Sedum - Drought-proof Color for Tough Gardens

 

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They don't call it Prickly Pear for nothin'.

Photo of Prickly Pear cactus flower

Opuntia ficus-indica (aka Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal) is a perennial, evergreen cactus probably native to Mexico, but is found growing in many arid, warmer climates around the world. It grows from 4 to 20 feet tall, depending on growing conditions. It forms clumps of flattened pads, which are actually modified stems. Its pads are medium to grayish green. Clusters of sharp hairs known as glochids appear on the pads. The flowers are bright yellow, lasting for only one day. Fruit is pear-shaped, fleshy, and purple when mature. The pulp is reddish-purple with tiny, brownish seeds.

 

Opuntia ficus-indica fruit

Opuntia likes dry, well-drained, and sandy to rocky soil. It prefers full sun, tolerates heat and some cold, and will take some light shade.

The plant is cultivated for its fruits and pads which are used for food, medicine, condiments and beverages. Foods include nopalitos, prickly pear honey, prickly pear cheese, colonche – a fermented drink. Medicinal uses are said to include tea for kidney disease, flower paste for measles, and cancer treatment.

Prickly Pear has also been used for cattle feed. Large hedge-rows have been used for fencing, marking boundaries, and discouraging intruders.

Name(s): Opuntia ficus-indica, Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal

Flower Color: Yellow.

Bloom Time: Spring

Foliage: Succulent, paddle/pear-shaped modified stems.

Height/Spread: 4 feet to 20 feet x 5 to 10 feet.

Climate Zones: 8, 9, 10

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Condition: Well-drained to dry, pH 6.1 to 7.7

Features: Drought tolerant, sculptural form, large yellow flowers, edible fruit and foliage.

Uses: Xeriscaping, succulent gardens, edible gardens, medicinal gardens, rock gardens, home security.

Comments: When planted as a hedge, Prickly Pear makes one helluva barrier against intruders. Planted around the home they are superb for homeland security.

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Antennaria - Like Velvet Pussy-toes

Spring tiptoes in
    on grey, velvet pussy-toes

Allegro from Through the Window of My Car: A Poem in Four Seasons by Elle Fredine.

Pussy-toes are like that - discreet and unassuming. Have you ever heard of Pussy-toes? No? Well, according to the USDA PLANTS Database, they're present in every state and province of the United States and Canada. See what I mean? They're almost everywhere, but discreet and unassuming.

Pussy-toes belong to the genus, Antennaria (pronounced an-ten-AR-ee-uh). The word means something like, "lots of antennae", and it's thought that the name was bestowed because the anthers of some species resemble insect antennae. It's interesting, eh, that taxonomists imagined antennae rather than cats' toes.

There are about 40 to 45 species of Antennaria. Most occur in North America. Some also occur in Europe. One species, Antennaria chilensis, is native to South America. Sizes vary from 4 inches to 20 inches.

A few species and cultivars are available commercially, though they tend to be hard to find.

Antennaria carpatica is also known as Carpathian Cat's-foot or Pussy-toes. An Illustrated Flora of the northern United States, by Nathaniel Lord Britton and The Honorable Addison Brown, says it's native to the U.S., Canada and Europe. According to The International Plant Names Index, synonyms include Antennaria carpatica var. pulcherrima and Antennaria pulcherrima. According to Flora Europaea, synonyms include Antennaria lanata and Antennaria helvetica. Gray-green foliage is evergreen. Low tufts of fluffy-white flowers appear spring to mid-summer. It grows quickly and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Mature height is up to 2 inches, and spreads up to 12 inches. Carpathian Cat's-foot is drought tolerant, deer resistant and tolerates foot traffic. It thrives in USDA climate zones 2 or 3 to 9, preferring normal to sandy soil with pH ranging from 5.6 to 7.8.

Antennaria carpatica 'Rubrum'

Antennaria carpatica 'Rubrum' is also known as Pink Carpathian Cat's-foot or Pink Pussy-toes. Low tufts of pink and white flowers appear spring to mid-summer. Otherwise it's the same as the species in every respect.

Antennaria dioica is commonly named Pearly Everlasting. It grows to about 6 inches in height, and spreads to 12 inches. Antennaria dioica 'Rubra' produces pink pussy-toe flowers. Foliage is fuzzy, silvery-grey and evergreen. It's hardy in USDA climate zones 4 or 5 to 9. 

