Sedum is a genus within the family Crassulaceae, which is known for its succulent plants. The genus name ‘Sedum’ comes from the Latin word ‘sedere’, meaning “to sit,” in reference to how these plants seem to sit on stones or walls. With over 400 species, sedums are diverse in form but united by their succulent nature.
The use of sedum dates back centuries, with historical records indicating they were used medicinally by ancient civilizations. The Romans, for instance, used sedum for healing wounds and as a poultice for burns. Over time, their ornamental value has been recognized, leading to their widespread cultivation in gardens for both aesthetic and practical purposes.
Sedum species are found across the Northern Hemisphere, with a significant presence in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Some species are native to mountainous areas, while others thrive in more arid environments, showcasing their adaptability to various climates and soil types.
Sedums are characterized by their succulent leaves, which store water, making them drought-resistant. They vary in form from low-growing ground covers to upright, clumping perennials. Leaf shapes range from needle-like to broad and flat, and colors can include greens, blues, burgundies, and variegated patterns. Flowering sedums produce star-shaped flowers in clusters, often in shades of yellow, pink, or white, providing late-season color to gardens.
Most sedum species are perennials, meaning they return year after year, growing larger or spreading more with each season. Their longevity can be quite impressive, with some plants living for decades under the right conditions. However, their lifespan can be influenced by climate, soil, and care, with some species behaving more like annuals or biennials in less favorable conditions.
Sedums are incredibly versatile in landscape applications. They’re excellent for rock gardens, where their naturalistic growth habit complements stones and gravel. They’re also popular for green roofs due to their low water requirements and ability to thrive in shallow soil. As ground covers, sedums can suppress weeds, stabilize soil, and add color and texture. In borders, taller varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ provide late-season interest, while smaller types can edge pathways or fill containers. Their hardiness makes them suitable for xeriscaping, where water conservation is key, and their aesthetic appeal adds to their use in both modern and traditional garden designs.
Types of Sedum Succulent Plants
Sedum acre (Gold Moss)
One of the smallest sedums, Gold Moss forms a dense mat of tiny, bright green leaves, which turn a vibrant gold when exposed to full sun. It’s adorned with brilliant yellow flowers in the summer, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens or as a ground cover in areas with poor soil.
Sedum album (White Stonecrop)
This species is known for its small, fleshy leaves that can range from green to a blue-green hue. Its white star-shaped flowers bloom in summer, providing a delicate contrast to its foliage. It’s a favorite for green roofs due to its ability to adapt to varied conditions.
Sedum spurium (Crimson Stonecrop)
This sedum variety spreads quickly to form a ground cover, with leaves that might be green, variegated, or burgundy. It blooms with pink or red flowers, offering visual interest not just in summer but also in the fall when the foliage can change color.
Sedum spectabile (Ice Plant)
With its large, flat heads of pink flowers, this sedum stands out in late summer. The leaves are broad and fleshy, and the plant grows upright, making it a splendid choice for borders where height and color are desired.
Sedum reflexum (Blue Spruce Stonecrop)
Its needle-like foliage resembles blue spruce, giving it its common name. The leaves are a striking blue-green, and in summer, it produces yellow flowers. It’s perfect for rock gardens or as a ground cover where it can cascade over walls.
Sedum kamtschaticum
Native to Siberia, this plant features deep green rosettes and golden-yellow flowers in late summer. It’s excellent for sun-drenched areas, bringing out the richest colors in both leaves and blooms.
Sedum morganianum (Burro’s Tail)
Distinct for its trailing stems covered in thick, blue-green leaves, this sedum is ideal for hanging baskets or as a trailing plant in containers. Its small red or pink flowers add to its charm, though they are sometimes overshadowed by the lush foliage.
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’
With its golden, needle-like leaves that turn orange in colder weather, ‘Angelina’ is a vibrant addition to any garden. It’s low-growing and spreads well, making it suitable for ground cover in sunny areas.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Perhaps the most well-known sedum, ‘Autumn Joy’ has succulent, gray-green leaves and produces large clusters of pink flowers that transition to a deep red and then copper as they mature through late summer and fall. It’s a staple in perennial gardens for its long season of interest.
