If you’re looking for a super tough plant with season-long interest, look no further than sedum. Sedum is a perennial plant with thick, succulent leaves, fleshy stems, and clusters of star-shaped flowers. These sun-loving plants are hardy, drought tolerant, and require very little maintenance. Sedums come in a variety of shapes, colors, textures and sizes, and are suitable for almost any garden design or container. Many varieties bloom in late summer through fall when many other bloomers are on their way out. They also offer a late-season source for pollinators during this period.
Sedums are common in both creeping and upright form. The creeping types have long narrow stems that grow along the ground and form mats of colorful fleshy foliage in blues, yellows, coppers, maroons and more. Many creeping types of sedum will root wherever they touch the ground and can easily spread to fill a space. This makes them a perfect choice for groundcover in rock gardens or for growing through cracks in walls. Although not specifically grown for their blooms, creeping sedums do produce short and attractive sprays of flowers.
Upright sedums typically form tight clumps of foliage and don’t spread. They have strong stems that typically grow 1-3 ft. and are often used as back borders in the garden. Upright sedums are traditionally grown for their symmetrical form and colorful flower clusters that bloom in summer or autumn and make great cut flowers. This type of sedum can be easily divided in spring to make more plants.
Fort Collins Nursery has dozens of beautiful sedum varieties to choose from. Call or stop in to see what is available.
Originally published on July 3rd, 2019. Updated on June 29th, 2022.