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Antennaria plantaginifolia is known as Plantain-leaf Pussy-Toes and Old Woman's Tobacco. It's native to the eastern United States from Maine to Florida, west to Minnesota and south to Louisiana. Compact white flowers appear from mid-spring to early summer. Semi-evergreen foliage is broad, fuzzy, silvery grey-green. Height is up to 6 inches. It makes a very attractive ground cover. Antennaria plantaginifolia is hardy in USDA climate 3 to 9. 

Antennaria rosea forms a dense, silvery mat. Foliage is evergreen. Pink pussy-toe flowers appear on short stems in spring. Mature size is 2 inches high x 15 inches across. It's native to the American Northwest.

Before planting, you'll need to know the pH level of your soil. Pussy-toes prefer normal to sandy soil with pH ranging from 5.6 to 7.8. Take a sample to your nearest Cooperative Extension Service office for analysis. The fee is nominal.

Pussy-toes are great for container gardens, rock gardens, edging, ground cover, green roof, lawn substitute, hanging baskets. Pussy-toes attract butterflies, so their perfect for butterfly gardens, too.

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Sea Thrift Grows By The Summer Sea

 SEA THRIFT grows by the summer sea,

Till the summer’s close,

On a grassy cliff, ’neath a radiant sky,

While sun and summer and wind go by,

Sea thrift blows and blows.

-Dollie Radford (1858-1920)

With apologies to Mrs. Radford, the Sea Thrift about which I am writing is not the cottage standing in a garden at some distance from the sea, but the flower growing on the cliff that is full of joy all the summer through.

Thrift is a common name often applied to plants in three separate genera: Phlox subulata, Dianthus spp. and Armeria. I suppose it's mostly because they so closely resemble. All have low profiles, mounding habits, and linear or needle-like foliage. The name, Armeria, is the latinized version of Dianthus, so that could also contribute to the confusion. But the one I'm writing about is Armeria.

Armeria (pronounced "ar-MEH-ree-ah") is a perennial, native mostly to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Great Britain, often found along the coast. As any know who have lived by the sea, it can be a harsh environment. Strong winds, sand, heat and cold, dry conditions and salt spray buffet the shore. Coastal plants are well-suited to the situation, hunkering down behind dunes, sheltering in crags, bending with the wind, and tolerating the salt. Just so does Armeria thrive.

Though Armeria boasts over 100 species, just a few are commercially available. Among them are A. alliacea (resembling Allium), A. juniperifolia (resembling juniper foliage), A. maritima (of the sea) and A. pseudarmeria (the plant looks more like Dianthus than Armeria, so is called False Armeria though it isn't). A. maritima is the most popular.

Armeria is perfect for rock gardens, coastal gardens, low borders along patios and walks, and cutting gardens. For water-wise gardeners, Armeria is great for xeriscaping. Armeria maritima has the added advantage of being very tolerant of high copper levels in the soil.

Armeria prefers full sun in USDA climate zones 3 or 4 to 8. Plant in very well-drained soil with pH ranging from 6.6 to 7.8. Space 6 inches to 8 inches apart. Do not water too much or Armeria will rot. To prolong the bloom season, dead-head the spent flowers to prevent them from going to seed. Once seeds are produced, Armeria thinks its job is done and will settle down to rest.

Those of you who garden near the sea should find Armeria very much to your liking. Even if you don't live near the shore, it will delight you with its joyful little flowers blown by the breeze.

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Give Me Pearlwort

"Some people are flower lovers.

I'm a weed lover," wrote English poet Norman Nicholson.

Weeds don't need planting in well-drained soil;

They don't ask for fertilizer or bits of rag to scare away birds.

They come without invitation;

And they don't take the hint when you want them to go.

Weeds are nobody's guests;

More like squatters.

Coltsfoot laying claim to every new-dug clump of clay;

Pearlwort scraping up a living from a ha'porth of mortar;

Dandelions you daren't pick or you know what will happen;

Sour docks that make a first-rate poultice for nettle-stings;

And flat-foot plantain in the back street,

gathering more dust than the dustmen.

...You can keep your flowers.

Give me weeds!

