? I have it out front & neighbors cats & dogs might be exposed to the granules that don't disolve . It would also be much easier for me , but not to the extent of harming the succulents . Advice ????
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 05/31/2017 - 16:57

Sedum and other succulents are particularly sensitive to fertilizers, as their roots can be burned easily by high-nitrogen concentrations. Luckily, they don't typically need much fertilizing. A slow-release (granular) fertilizer would likely be better for sedum, though. If you're worried about neighborhood pets, try to find organic fertilizer alternatives.

 <span>Ancil</span> Wed, 05/24/2017 - 08:53
Is here any certain time to transplant?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 05/24/2017 - 15:01

Early spring is the best time to divide or transplant sedum plants, especially upright varieties. Creeping varieties are more forgiving, however, and may be moved in later spring, as long as they receive adequate water. Be aware that this could interrupt their flowering, though.

 <span>Jeanie Mcmahan</span> Thu, 05/04/2017 - 03:57
I need help in finding out what kind of Sedum that I have? The only thing it said was Sedum on the side of the pot. It's a small green little group that are like tight little type of plant. It almost looks like little rose but I know it's not one? They are cute little green flowers kinda?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 05/05/2017 - 11:46

Hi Jeanie,

There are many varieties of Sedum, but some of the most common are these: Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum anglican, Sedum dasyphyllum, Sedum forsterianum, Sedum 'Herbstfreude,' Sedum kamtschaticum, Sedum rosea, Sedum rupestre, Sedum spectabile, Sedum spectabile × telephium, Sedum spurium, Sedum telephium. Use these names to search for images to match to your plant. We hope this helps!

 <span>Lyn Neale</span> Fri, 04/21/2017 - 19:43
My yard of Sedum (Phedimus) takesimensis was planted last year and developed yellow flower clusters. The flowers are turning brown and it looks like the plants are dying as the leaves are disappearing. Is this a normal growing pattern? tnx
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 04/24/2017 - 14:14

Sedum (Phedimus) takesimensis is a hardy, sun-loving, drought-tolerant ground cover. Is it getting sun and not too much moisture?? (A point of interest: this is a recommended green roof plant and was used as such in Missouri in 2012. That suggests it really, really likes sun! Apparently, too, it holds its leaves in winter and drops its leaves very late...then new leaves emerge. Give it time before you give it up.

 <span>Shane</span> Mon, 03/13/2017 - 07:00
Right now in Cape Town, South Africa we get temperatures of 25-30 C (drought for weeks now). The soil becomes burning hot in the afternoon. I have a few small tip cuttings of a low-lying species of sedum that I'd like to plant out. Can I still plant them in the full sun?
<span>Julie</span> Thu, 03/09/2017 - 16:57
When the plant flowers the plant falls to the ground, what can you do to prevent this?