Sedum (Stonecrop)
Forum Topic of the Week 04/04/04
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-04-2004 at 10:23pm
This week's topic is Sedums because Sedum 'Autumn Joy' was the top search that brought people into Rainy Side this week. Sedums are the workhorses of the garden. Tough and hardy they can be tucked in just about anywhere except for perpetually wet areas. They are members of the Crassulaceae family. Most need full sun but some will tolerate a light shade or partial shade but may not flower as well such as our native sedum oreganum that I grow for its succulent foliage.
Most sedums like a light well-drained soil although there are exceptions to this rule. Many will grow in rock walls and thrive in rocky soils since most grow naturally in these conditions. They are easy plants to grow and for a beginning gardener this is good for a successful garden experience.
Most sedums I do not fertilize. Some need fertilizing but none are heavy feeders. For those I fertilize once in spring with an application of a complete organic fertilizer. Sedums are easy to propagate. Stem cuttings and divisions are easy, but most I will gently pull a rosette away from the plant and tuck the stem in the soil where it will grow in its new position.
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' syn. Hylotelephium or Sedum 'Herbstfreude' is a herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground in winter. Its hardiness rating is Sunset zones 1-10, 14-24 and USDA zones 3-10. It reaches a mature height of 2-3 feet and width of 2 feet. In July it forms its lime green flower buds (flat corymbs) that remind me of broccoli florets. In August the flowers start to color up turning pink. By the end of August they are a deep red color that holds on until fall when it slowly turns brown as they dry up. I like to keep the dried flower stems on the plant all winter as it adds winter interest to the garden. In early spring I cut the dead stems away from the rosettes on the ground that will soon grow into tall stems with succulent, dark green leaves.
S. 'Autumn Joy' is not a heavy feeder but I fertilize with a complete organic fertilizer in spring and side dress with compost or manure. To propagate in spring I gently pull a rosette off the main plant and transplant small rosette to new spot.
S. 'Autumn Joy' is an easy plant to grow and adds a lot to the late summer and fall garden. If you grow them in the partial shade garden 'Autumn Joy' tends to get taller and flops over. The flopping over sometimes indicates it is time to divide the plant.
In 1993 this sedum was given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. For the Northwest this should be a top perennial for the Pacific Northwest garden.
Wanda's edit: Here's a link to the photo in the Plants Gallery:
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted:
Sedum alboroseum 'Mediovariegatum' syn. Sedum erythrosticum f. variegatum commonly called Striped sedum or Variegated sedum is a clump forming perennial that thrives in Sunset zones 3-24 and USDA zones 6-9. Mature height is 12 inches with a width of about 18 inches.
In late summer large clusters of star shaped white to slightly pink tinted flowers bloom on stems with succulent green leaves with splashes of creamy white to pale yellow markings.
Grow in full sun to partial shade in average, moist well drained soil. Give this sedum a complete organic fertilizer in spring and side dress with compost or manure. Prune out any stems with leaves that turn all green to keep the variegation.
This plant looks good enough to eat. In fact the species of this is edible, but I have yet dared to taste it. I grow it mainly for its variegated foliage. The plant dies back to the ground in winter like S. 'Autumn Joy'.
Sedum 'Frost Morn' is another variegated sedum. This beautiful clump forming perennial came out of Japan. It is hardy in Sunset zones 1-24 and USDA zones 3-9. It has a mature size of height and width of 12 inches.
From late August to September corymbs of white flowers bloom. In hot climates the flowers are pure white while in our cool maritime climate the flower will have a touch of pale pink in them. The succulent foliage is gray-green with creamy white margins.
S. 'Frosty Morn' prefers full sun while growing in a light well-drained but moist soil. This sedum like the preceding sedums is not a heavy feeder. Like the others I give it a complete organic fertilizer in spring and side dress with compost or manure.
Plants-man Barry Yinger brought this showy sedum out of Japan and made this available for gardeners who love variegated plants. When I found this sedum I snatched it right up and been in love with it ever since. In cool weather the flowers open up a light pink and during hot seasons it opens up pure white. In or out of flower this sedum looks great spring through fall with its variegated leaves.