Nicholson's argument is compelling.  Just yesterday I spied a tidy clump of pearlwort growing beside an asphalt walk as a fellow was shoving a lawn mower over the grass around it.  It occurred to me that he might be better off if he planted his entire yard in pearlwort.

Pearlwort is of the genus Sagina which includes about 90 species native to Europe and North America.  It's a member of the Caryophyllaceae family which includes dianthus, carnations and campions.

Though most of the pearlworts are attractive, Sagina subulata is the one most commonly grown as an ornamental.  The green form is also known as Irish Moss while the yellow cultivar, Sagina subulata 'Aurea', is often called Scotch Moss.  Neither are native only to Ireland or Scotland.

Pearlwort is most often grown as a perennial, evergreen ground cover.  Mature height is only about 1".  It spreads to 12".  Leaves are needle-shaped and about .4" long.  Tiny white flowers, produced spring through summer, are about .25" diameter and borne on stems less than 1.5" long.  Its habit is dense, so it chokes out weeds once established.  Pearlwort also tolerates moderate foot traffic.  You can see it makes a perfect lawn substitute, especially for small to medium lawns.  Plant pearlwort between stepping stones, beside walks, in rock gardens and at the fronts of borders.  Eco-conscious gardeners should consider it for their green roofs.  Container gardeners will find it useful as a planting beneath taller perennials and shrubs, maybe even under larger bonsai.

Sagina subulata is hardy in USDA climate zones 4 - 10.  It prefers well-drained soil, but is not particularly drought tolerant.  Soil pH should range from 5.6 to 7.5.  Plant in full sun to partial shade.  Take a soil sample to your nearest Cooperative Extension Service office for proper analysis.  Follow the recommendations.

You wouldn't think a plant that can grow "from a ha'porth of mortar" would need to have the soil prepared before planting, but I recommend it.  Cultivate at least 6" deep, removing all traces of weeds. Compacted soil should be cultivated to 10" deep.  Compost may be incorporated into the soil.  Fertilize sparingly.  Incorporate 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of no more 1 lb. per 100 square feet into the top 4" to 6" of soil. Avoid synthetic fertilizers contacting any part of your plants.

Space plants 8" to 12" apart.  Dig planting holes into the cultivated soil a little less deep than the depth of the growing container.  Water the plants in the pots, then drain.  Place the plants into the holes and back-fill, watering as you go. Press soil around the root balls. Do not cover entirely the root balls with soil. The tops should be slightly exposed. Add a top-dressing of mulch around the plants, not on top of them, about 1" deep.

Plant your pearlwort with other species having similar cultural requirements.  It has few insect or disease problems.  Pearlwort is deer resistant.  The greatest cause of failure is over-watering.  Allow soil to dry slightly between watering.

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No-Fuss Houseleeks

Drive through the countryside on state and county roads, or better yet, get out and walk.  Enjoy a slower pace and pay closer attention to what folks are growing in their yards.  I bet you'll see Houseleeks, sometimes called Hens-and-Chicks. 

Properly known as Sempervivum (pronounced sem-per-VEE-vum), meaning "always living", you may see them spilling out of flower pots, planters and even from old kettles.  I once saw some growing out of  a pair of old boots filled with potting soil.  My grandmother grew them in common concrete troughs flanking the front steps.  I didn't think much about them then, but I've come to appreciate them since.  I was told when I was a child that houseleeks, if grown close by, were supposed to protect buildings from being struck by lightening, but was assured it was only a tale.

Houseleeks are so common you'd think they're from around here, but they are native to parts of southern and eastern Europe, around the Mediterranean, north Africa and parts of western Asia.  There are about 40 species in the genus, and many more hybrids - some of natural origin.

All of them are perennials with thick, succulent leaves arranged in rosettes.  The leaves store water, so they're very drought tolerant. They grow quickly in full sun and in almost any poor soil type as long as it is slightly acidic or neutral and well-drained.  Sandy or rocky soil is ideal.  The name, "Hens-and-chicks", was undoubtedly bestowed because of the smaller plants that are produced on short side-shoots around the parent plant.  I should mention that "always living" is a bit misleading for the parent plant dies after flowering.  But because "chicks" are produced in abundance, there are always houseleeks to enjoy.  I have no idea why they are called "houseleeks", but I understand that one variety is eaten in Taiwan.

