Sedum

Plant Characteristics
Habit		cacti-succulent
Lifespan:	⌛	perennial

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun, part-sun
Water:	◍	moderate, dry
Sunset Zones:		varies by species

Scientific Names
Crassulaceae >	Sedum >

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Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. It contains around 400 species of leaf succulents that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, varying from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves. The flowers usually have five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals.

Well known European Sedums are Sedum acre, Sedum album, Sedum dasyphyllum, Sedum reflexum (also known as Sedum rupestre) and Sedum hispanicum.

Many sedums are cultivated as garden plants, due to their interesting and attractive appearance and hardiness. The various species differ in their requirements; some are cold-hardy but do not tolerate heat, some require heat but do not tolerate cold.

Read about Sedum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Sedum (Latin, sedes, to sit: the plants fix themselves on rocks and walls). Crassulaceae. Succulent herbs, rarely subshrubs, mostly hardy and perennial, useful for rockeries and one species, S. spectabile, a frequent showy border plant^CH. Plants glabrous or glandular-pubescent, fleshy, erect or decumbent, sometimes cespitose or moss-like: lvs. very variable, opposite, alternate or whorled, entire or serrate: fls. cymose in a few axils and solitary, white, yellow, or rose, rarely red or blue, hermaphrodite or unisexual by abortion; calyx 4-5-lobed; petals 4-5 (rarely 6-7), free; stamens 8-10 (rarely 12-14); ovary 4-5-carpelled: follicles 4-5, free, many- or few-seeded.— About 280 species, mostly natives of the temperate and colder regions of the northern hemisphere. The hardy sedums are monographed, from a horticultural point of view, by M. T. Masters in Gardener's Chronicle for 1878. Masters' descriptions and treatment have been partially followed in the present revision. The variability of the lf. is very noticeable both in thickness and breadth, some being thick and terete, others flat and thin, though all of them tending toward fleshy. Some are quite linear and from that they range to nearly 1 1/2 in. broad. The margin is also variable from entire to deeply dentate. The synonymy of the species is much involved and in some groups, especially the Telephium group, the specific delimitation is very uncertain; in fact the whole genus needs monographic study. The present key is an attempt to differentiate the more prominent forms as they occur in horticulture and is based in part on literature and in part on herbarium specimens. It is unfortunately not altogether satisfactory but may prove of some value in separating the species. ^CH Sedums are of the easiest culture. As a rule, they prefer sandy soil, and are very averse to a wet position in winter. Some are useful plants for carpeting poor and sandy waste places where few other things will grow. The little yellow-flowered plant with pulpy foliage that spreads in nearly every cemetery is Sedum acre. Sedums are also general favorites in all forms of rock-gardening. They are much used for carpet-bedding, especially the kinds with mealy or glaucous foliage, and those with various metallic shades of purple. In the hardy border, the more robust and bushy kinds, like S. maximum and S. spectabile, are preferred, though any of the lower-growing kinds are suitable for edgings and any of the evergreen kinds are welcome in winter when the hardy border shows few other bits of color or signs of life. As a rule, sedums like the sun, but a few of the species may help to solve the difficult problem of carpeting the ground underneath the trees where the soil is dry and shaded. Sedums are also favorites for baskets and vases, especially the kinds with trailing stems and minute leaves. For greenhouse decoration, S. spectabile is the favorite, as it is perhaps the showiest of the genus. It may be had in flower at any season of the year and remains in bloom a long time. It is also one of the favorite sedums for window-sills, balconies, and housetops, especially in crowded cities. Sedum acre, however, is everybody's plant. A piece of it is often the only pleasant sight in an ugly city alley. Sedums can be propagated by seeds, but they are easily multiplied by the young offsets. These rosettes are somewhat bulb-like in nature and sedums could probably be propagated if it were worth while by using each leaf of a rosette.^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

Propagation

Sedums can be propagated by seeds, but they are easily multiplied by the young offsets^CH. These rosettes are somewhat bulb-like in nature and sedums could probably be propagated if it were worth while by using each leaf of a rosette.^CH

