Sedum, Stonecrop - Flowering Perennials

Sedums or the stonecrops are a group of usually succulent plants with often fleshy leaves adapted to hot dry conditions, though able to thrive in much moister and wetter climates too.

They often have unusually shaped leaves that form a pleasing contrast with other materials around, wood, stone or the long feathery leaves of grasses or similar plants.

The flowers are often produced in late summer to fall and will sometimes as in the case of Sedum spectabile be in bud right from spring. Many of the flowers are particularly attractive to insects such as butterflies and bees which derive valuable late season sources of nectar from them.

They are usually trouble free, any problems tend to come from excessive damp causing some form of rot. The leaves being succulent and smooth are resistant to the ingress of fungus and the usual leaf fungal problems. But the stems and crowns are susceptible to fungal damage that may severe healthy parts from the rest of the plant. If this happens then cut off any diseased part of the plant and use what is left as a cutting in sandy compost to replace the lost plant. Though replant somewhere else.

Propagation is easy from softwood shoots in spring and summer. The usual reason for the loss of cuttings - drying out before roots can be formed is not a problem with Sedums. In fact many types, if a shoot is cut from the plant and left in a light but shaded  place will produce roots when simply left out in the air.

The low growing, creeping forms can be used as an unusual covering for roofs, or I've even seen them "framed" in a wooden picture frame with a fiber matting backing, the plants getting sufficient moisture when it rains and retaining it within the leaves when dry. Experimentation may pay rewards if this is something that interests you.