Their ability to thrive in difficult, dry areas is well-known.  Hardiness varies, but some varieties will thrive into USDA climate zones 2 and 3.  Virtually all are hardy from zone 5 through 9.  Houseleeks vary primarily in foliage shape, color and growth height, though the differences are not too great.  Height is usually 6" or less, and they can be expected to spread up to 12" within a few seasons.  They are are often used as edging plants, in rock gardens, and in containers.  I believe they would be very appropriate for "green roof" use.  Houseleek collectors are always on the lookout for new color shades.

Plant houseleeks about 6” to 12" apart.  Pint-sized plants usually produce a few "chicks" within the year.  They may be divided every 3 to 4 years to maintain compactness.  In the spring, you can propagate through stem cutting or division. It’s easy to pull a rosette off the main plant and transplant the small rosette to a new area in the garden.  Let the ground dry between waterings.  Lower growing varieties tend to be dense and choke out weeds, but if soil is fertile, neighboring plants grow faster and obscure the humble houseleeks.

Not only are they drought-tolerant, houseleeks are not bothered by most pests including deer and rabbits.

My grandmother liked "no-fuss" plants and houseleeks fit the bill.  I bet you will enjoy them, too.

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Spring Starflower Like Grandma Used To Grow

Ipheion uniflorum (pronounced IF-ee-on you-nee-FLO-rum) is a lovely old-fashioned plant that your grand-mother may have grown.  It's native to Argentina and other parts of South America, but it seems so natural that you'd think it was from around here.  In my town, it pops up early- to mid-spring in lawns throughout the older neighborhoods.   It was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century, then apparently passed along from one gardener to another.

Its common name is Spring Star-flower, and as the name suggests, it is shaped like a star, pale to medium blue or purplish in color.  Plant height is about 6 to 10 inches.  Foliage is grass-like and smells like garlic when crushed under foot.  Perhaps because of the fragrance, Ipheion is deer-resistant.

Ipheion is perfect for naturalizing, alpine and rock gardens and containers.  Wonderful for edging garden paths.  I recommend you plant at least a couple hundred of them.

Ipheion is hardy in USDA climate zones 5 to 9.  They prefer full sun to partial shade in average garden soil. Ideal pH ranges from 6.1 to 7.8.  Though drought tolerant during summer months, they benefit from slightly moist soil during the growing season. Use a high quality grade of potting soil if growing in containers.

Before planting, take a sample of your garden soil to your local Cooperative Extension Service office.  For a nominal fee, they will send it to a lab for analysis and return a report to you.

Unless you are naturalizing them in the lawn, prepare the planting bed by cultivating at least 6" deep, removing all traces of weeds. Compacted soil should be cultivated to 12" deep.

Your soil sample report will include fertilizer recommendations based upon the results of the test.  A fine all-around practice for spring-flowering bulbs is to mix 5 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer and 2 cups of bone meal per ten square feet area of bulb garden.  Repeat the application when shoots appear, but be careful that fertilizer does not come into direct contact with plant tissue.

Plant Ipheion about 2" to 4" deep.  Depth is measured to the bottom of the hole.  You can plant them as close as 3" apart.  Unless rain fall is inadequate, irrigation should not be necessary.  Because the plants are damaged at temperatures below 14 degrees Fahrenheit, gardeners in climate zones 5 - 7 should plant them 5" deep or cover with mulch for added protection.

Planted liberally, Ipheion will make a wonderful, long-lasting show in your spring garden.  You'll be glad you planted this lovely heirloom.

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Chill Out With Delosperma

Delosperma is a delightful evergreen ground cover that only came to my attention within the last few years. It is a succulent, low-growing perennial plant that lends a fresh, cool appearance even during hot weather. These plants are becoming widely known mostly due to the work of Dr. Panayoti Kelaidis of the Denver Botanic Garden.

Delosperma (pronounced del-o-SPUR-ma), commonly called "ice-plant" is native to South Africa where it grows in moderate to dry soils even in high mountain areas. Nevertheless it does nicely in much of the U.S. in climate zones 5 through 9.

The name, Delosperma, means "obvious seed", for they are rather large in relation to the rest of the flower. The common name, "ice plant", refers to the watery, succulent appearance and the icy green color of the foliage, along with other plant properties.