S. 'Frosty Morn' dies back down to the ground every year. In the spring you will notice what looks like little cabbages around the base of the plant as the rosettes get ready to spring into growth. Great bee and butterfly plant.
Debbie
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 7:52am
Oh, I'm glad to see this topic! Sedums are one of my weaknesses--I can't resist them.
I'm growing Sedum oreganum, and another native, S. spathufolium, in my rock garden. With the S. oreganum, I just broke off stems from a clump in a container, and stuck them in the ground, where I wanted them. It grows vigorously. I just added the S. spathufolium this year. It has grayish, tightly packed rosettes. I am also growing a non-native in the rock garden: mislabeled as S. spathufolium, it is actually Sedum purpureum. It looks similar to S. spathufolium, but has reddish rosettes, not quite as dense.
I have mixed some low-growing Sedums among the creeping thyme in the footpath to the house.
One Sedum that does very well for me (a little too well!) is Sedum "Golden Acre". It is low-growing, with bright green foliage, and it spreads rapidly. It's not aggressive, other plants are able to co-exist with it, but they often get lost in the swarm. It's easy to pull out, though, as the roots are very shallow.
Sedums can survive in the most incredible conditions. One day, as I was transfering Sedums from one place to another, a bit of S. purpureum dropped on the cement porch steps. I didn't notice it for a few days; then, when I tried to pick it up, it had already taken root in the microscopic pieces of dirt on the cement!
Great topic!
Barb
Sydnie
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 8:40am
I have Autumn Joy "herbstfreude" and tons of other sedums. Like Garden Spider they are also a weakness of mine. I too have them in my rock wall, along the walks- and here and there and everywhere. Initially I started getting them because they did do well- no matter where I put them, they are carefree, and it is very easy to make more. I have many different kinds. I don't know what most of them are. I only have one variety that the slugs like. It is planted in a rough cement block. I have found that slugs will not go out of their way to climb over it to get to them. (This is a technique I also used for my baby's breath and slugs, that worked!! I came across this idea by pure accident.) Figuring out what all I have will be real interesting. I did not know that you could start new ones with cuttings from the Autumn Joy. Hmmm.
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 8:57am
Looks like I am not alone in my love for sedums! I am a sucker for them. I love the shapes and colors, so much variety. And I love the fact that you can grow them in places other plants would not do well.
I have to say I am disappointed in 'Autum Joy' though. It doesn't flop but it doesn't get that beautiful rusty red color I see in the mags. Stays kind of pinky mauve until it turns brown. Not enough sunshine, soil to acidic? I'll look it up in Flora, see if that gives me some info.
Jeanne
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 10:52am
Sedum lydium is a native of west and central Turkey. It is hardy in all Sunset zones and USDA zones 5-8. A ground hugging sedum its mature height is 2 inches and width is about 8 inches. It is a creeper, but a very slow creeper, at least in my garden.
In summer corymbs of white star-shaped flowers stand well above the succulent fleshy green leaves. Leave that turn red when weather turns cold or during periods of drought.
Grow in full sun on dry rocky, well drained soil. S. lydium can be tucked into crannies in rock walls, edges of pavers and rock gardens. It will tolerate light foot traffic.
Sedum 'Matrona' syn. Hylotelephium, Sedum 'Herbstfreude' commonly called Matrona sedum is a clump forming sedum that is hardy in Sunset zones 1-24 and USDA zones 3-9. Its mature size is height 24 inches and width 12-24 inches.
S. 'Matrona' has large corymbs of pink flowers from August to September. Its succulent gray-green foliage has rosy edges and dark burgundy stems.
Grow in full sun and light drained soil. Give this sedum a complete organic fertilizer in spring and side dress with compost or manure.
This sedum appeared in Germany in Ewald Hugin's garden and is a cross between Sedum 'Atropurpureum' x Sedum 'Autumn Joy'. The word matrone in German means a lady of well rounded form. A perfect name for this robust sedum named Perennial of the Year 2000 by Plant Publicity Holland in Europe.
