Sedums are part of a growing garden trend called succulents. Succulents have fleshy, water filled leaves that make them drought resistant and heat tolerant. If you have seen those trendy little trough gardens full of plants that look a little like cactus without the spines, then you have enjoyed succulents! At TGG we love Sedums because they are the only succulents other than hen and chicks (which are also very cool BTW) that are hardy in most areas and can survive the winter.

Sedums thrive in full sun, low to average water, and most importantly, well drained soil. There are larger varieties growing to over two feet tall and wide that go well in the flower bed and border and are old cottage garden favorites, such as “Autumn Joy”. And there are ground cover varieties that come in bright greens and can spread quickly, blooming in early summer, such as “Angelina”. And everything in between! They are fantastic container plants, and thrive in almost any garden. Different varieties have leaves that range from tiny sized to larger and fleshy, from gray to green to purple to blue, and even variegated! Butterflies love them, and best yet, they come back year after year.

To grow Sedums to look their best, here are a few tips from the pros:

• Always, always use a well drained soil. If you are planting them in containers, either add some shredded bark or sand to make the soil mix very porous. If your soil is heavy in the garden, either amend it, or grow them in raised beds and containers.

• Choose your containers to match the feel of the plants. If you are going for a succulent garden look, think concrete, stone or simple round bowls to match the contemporary vibe these plants give off. Don’t let that stop you from using them in any style garden though, this is a great way to update!

• Although they can definitely go for periods of time without water, I find if they are in well drained soil, they look the best with average watering, allowing them to slightly dry out in between.

• They can take some afternoon shade, but be careful with the taller varieties, as they will flop over if they don’t get enough sun.

• Speaking of taller varieties, in the spring when the plant is about six inches high, pinch off the top stem. This will force the plant to grow more compactly, addressing that flopping over prob I previously mentioned.

Once you get Sedums down, try out some varieties of hen and chicks to go with! The fancy name for these (so you know you are buying the right succulent) is Sempervirens.

Oh, the taller varieties make good cut flowers too!

Our fav varieties?

Low Growing

Angelina

Acre

Tricolor

Taller

Autumn Joy

Purple Emperor

Vera Jameson

So try out some trendy sedums and enjoy an update to your garden spaces with a plant that can’t be beat!