Delosperma is suitable for ground covers, rock gardens, alpine gardens, cactus and succulent gardens, hanging baskets, sunny perennial gardens and borders when planted with species having similar requirements.

There are about 14 species of Delosperma, but only a few are readily available commercially.

Delosperma basuticum thrives in USDA climate zones 5 through 9. Some report success into zone 11. Though I haven't been able to confirm this, I believe the species is named for Basotho, (now known as Lesotho) a region in south Africa where it is native. Maximum height is 3". Yellow to white flowers are produced all summer and into fall. It needs well-drained garden soil with pH ranging from slightly acid to slighty alkaline. It is drought tolerant. Mature plants grow to 12" across. It will produce a beautiful carpet in optimal conditions. Plant in full sun. Space at 8" to 12".

Delosperma cooperi is named for Dr. James G. Cooper(1830-1902), conchologist, geologist, ornithologist, zoologist. Dr. Cooper contributed a great deal to understanding the geology, flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwesst.

D. cooperi, also known as Trailing Ice Plant or Hardy Ice Plant, thrives in USDA climate zones 5 through 9. Flowers are pink to magenta.

D. x 'Mesa Verde', also known as D. x 'Kelaidis', is a new cultivar resulting from pollination by Dr. Kelaidis, mentioned before. It is well-worth seeking. 'Mesa Verde' has been reported to do well in USDA climate zones 4 through 9.

Delosperma nubigenum, which shares its common names with D. cooperi, is similar in habit to D. basuticum and D. cooperi. "Nubigenum" means "born in clouds", referring to its high-altitude native habitat. One might think that it preferred only cool climates, but it also thrives in USDA climate zones 5 through 9 or 10. Flower color is yellow.

Prepare the planting bed for Delosperma by cultivating at least 6" deep, removing all traces of weeds. Take a soil sample to your nearby Cooperative Extension Service office for testing. Follow their recommendations. Compacted soil should be cultivated to 10" deep. Composted manure may be incorporated into the soil. Fertilizer may be used. If you choose to do so, incorporate fertilizer per the soil test recommendations, or 5-10-15 fertilizer at a rate of no more than 2 lbs. per 100 square feet, into the top 4" to 6" of soil. Avoid synthetic fertilizers contacting any part of your plants.

Container-grown Delosperma can be planted any time you have a shovel handy, but may require monitoring of soil moisture conditions during hot weather. But Delosperma is very forgiving.

Space plants 8" to 12" apart, as indicated earlier. Keep in mind that my spacing recommendations are approximate. If you want them to fill in quickly, plant closer together. If you have plenty of time and patience but less money, plant them farther apart. Dig planting holes into the cultivated soil a little less deep than the depth of the growing container. Place the plants into the holes and back-fill. Press soil around the roots. Do not cover the root balls with soil. The tops should be slightly exposed. Add a top-dressing of mulch around the plants, not on top of them, about 2" to 4" deep. Irrigate thoroughly.

Maintenance is minimal. A little weeding and occasional watering should do the trick.

For a low-maintenance, low-growing colorful groundcover that is drought-tolerant, consider Delosperma.

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Sedum: Hidden Jewels Of The Plant Kingdom

Sedums are hidden jewels of the plant kingdom: easily overlooked, but enchanting for those who seek them out. Get on your hands and knees and take a close look! You'll see what I mean. My grandmother loved sedums; all of them. They spilled out of planters and into the grass. She tucked them into the tightest crevices of stone walls where they thrived in the barest patches of available soil.

Their ability to thrive in almost any area contributed to their nicknames “stonecrop” and “graveyard moss”. Sedums are incredibly popular, but not visually redundant because there are so many varieties. They vary in foliage, flower, and growth habit ranging from mats only a few inches high to plants 2 feet high. Sedums are often used as edging plants, in rock gardens, on slopes, between stepping stones and in containers.

