How To Grow Sedum As A Groundcover Plant

Sedums (Sedum spp.) are drought-tolerant succulent plants ideal for growing in poor soils and rock gardens where other plants struggle. Like cacti, succulents can retain water in their leaves, which allows them to thrive in dry conditions.

Sedums have different growth habits. While some grow upright, others are low-growing and can be used as groundcover. These low-growing sedums are often evergreen in warm climates. Also known as stonecrops, sedums are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9.

There are some 300 species of sedum, though some have been reclassified into the genus Hylotelephium. Sedums may have chartreuse leaves, green leaves, red leaves or variegated leaves depending on the species and cultivar.

Let's look at some examples of low-growing sedum plants that can be used as groundcover.

Paul Braun

Gold Moss Sedum

Gold moss sedum (Sedum acre, zones 4 to 9) is native to parts of Africa, Europe and Asia. It has a maximum height of about 3 inches and a spread of 24 inches. This species has yellow, star-shaped flowers.

Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez

Angelina Sedum

Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina,' zones 4 to 9) is a popular cultivar of a species known as rocky stonecrop that is native to Europe. This cultivar has a height of about 4 inches and produces star-shaped yellow flowers in the summer.

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Caucasian Stonecrop

The Caucasian stonecrop (Sedum spurium, zones 3 to 8), also known as the two-row stonecrop, has a height between 3 and 6 inches. There are various cultivars, including Red Carpet (Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet,' zones 3 to 8), which has pinkish flowers that attract butterflies. This cultivar is prized for its foliage color; its succulent leaves turn a burgundy color in the fall.

Tricolor (Sedum spurium 'Tricolor,' zones 3 to 9) is another cultivar that has green leaves with white and pink margins.

David J. Stang

Three-Leaved Stonecrop

Native to the Eastern U.S., the three-leaved stonecrop (Sedum ternatum, zones 4 to 8) has white flowers and a height between 3 and 6 inches. The common name of this species refers to the fleshy leaves, which grow in whorls of three.

While some sedums, including gold moss sedum and Red Carpet two-row stonecrop, can be grown from seed, these sedum groundcover plants are typically propagated by cuttings. Simply remove a leaf from an existing plant with part of the stem attached and place it in the ground, where it will root.

Sedums are low-maintenance plants that require minimal watering and fertilizing. Therefore, you can grow sedum in poor, dry soils that have little organic matter. They can even grow in alkaline soils. However, good drainage is imperative.

Sedums also grow best in full sun, though the three-leaved stonecrop can handle some shade.

Pinching sedums can encourage them to develop thicker stems.