Pests and diseases

Species

Read about Sedum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
S. Adolphii, Hamet. Perennial: fl.-sts. erect, robust, branched: lvs. alternate, sessile, obovate, lanceolate, or broadly obovate, 3/4 – 1 1/4 in. x 6-7 lines, flat, entire: fls. in a rather dense corymbose cyme; sepals broad-deltoid; petals ovate-lanceolate. Mex. —S. albidum, Hort., is offered in the trade as a form growing 6 in. high, with white fls. —S. allantoides, Rose. Perennial, 8-12 in. high, woody below: lvs. almost at right angles to the st., terete, clavate and somewhat bowed, glaucous: fls. greenish white, in an open terminal panicle; sepals ovate, acute; petals lanceolate, acute. Mex. —S. atrosanguineum, Hort., is offered in the trade. —S. bellum, Rose (S. farinosum, Rose, not Lowe). Perennial plants, at first forming dense elongated rosettes: fl. -st. weak, ascending or spreading: lvs. flat but thickish spatulate: infl. a broad open cyme; petals white, spreading, lanceolate. Mex. In its wild state this species grows on cliffs among mosses. It has been in cult. in Washington since 1906, and deserves a place in every good succulent collection. —S. Braunii, Hort., is offered. —S. Brownii, Hort., is offered in the trade. — S. calabricum, Ten., is a name without description applied to some Italian species which is offered in the trade. —S. coccineum Hort., not Royle, is a name mentioned in horticulture; possibly it is S. stoloniferum var. coccineum. —S. Cockerellii, Brit. Perennial, 8 in. or less high, glabrous, branched: basal lvs. not known; cauline lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1/2-1 in. long, sessile, acute: fls. white, subsessile, in cymes which are 1/4 - 2 1/2 in. diam.; sepals nearly linear; petals linear-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate; anthers and styles pink. New Mex. This species is in cult., but cannot be placed in the key owing to lack of sufficient data. —S. crassifolium, Hort., is offered in the trade. —S. cristagalli, Hort., is offered. — J. cruentum, Hort., is offered in the trade. —S. diversifolium, Rose. Perennial: barren shoots short; fls.-sts. elongated, weak: lvs. of barren shoots flattened ovate, small, rough, somewhat recurved: fls. pale yellow, terminal, solitary, short-peduncled; sepals obtuse; petals ovate, acute or even apiculate. Mex. —S. Douglasii, Hook., grows 4 in. high: lvs. lanceolate, 1/4 – 1/3 in. long, acute, and has yellow fls.; probably not in cult. —S. Durgidum, Hort.. is offered in the American trade as a compact grower and bright green; not known botanically. — S. Eichlamii, Hort., is offered in the trade. —S. glaucum var. aureum, Hort., is offered as a golden yellow variety; not placed satisfactorily. — S. grandiflorum, Hort., is offered as a strong grower with yellow fls. — S. himalaicum, Hort., is offered as a form with rich yellow fls.; not known botanically. — S. Maweanum, Hort., is offered as growing 4 in. high: fls. yellow. — S. muralis, Hort., is said to have dark lvs. and white fls. with a pink center; not known botanically. — S. niveum, Hort., is offered in the trade. — S. pallidum, Bieb. Perennial, glabrous or glandular-pubescent above: sts. usually branched: lvs. semi-terete, linear, rather obtuse: fls. white or rose in a lax branched scorpioid cyme; sepals triangular, acute: petals puberulent, cuspidate. Asia Minor, Persia, and India. Closely allied to S. hispanicum. This is the true species but the name has also been applied to several other plants and it is uncertain which form is in cult. —S. pallidum var. roseum, Hort., is in the trade but cannot be satisfactorily identified. — S. pruinatum, Brot. Perennial, glaucous, pruinose: barren shoots 6-8 in. long, trailing and ascending; fl.-sts. erect, 1 ft. high: lvs. in many rows, sessile, more or less terete, glaucous, tips often rose-pink, about 3/4 in. long, linear-oblanceolate, aristate: fls. bright yellow, 1/3 in. across, in an umbellate, many-branched, flat-topped cyme; sepals oblong, acute; petals oblong, obtuse. Eu. Closely allied to S. rupestre and included in it by some authorities. — S. rariflorum, N. E. Br. Perennial: sts. numerous, decumbent, up to 6 in. long, glabrous: lvs. alternate, flat above, slightly convex beneath, 1/4 – 1 1/2, in. long, linear, acute, green: fls. white, in a lax 2-3-branched infl.; sepals spreading, linear, acute; petals oblong- lanceolate, acuminate. China. — S. retrovivum, Hort., is offered in the trade. — S. Sempervivum, Hort., not Ledeb.- Cotyledon Sempervivum. — S. sexemifidum, Hort., is offered in the trade; perhaps an error for sexifidum which is a synonym of S. hispanicum. — S. spathulatum, Hort., is a trade name of a species said to grow several feet high, botanically unknown. — S. speciosum, Hort., is still offered in the trade, but is unknown botanically. Var. rubrum, Hort., is offered in the American trade as growing 6 in. high and having dark red fls. in July. Var. splendens, Hort., is offered as a form growing 6 in. high, with deep red fls. — S. tectorum, Scop.-Sempervivum tectorum. — S. turkestanum, Hort., is possibly a trade error for turkestanicum which is a variety of S. Ewersii. — S. undulatum, Hort., is offered in the trade. ^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

There are about 400 species, including^wp:

