Sedum
Sedum spp. and Hylotelephium spp.
Sedums are a large group of succulents, from low, mat-forming groundcovers to upright border plants and trailing burro's tail. Most are drought-tolerant, easy, and loved by bees when in flower.
Photo: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water when the soil is dry; avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Well-drained, gritty soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-30–38 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
Little or no feeding.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, division
Trim groundcover types after flowering; cut back upright types in spring.
Most garden sedums are not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Low sedums are used on green roofs.
Upright types give late food for bees.
Burro's tail suits hanging pots; handle gently.
Almost any fallen piece will root.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →PestMealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
