Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Sedum. |
Common name |
Sédum, stonecrop. |
Family |
Crassulaceae. |
Origin |
Asia, Northern Hemisphere. |
Dimensions |
10 to 50 cm high and wide. The size of the plant depends on the shape of its leaves and the shape of its stems, which can be creeping, erect or spreading. |
Foliage |
The evergreen leaves are fleshy and of varied shapes. They are rounded, oval, cylindrical, smooth or toothed depending on the specimen. Their colors vary from clear green to bluish-green, including purple. |
Bloom |
Many small starry flowers appear in summer or autumn. They are white, pink, yellow, blue or bright red, depending on the species. |
Exposure |
Sun preferably. |
Ground |
All types of soils, well drained, rock gardens. |
Rusticity |
Most species resist up to -15°C, or even beyond. |
Sedum has many advantages: it is hardy, undemanding, easy to grow, resistant to drought and not very susceptible to diseases.
Sédum: hundreds of different species
The term 'Sedum' designates a plant genus which brings together hundreds of very distinct species, varieties and cultivars.
Thus, certain species of sedum are annual while others are
perennial
.
Likewise, it is sometimes surprising to compare grassy sedums, with small fleshy leaves, and slender sedums, with erect stems and ample foliage.
Based on the plant's habit, sedums are mainly divided into three categories and are commonly called:
carpeting sedums
or ground covers, which extend on the surface;
the large sedums,
with their slender stems;
hanging sedums,
which form superb plant cascades on low walls or outdoor pots.
Where to plant sedum?
Sedum thrives in poor, dry soils and is particularly resistant to drought.
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Sedum thrives in poor, dry soils and is particularly resistant to drought.
It is these intrinsic qualities that allow it to adapt to difficult growing conditions.
This is why it is very often used to cover low walls, to create rockeries or, more recently, to green roofs.
How to maintain Sedum?
Hardy but sensitive to excess humidity, sedum is
easy to maintain
.
Watering:
Sedum resists dryness and needs little water.
In open ground, it is generally not useful to water it.
In a pot, allow the soil to dry completely between two waterings.
During the growing season, moderate watering once a week is sufficient.
Be careful not to overwater, as the roots are sensitive to excess water, especially in winter when watering must be stopped.
Pruning faded flowers:
To maintain a neat appearance, cut off faded flowers as soon as they begin to lose their luster.
This pruning can be done at the end of summer or in autumn.
Protection from cold in winter:
Although Sedum is cold hardy, in areas where the ground remains frozen for several days at a time, additional protection may be necessary.
Cover the plant with dead leaves, straw or a winter cover to insulate the roots from the cold.
Remove this protection as soon as the weather warms up to allow the ground to warm up.
Read alsoDrooping houseplants: our 10 favorite varieties
The most beautiful sedums
The sedum 'Sunsparkler Cherry Tart' is covered with lovely pink flowers in summer.
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No use without permission.
Sedum 'Sunsparkler Cherry Tart':
is a surprising cultivar with green or purple foliage depending on the season.
It measures 10 to 20 cm high and is covered with lovely pink flowers in summer.
This abundant, honey-producing flowering will attract valuable pollinating insects to your garden.
With the ground cover sedum 'Angelina':
opt for bright colors.
Its golden foliage and bright yellow flowers will brighten up your flowerbeds and rock gardens.
Combine it with sedums with purple or deep green foliage and you will obtain very cheerful and dynamic results.
Sedum 'Herbstfreude':
is a rather large variety, 40 cm high, bearing large flowering umbels from July to October.
As fall approaches, the pink of its flowers becomes almost red.
Fire sedum,
Sedum oreganum
:
is often considered the most beautiful of sedums.
It is distinguished by its young red leaves which contrast with the yellow starry flowers.
A real gem in the garden!
In garden centers, sedums are generally offered in pots and sold individually.
But for large projects, and for the most impatient among you, they are also available from specialists in the form of rolls that simply unroll directly into place.
Multiplication of a sedum: child's play
Sowing sedum is done in a pot, in a light substrate, in March or April.
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No use without permission.
As sedum multiplies easily, by sowing or cuttings, it allows you to quickly and elegantly cover a large area at a lower cost.
Sowing is done in a pot, in a light substrate, in March or April.
Then, simply raise the seeds under cover and then transplant the plants in place in spring or summer.
Even simpler, don't hesitate to
cut the branches
of your sedum in light soil, from March to July.
It roots very easily.