Sedum sieboldii
This species forms round, blue-green leaves in a whorled pattern around its stems, with pink flowers appearing in late summer. It’s particularly striking in rock gardens or as a container plant where its unique leaf arrangement can be appreciated up close.
Sedum adolphii (Golden Sedum)
Known for its bright yellow-green leaves that acquire reddish tips in full sun, this sedum has an upright growth habit, ideal for adding color to borders or rock gardens. Its small, star-shaped flowers are yellow.
Sedum cauticola
With its low, spreading habit, this sedum has blue-green leaves that become tinged with purple in cooler temperatures. Its late summer pink flowers add to its appeal, making it a choice plant for rockeries or as a ground cover.
Sedum nussbaumerianum (Coppertone Stonecrop)
This sedum’s leaves turn from green to a coppery red when exposed to direct sunlight, creating a dramatic effect. It’s suited for both ground cover and container planting, where its color can be highlighted.
Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)
Named for its jelly bean-shaped leaves, this sedum can have green leaves that turn red in the sun. Its small, white or yellow flowers bloom in spring, but the plant is primarily grown for its fun, colorful foliage.
Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’
With its purple foliage and pink flowers, this sedum adds a splash of color to any garden. It’s an upright grower, perfect for mixing with other perennials, providing both contrast and harmony in plantings.
Sedum hispanicum (Spanish Stonecrop)
This sedum is known for its tiny, needle-like leaves that form dense, low cushions. It’s often blue-green, with a silvery cast, and it produces small, white flowers. It’s perfect for rock gardens or as a ground cover where its subtle beauty can be appreciated.
Sedum dasyphyllum (Corsican Stonecrop)
With its small, rounded, blue-green leaves, this sedum forms a tight mat that can cascade over walls or fill in between stones. Its white flowers in summer add a touch of elegance, making it a favorite for green roofs and rockeries.
Sedum lineare ‘Variegatum’
This variety boasts variegated foliage with green leaves striped in cream or yellow, creating a striking visual effect. It often grows in a sprawling manner, ideal for hanging baskets or as a ground cover where its variegation can be showcased.
Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’
Known for its golden-yellow foliage, this sedum can light up shaded areas of the garden where it’s often planted. It produces small, yellow flowers, but it’s the vibrant leaves that capture attention, especially in winter.
Sedum pachyclados (Gray Stonecrop)
With its grey-green, slightly hairy leaves, this sedum forms tight, low mounds that are both attractive and durable. It’s adorned with white flowers in summer, making it a great choice for rock gardens or as a textural element in succulent arrangements.
Sedum sexangulare (Tasteless Stonecrop)
This sedum has fine, needle-like leaves that form a dense, green mat. Its name comes from its lack of flavor, unlike some other sedums which might have a peppery taste. It’s excellent for ground cover in sunny, dry locations.
Sedum sarmentosum (Stringy Stonecrop)
Known for its creeping, string-like stems and small, bright green leaves, this sedum can quickly cover ground or cascade from pots. It has yellow flowers in spring, providing a burst of color.
Sedum oreganum (Oregon Stonecrop)
Native to North America, this sedum has thick, fleshy leaves that can turn from green to reddish in full sun, especially in cooler months. It produces star-shaped, yellow flowers on upright stems, making it a good choice for rock gardens.
Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’
This variety is noted for its silvery-white foliage, particularly striking in the sun where it can almost look like a frost on the landscape. It’s complemented by yellow flowers, making it a standout in any rock garden.
Sedum takesimense ‘Atlantis’
With its variegated leaves that feature a central green stripe with creamy yellow margins, this sedum adds a unique pattern to any planting. It’s an excellent ground cover, and its pink flowers in spring add to its ornamental value.
Sedum stenopetalum (Wormleaf Stonecrop)
This sedum has narrow, worm-like leaves forming rosettes, with colors that can range from green to reddish. Its yellow flowers are a lovely summer addition to rock gardens or crevice gardens.