S. 'Matrona' dies back down to the ground every year. In the spring you will notice what looks like little cabbages around the base of the plant as the rosettes get ready to spring into growth. The flowers start out as a light green coloring to a rosy pink and by fall turning a bronzy color. Leave the flowers intact through winter to add winter interest. Great bee and butterfly plant.
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 11:08am
Barb, I agree that sedums grow in the strangest places. If you go along the Oregon coast and look up on the blasted out rock you can see how adaptable they are with the colonies that grow on the rocks.
I remember once my daughter was climbing up on some rocks on the coast when she was preschool age. She came down with a tiny rosette of one of our native Sedum oreganum. She was upset about dislodging the "baby". So we took it back to camp and we filled a paper cup with some soil as stuck the stem into the soil. This was before we knew better about not taking plant material home with us from the wilds. We watched over the baby and when we got home we planted the tiny thing in the garden. It grew into a nice patch and we planted it around the garden. When we moved to our present home I took some of the large patch with me. It is tucked into walls and even on a large root sticking up from a large tree that fell over in the back part of our property.
If and when my daughter gets a place of her own I will give her a patch of it and retell her the story of how it came to our garden, and also say we shouldn't have done that but now we know better.
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 11:15am
Sydnie, If you look at your S. 'Autumn Joy right now you will see the small "cabbages" or rosettes. Gently pull one off and place in a pot or plant in another area of the garden and voila you have a new plant!
Jeanne, I am not sure why yours aren't turning that beautiful red either. You say its in shade? If you look at the picture of Sedum alboroseum 'Mediovariegatum' behind it you will see the beautiful red of the S. 'Autumn Joy'. I have grown some in shade before and I don't remember it not turning red. Mine grow in acidic soil too so we can rule that out. How much shade? Its a puzzlement Jeanne! Maybe someone else might have a clue about it.
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-05-2004 at 11:48pm
Sedum oreganum is a perennial commonly called Oregon stonecrop is a native to the Pacific Northwest and can be found growing all over our region. It is hardy in Sunset zones 2-9, 14-24 and USDA zones 6 – 10. It grows to a height of 4 inches and because it is a creeper its width is indefinite. I have them on rock walls where a piece falls to the ground and creates a new colony. I would not plant other small perennials near them but do not find S. oreganum to be a thug if placed where it can't overrun small plants. I told the story in a post earlier about how it came to my garden.
In summer the yellow flowers bloom singly or in clusters on top of a flowering stem well above the succulent, fleshy green leaves that turn bronze to red colors in the fall. I grow mine in both full sun to partial shade. The leaves do not turn reds or bronzes in the shade but make a nice ground cover of clear green succulent foliage. As with many sedums they thrive on dry, rocky, well drained soil.
As with all sedums the leaves are edible if eaten in moderation. Eat too much and it can cause headaches or other problems. Makah women used to eat the leaves to promote menstruation.
I have seen our native sedum growing on big boulders next to our ocean beaches, or on sheer rock cliffs where you wouldn't even know there was soil to be found. Drought tolerant in our maritime climate. These can be tucked into crannies in rock walls, edges of pavers (no foot traffic), and rock gardens. Easy Northwest native to grow in full sun and well drained soil.
Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' another perennial native stonecrop has beautiful succulent silvery-gray foliage. Hardy to Sunset zones 2-9 and 14-24 and USDA zones 5-9 its mature height reaches 4 inches with a width of 12 inches. Its flowers are star-shaped yellow flowers in tight clusters held above the rosettes of fleshy green leaves covered with a silvery-white waxy powder giving it the appearance of silvery-gray.
S. 'Cape Blanco' grows best in full sun in any type of well-drained soil.
In 1993 the Royal Horticultural Society gave our native sedum the Award of Garden Merit. I hope to see this become a Great Plant Pick in the future. For beginner gardeners this is a beautiful and easy ground cover.
The yellow flowers are nice but the foliage is so outstanding that I would rather not have the flowers cover up the wonderful silvery rosettes. As soon as the flowers are done I prune out the flowering stems so the foliage comes to the forefront again.
Because the leaves are edible, you can use the succulent leaves in soups or even as a stir-fry. To serve this to your family or guests should get everyone talking about the strange new vegetable on the table. Hopefully without an "Ewwwwwwwww!" comment.