Sedum acre – Wall-pepper, Goldmoss Sedum, Goldmoss Stonecrop, Biting Stonecrop
Sedum adolphii – Golden Sedum
Sedum aizoon – Aizoon Stonecrop
Sedum albomarginatum Clausen – Feather River Stonecrop
Sedum album – White Stonecrop
Sedum allantoides
- Sedum allantoides var. goldii
Sedum alpestre
Sedum anacampseros – Love-restorer
Sedum anglicum – English Stonecrop
Sedum annuum – Annual Stonecrop
Sedum atratum
Sedum australe
Sedum borissovae
Sedum burrito – Baby Burro's-tail
Sedum caeruleum
Sedum caespitosum
Sedum candollei
Sedum cauticola
Sedum cepaea – Pink Stonecrop
Sedum clavatum
Sedum cockerellii Britt. – Cockerell's Stonecrop
Sedum compressum
Sedum confusum – Lesser Mexican-stonecrop
Sedum chazaroi P.Carrillo & J.A. Lomelí
Sedum dasyphyllum – Thick-leaved Stonecrop
Sedum debile S.Watson – Orpine Stonecrop, Weakstem Stonecrop
Sedum dendroideum Moc. & Sessé ex A.DC. – Tree Stonecrop
Sedum diffusum S.Watson
Sedum divergens S.Watson – Spreading Stonecrop)
Sedum eastwoodiae (Britt.) Berger – (Red Mountain Stonecrop)
Sedum ellacombeanum – Stonecrop
Sedum ewersii
Sedum fosterianum – Rock Stonecrop
Sedum furfuraceum
Sedum glaucophyllum Clausen – Cliff Stonecrop
Sedum havardii Rose – Havard's Stonecrop
Sedum hidakanum
Sedum hirsutum
Sedum hispanicum – Spanish Stonecrop
Sedum hybridum – Hybrid Stonecrop
Sedum integrifolium Entireleaf Stonecrop
Sedum iwarenge
Sedum kamtschaticum Fisch. & C.A.Mey. – Orange Stonecrop, Kamschatka Stonecrop
Sedum kostovii
- Sedum kamtschaticum cv. 'Weihenstephaner Gold' (formerly Sedum floriferum)
Sedum lanceolatum Torr. – Lance-leaf Stonecrop, Lanceleaf Stonecrop, Spearleaf Stonecrop
Sedum laxum (Britt.) Berger – Roseflower Stonecrop
Sedum leibergii Britt. – Leiberg Stonecrop
Sedum liebmannianum
Sedum lineare – Needle Stonecrop
Sedum lucidum
Sedum lydium – Least Stonecrop
Sedum makinoi
Sedum maximum
Sedum mexicanum Britt. – Mexican Stonecrop
Sedum moranense – Red Stonecrop
Sedum moranense Kunth – Red Stonecrop
Sedum moranii Clausen – Rogue River Stonecrop
Sedum morganianum – Donkey Tail, Burro Tail
Sedum nanifolium Fröd. – Dwarf Stonecrop
Sedum nevii Gray – Nevius' Stonecrop
Sedum niveum A.Davids. – Davidson's Stonecrop
Sedum nussbaumerianum
Sedum nuttallianum Raf. – Yellow Stonecrop
Sedum oblanceolatum Clausen – Oblongleaf Stonecrop
Sedum obtusatum Gray – Sierra Stonecrop
- Sedum obtusatum ssp. paradisum Denton – Paradise Stonecrop
Sedum ochroleucum Chaix – European Stonecrop
Sedum oreganum Nutt. – Oregon Stonecrop
Sedum oregonense (S.Watson) M.E.Peck – Cream Stonecrop
Sedum pachyphyllum
Sedum pallescens
Sedum palmeri
Sedum paradisum Denton – Canyon Creek Stonecrop
Sedum pinetorum Brandeg. – Pine City Stonecrop
Sedum praealtum DC. – Greater Mexican stonecrop, Green Cockscomb
Sedum pulchellum Michx. – Widow's-cross
Sedum pusillum Michx. – Granite Stonecrop
Sedum radiatum S.Watson – Coast Range Stonecrop
Sedum reflexum – Reflexed Stonecrop, Blue Stonecrop, Jenny's Stonecrop, Prick-madam
Sedum reptans
Sedum rubrotinctum – Pork and Beans, Christmas Cheer, Jellybeans
- Sedum rubrotinctum cv. 'Aurora'
Sedum rupicola G.N.Jones – Curvedleaf Stonecrop
Sedum rupicolum G.N.Jones
Sedum rupestre
Sedum sarmentosum Bunge – Stringy Stonecrop
Sedum sediforme Pale Stonecrop
Sedum sexangulare – Tasteless Stonecrop
Sedum sieboldii – Siebold's stonecrop
Sedum smallii
Sedum spathulifolium Hook. – Broadleaf Stonecrop, Colorado Stonecrop
Sedum spurium – Caucasian Stonecrop, Dragon's Blood Sedum, Two-row Stonecrop
Sedum spurius
Sedum stahlii – Coral Beads
Sedum stellatum – Starry Stonecrop
Sedum stelliforme S.Watson – Huachuca Mountain Stonecrop
Sedum stenopetalum Pursh – Wormleaf Stonecrop, Yellow Stonecrop
Sedum stoloniferum Gmel. – Lesser Caucasian Stonecrop, Stolon Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum Michx. – Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum takesimense
Sedum treleasei
Sedum torulosum
Sedum uniflorum
Sedum villosum – Hairy Stonecrop, Purple Stonecrop
Sedum weinbergii
Sedum wrightii Gray – Wright's Stonecrop