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 plantCH. 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

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

• Sedum Hybrid Cultivars

Now in Dudleya:

• Dudleya caespitosa (as S. cotyledon)
• Dudleya edulis (as S. edule)

Now in Hylotelephium:

• Hylotelephium spectabile (as S. spectabile)
• Hylotelephium telephioides (as S. telephioides)
• Hylotelephium telephium (as S. carpaticum, S. fabaria or S. telephium)

Now in Rhodiola:

• Rhodiola rhodantha (as S. rhodanthum)
• Rhodiola rosea (as S. rosea, S. rhodiola or S. scopolii)

Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Sedum. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Sedum QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)

Pests and diseases

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Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Sedum. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Sedum QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)