All of them are perennials with thick, succulent, water-storing leaves that make them very drought tolerant. They grow quickly in full sun and in almost any poor soil type as long as it is slightly acidic and well-drained. Sandy or rocky soil is ideal. If taller varieties are planted in rich soil or shade they will be tall, lanky and topple. Most varieties attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Plant Sedums about 10” apart. Pint sized plants usually mature within the year. Sedum should be divided every 3 to 4 years to maintain compactness and older plants will split in the center if undivided. Seed heads need to be pruned only once after all the blooms have finished, but they can be left over winter to provide food for birds. Remove seed heads in the spring when new growth shows. In the spring, you can propagate through stem cutting or division. It’s easy to pull a rosette off the main plant and transplant the small rosette to a new area in the garden. Let the ground dry between irrigations. Lower growing varieties tend to be dense and choke out weeds.

Sedum is seldom bothered by pests including deer and rabbit because of its peppery taste. Slugs, nematodes and aphids can be problematic if unchecked, but are easy to control.

Several varieties I think are particularly eye-catching include:

S. x ‘Autumn Fire’ - A Canadian import that looks just like ‘Autumn Joy’ but has denser foliage and brighter pink color. It’s 30” tall in bloom and spreads 2’ in Zones 3-9.

S. x ‘Autumn Joy’ - Grows 3’ high in bloom and 2’ wide in Zones 3-9. Green, flat and spiky foliage, which mounds up to 1’ high, produces long stalks and 4” wide broccoli-like blooms. Beginning in July, flowers then turn pink, red and rusty-red through the fall. Butterflies adore this plant.

S. x ‘Vera Jameson’ - Hardy in Zones 3-9 it grows up to 8” high and 18” wide. Nice clumpy succulent bluish-green foliage turns purple in autumn and gets 4” pink blooms in late summer. Bold fall season color.

S. kamtschaticum var. floriferum ‘Weihenstephaner Gold’ - Dark green ovoid leaves sprout low clusters of yellow blooms from May to September. Grows 5” tall and spreads 1’.

S. makinoi ‘Ogon’ - Native to Japan, it grows best in Zones 7 to 9. Attaining a 2” height and 12” width, it is ideal for potting, takes the heat and looks good all summer. Blooming in August, its tiny nearly yellow foliage looks like gold pebbles on the ground.

S. reflexum 'Blue Spruce' - Grows in Zones 3 to 9. Semi-evergreen half inch, but thick blue-green leaves whorl around linear stems that sprout stalks topped with 1” bright yellow flower clusters. Gets 10” tall when in bloom from June to August.

S. rupestre ‘Angelina’ - Grows 3-6” tall with a 1’ spread in Zones 4-9. This golden ground cover with citrus yellow shoots sort of resembles a glowing pinecone. Butterflies and bees like it. Invaluable for the stone garden, it blooms July to September.

S. sarmentosum 'Yellow Moss' - The main plant has thick ovoid green leaves, but produces radiating branches of slim leaves under pointy bright yellow flowers. One of the toughest sedums, it typically grows where ever you throw it. Gets 5” in high with unbridled spread. Blooms late spring to early summer.

S. sieboldii ‘October Daphne’ - Flat blue green foliage grows around the stem in groups of three. Has pink flowers in late summer through early fall. The whole plant turns pink during cold weather and it grows up to 1’ tall in Zones 3-10.

S. spurium ‘Dragon's Blood’ - One plant produces a 6” tall mat can spread up to 3’, so plant them 18” apart. Produces taller head-turning red blooms in late summer. Its burgundy leaves turn burnt orange in the fall. Hardy in Zones 4-9.

S. spurium ‘Fuldaglut’ - Green/bronze fleshy whorled foliage turn burgundy in fall and produces pink blooms in late summer. In Zones 4-8 it grows 6” tall and 8” wide.

S. spurium ‘John Creech’ - Has a moderate growth rate. Only 3” tall it can spread well over a foot. Its small scalloped bright green leaves have clusters of lavender flowers in the fall.

S. spurium ‘Tricolor’ - A low growing (4” tall) variety that spreads up to 15” in Zones 3-9. Variegated sage green, white and pink foliage produce pink to mauve blooms in June and July.

S. tetractinum 'Chinese Sedum' - Flat, round, green summer foliage turns reddish bronze in fall and produces bright yellow flower clusters. Only 3” tall, it spreads 1’ in Zones 4-8.

Maybe my grandmother liked lots of color or maybe she just liked abundant no-fuss plants. She found Sedums to be perfect landscape plants for her home. I bet you will too.

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