Seduced by Sedums

Seduced by sedums? It’s easy to understand why. Sedums aka Stonecrops are magnets for butterflies and pollinators in the late summer garden. Easy to grow, easy to enjoy… Just give them what they want – lots of sunshine and well-drained soil – and they will reward with showy flower heads covered with beneficial insects!

How to grow

Best in full sun and well drained soils. Soil that is heavy or slow-to-drain should be amended or avoided. Shady spots will produce weak plants with sparse flowers.

Uses

Perennial and garden beds and borders, seaside plantings, rock gardens, massed plantings, containers, cut flowers.

Here are a few favorites at Heritage Farm and Garden:

Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant,’ aka ‘Brilliant’ stonecrop

Produces hot pink flowers that mature to rusty red. Durable and nearly indestructible it will grow to 2’ high and wide on upright succulent-like stems. Hardy in zones 3-9; we are zone 7a, 7b on Long Island.

Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’

True to its name; ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop is a joy in the autumn garden. Its strong, succulent-like stems support flower heads that begin pink and turn red by fall. Dependable and nearly indestructible, ‘Autumn Joy’ will mature to 2-3’ tall; 2’ wide. Hardy in zones 3-9; we are zone 7a, 7b on Long Island.

Worth mentioning:

• Cut back to the ground in late winter/early spring just before new growth begins.
• Pinch back young growth in late spring to create a fuller, more compact plant.
• Any dividing should be done in early spring before new growth begins.
• Leave, do not remove dried flowers for winter interest.