Sedum Lineare ‘Sea Urchin’

Sea Urchin Sedum

This low-growing sedum is lovely!  It has tiny, narrow, variegated leaves that are mint-green with a creamy white edge. During the summer the bright yellow star-shaped flowers that bloom above the foliage are an added bonus. I have had this in my garden for three years and it has been easy to grow–in  well-drained soils and full sun to part shade. It is happy to take all the heat and drought stress that comes with a Stillwater summer. I have found it to be really reliable but it is said to be winter hardy only to USDA Zone 6a.  Oklahoma is so harsh I usually try plants that can survive in USDA zone 3-4, even though we are USDA Zone 7a!

Sedum kamtschaticum var. floriferum ‘Weihensterphaner Gold’

I love this Sedum–Get it! Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture soil and in full sun. Well draining soil for sedums is always recommended.  In my garden I have raised the bed about 6″ and it is happy in a good perennial soil mix. It is a fairly fast grower and easy to dig up and relocate. Tip cuttings from plants root easily at this time of the year so I am planting it in bare spots.  In late summer tiny, star-shaped, 1/2 ” yellow flowers bloom on 8″ stems above the green mat. Really reliable in Zones 3 to 9.

Sedum rupestre ‘Blue Spruce’ 

Sedum Blue Spruce

Another fast, low growing, stonecrop ground cover that takes heat drought and poor-soil. It grows to 8″ and thrives on neglect. Later this summer I will show you the masses of bright yellow flowers. I am less enamored with the yellow bloom than the blue color so I often pinch or shear them back to delay their bloom. My preference is to see a low-growing mat, but by August or September I have had it with pinching back so I let it bloom. Blooming or not it could not care less if it is 100+ degrees. All stonecrops prefer well-drained soil and I usually add sand to the planting area, but this Sedum seems less particular than most so if you are a new gardener get it! USDA Zones 3-9.

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’

John Creech Stonecrop

So many of the stonecrop are hardy so I have been trying out as many as possible in Stillwater. John Creech does great! It takes the sun, grows about 2″ tall, and fills in as a solid mat with somewhat scalloped leaves. In the fall it will send up pink flowers. Now is the time I am relocating some to bare garden spots.  USDA Zones 3 to 9.

Sedum sarmentosum

Stringy Stonecrop, Star Sedum, Graveyard Moss

This low growing perennial sedum is fast–almost too fast. It comes out early, blooms early, and is happy to be pinched back or sheared if you rather not have it bloom. It is very hardy, drought tolerant and can be propagated by throwing it around. Really it’s that easy! It will grow wherever it touches the ground. Last year I was so happy it was thriving I moved it to many places—this year I am backing off a bit and even editing some out as I have previously posted I don’t like the faded summer color, also it does get very long and stringy. If you are a new gardener, don’t hesitate to use it as a ground cover in between rocks and stepping stones. It is easily propagated but not invasive. USDA Zones 3 to 8.