Sedum ternatum (Woodland Stonecrop)
Unlike many sedums that prefer full sun, this one thrives in the shade, making it a great choice for woodland gardens. It has glossy green leaves and produces white flowers in spring, creating a charming ground cover.
Sedum ewersii ‘Pink Mongol’
This sedum has small, fleshy, blue-green leaves that turn pinkish in cold weather, with lovely pink flowers in summer. It’s a robust grower, ideal for sunny borders or as part of a succulent tapestry.
Sedum pluricaule
Known for its thick, succulent leaves that form tight, low-growing clusters, this sedum has a rosette form that’s visually appealing. Its small, white flowers appear in summer, adding to its allure for rock gardens.
Sedum anglicum (English Stonecrop)
With its tiny, rounded leaves that create a dense mat, this sedum is perfect for small rockeries or between stepping stones. It flowers with white blooms, offering a delicate contrast to its green foliage.
Sedum grisebachii
This sedum has small, green leaves that can take on a reddish tint in bright sunlight or during cooler months. It forms a low, spreading carpet, making it ideal for groundcover, with tiny yellow flowers adding to its appeal in spring.
Sedum forsterianum ‘Silver Stone’
Known for its silvery-grey foliage, this sedum is a visual delight in the garden, especially when its leaves catch the light. It produces small, star-shaped yellow flowers, enhancing its use in rock gardens or as part of a mixed succulent container.
Sedum ochroleucum
This sedum is characterized by its thick, fleshy leaves that are green with a yellow margin, creating an interesting variegation. It’s topped with yellow flowers in summer, making it a great choice for adding color and texture to sunny spots.
Sedum lydium
With its tiny, bead-like leaves forming dense mats, this sedum is perfect for crevices or as a ground cover where its delicate, white flowers can be appreciated up close in late spring or early summer.
Sedum pulchellum (Widow’s Cross)
Named for the cross-shaped arrangement of its flowers, this sedum has small, green leaves and produces white to pink flowers. It’s a charming addition to rock gardens, especially in areas where it can be viewed at eye level.
Sedum urvillei
This species forms clumps of rosettes with thick, succulent leaves that can turn reddish in the sun. It’s adorned with yellow flowers in summer, suitable for rock gardens or as an accent in succulent arrangements.
Sedum japonicum ‘Tokyo Sun’
With its bright yellow-green leaves, this sedum brings a splash of color to any setting. It’s particularly effective in containers or as a ground cover where its vivid foliage can contrast with other plants.
Sedum oblanceolatum
Known for its oblanceolate (narrow at the base, wide at the tip) leaves which can be green or tinged with red, this sedum is a less common but beautiful addition to rock gardens. It flowers with yellow blooms.
Sedum bithynicum
This sedum has tiny, densely packed leaves that form a lush, green mat, ideal for filling in small spaces or covering ground. Its white flowers in spring offer a delicate contrast to its foliage.
Sedum sexangulare ‘Gold Moss’
Different from the earlier mentioned ‘Gold Moss’ (Sedum acre), this variety has a more pronounced, spreading habit with golden-green leaves. It’s excellent for rock gardens, providing both texture and color.
Sedum telephium ‘Matrona’
This sedum has striking, dark-stemmed foliage with a purplish hue, contrasting beautifully with its pink flowers in late summer. It’s a taller variety, making it suitable for the back of borders or as a focal point in perennial arrangements.
Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’
A variegated version of the previously mentioned Sedum kamtschaticum, this plant features leaves edged in cream or white, adding a different dimension to garden designs. Its yellow flowers are a delightful highlight.
Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’
This sedum has leaves with green centers, white margins, and pink tips, creating a tri-colored effect. It’s a low grower, perfect for edging or ground cover, with pink flowers in summer.
Sedum middendorfianum
With its small, bright green leaves and yellow flowers, this sedum is a delightful choice for rock gardens or as a filler between stones or in alpine troughs, where its modest size and color can be fully appreciated.
Sedum suaveolens
Known for its large, blue-green leaves that can take on a silvery hue, this sedum is both ornamental and textural. It’s less common but highly valued for its unique appearance, especially when it blooms with white flowers.