| SEDUM
15
August 2006
The stonecrops are properly labelled sedum and
there are hundreds of species and cultivars.
Some are annuals but most are perennials or
sub-shrubs.
Many are ideal in the rock garden or scree bed
with smaller species fit for an alpine trough.
Others make a bold edging to a path or along
the front of a herbaceous border.
 Sedum
spectabile, the ice plant, is a deciduous perennial
with grey-green leaves. The flat clusters of
small, star-like flowers appear in late summer
and are loved by bees. The variety ‘Brilliant’
has bright pink flowers. ‘Iceberg’
has white flowers.
Sedum telephium maximum ‘Atropurpureum’
is a lovely orpine. The stems and leaves are
dark purple with pink-red flowers in late summer
and autumn.
 Sedum
spathulifolium is my favourite with tiny, spoon-shaped,
rosettes of evergreen leaves. The star-shaped,
bright yellow flowers appear in summer. Sedum
‘Purpureum has reddish-purple foliage
and S. s. ‘Cape Blanco’ has small
leaves powdered white.
With most gardeners Sedum acre is practically
a weed. It is mat forming only growing to 5
cm (2 inches) high with pale green leaves and
yellow flowers in summer. Sedum humifusum is
similar in habit with yellow flowers in early
summer and grows to less than 2 cm (1 inch)
in height.
 Sedum
kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ has pink-tinted,
mid-green leaves with pale cream margins and
yellow flowers that age to crimson during late
summer.
Another variegated sedum is S. sieboldii ‘Mediovariegatum’
with glaucous-blue leaves, cream centres and
occasionally red margins. The star-shaped, pink
flowers appear in late summer.
They prefer a fertile, well drained, alkaline
soil in full sun. Keep a close watch for vine
weevil attacks where they devour the roots.
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