Sedums or the stonecrops are a group
of usually succulent plants with often fleshy leaves adapted to hot dry
conditions, though able to thrive in much moister and wetter
climates too.
They often have unusually shaped leaves
that form a pleasing contrast with other materials around, wood, stone
or the long feathery leaves of grasses or similar plants.
The flowers are often produced in late
summer to fall and will sometimes as in the case of Sedum spectabile be
in bud right from spring. Many of the flowers are particularly
attractive to insects such as butterflies and bees which derive valuable
late season sources of nectar from them.
They are usually trouble free, any
problems tend to come from excessive damp causing some form of rot. The
leaves being succulent and smooth are resistant to the ingress of fungus
and the usual leaf fungal problems. But the stems and crowns are
susceptible to fungal damage that may severe healthy parts from the rest
of the plant. If this happens then cut off any diseased part of the
plant and use what is left as a cutting in sandy compost to replace the
lost plant. Though replant somewhere else.
Propagation is easy from softwood shoots
in spring and summer. The usual reason for the loss of cuttings - drying
out before roots can be formed is not a problem with Sedums. In fact
many types, if a shoot is cut from the plant and left in a light but
shaded place will produce roots when simply left out in the air.
The low growing, creeping forms can be
used as an unusual covering for roofs, or I've even seen them
"framed" in a wooden picture frame with a fiber matting
backing, the plants getting sufficient moisture when it rains and
retaining it within the leaves when dry. Experimentation may pay rewards
if this is something that interests you.