I grow mine in nooks and crannies, rock walls and edges of pavers (where there is no foot traffic). I like it best cascading down my basalt rock walls - the dark basalt rock really shows off the silvery-gray succulent leaves.
This little perennial is supposedly deer resistant. I hope someone told the local herds not to touch it.
Phlox
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 12:07am
I also have quite a few sedum but most of mine are the small rock garden kind which I've had for years and never kept the names of them.
I do have one of the taller varigated ones that a friend gave me and a pale green leafed one that my niece 'Sydnie' gave me..... I don't have the name of either of them .
A nice (little) winter project would be to find out what the names of all the plants I have that I don't know the names of and have a picture of the plant to go with the name.
One of my favorites is the one that looks like it has a spider-web on it, and if I remember correctly it has a nice pink flower.....will have to get pics this summer when they are in bloom.
........Linda........
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 8:08am
Thanks for the links to other sedums. It's nice to have pictures.
That is a puzzler then if you get that red color in some shade. I'd say mine is in the sun until 2pm, then comes back into the sun about 5pm briefly. Maybe if I moved it to an area with more sun. I have Autum Joy right along my flagstone path, where I can see it and it is dry. The plant does well but the flowers never get beyond a pinky/mauve. Maybe it's not 'Autum Joy.
Jeanne
Wanda
Joined: Aug-15-2003
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posts: 499
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 9:31am
Just a quick note about Cape Blanco. This is one of those plants that I have to have because of it's name. Cape Blanco is on the Oregon Coast in Port Orford and the lighthouse there is the most southern one in Oregon. Supposedly, the story I was told, is that this sedum was named after the cape because it grows there quite prolifically. What says "well-drained" more than a point of land jutting out into the ocean with a lighthouse on it?! And it's so darn cute, everybody loves it! I agree, Debbie, this should be a "Great Plant Pick". -Wanda
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 4:49pm
Jeanne, I hadn't even thought about that and that is a good possibility, there are several varieties that have the look of 'Autumn Joy' even the flowers will look the same at one stage. S. spectabile might be it as its pink flowers turn to brown seed heads and it looks a lot like S. 'Autumn Joy'.
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 8:24pm
Hello Phlox, The little guy you are talking about sounds like it is Sempervivum arachnoideum, it is a succulent also. So there's one identified.
Wanda thanks for sharing that as I forgot about that. It is definately growing on a rock there!
Debbie
Sydnie
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-06-2004 at 11:43pm
I knew when I bought mine it was autumn joy- but I went back in some old records I have and looked. It is Autumn Joy Stone Crop. I was wondering what was wrong with Jeannes and mine. LOL. And I only thought that I knew what I had. It is Sedam Spectacable- Autumn Joy. Another gorgeous one that I have sedam spurium 'tricolor' If you don't have this and you love sedams, find it. The leaves have green and pink and a hint of white in them. Warm pink blooms. I have Debbie's Cape Blanco and the sedam oregnum. They were easy finds with my maiden hair ferns.
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 12:34am
Sydnie, It is not surprising that S. spectabile gets mistaken for S. 'Autumn Joy' since it is one of its parents.
I agree S. spurium 'Tricolor' is fantastic. I have a nice patch at the base of a wall that is yummy. I do need to get a photograph of its great colors. I always think of it as stringy sedum.
Debbie
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 12:40am
This will be the last of my installments hope to hear more from you about your favorite sedums. What are you growing? They make good container plants is anyone growing them in containers?
Sedum spathulifolium 'Purpureum' another ground-hugging evergreen perennial is similar to S. spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' except its rosettes are bigger and it has a wonderful purple color. This sedum was also chosen for the Royal Horticultural Societies Award of Garden Merit the same year 1993 as 'Cape Blanco'. Another one I hope makes the Great Plant Picks. Hey Wanda maybe we should apply for the selection committee.
Sedum 'Vera Jameson' is not an evergreen sedum, it dies down to the ground every year, but its deep purple leaves and rose-pink flowers make it worth growing. Its prostrate form makes it perfect for growing on top of walls. It thrives in Sunset zones 1-9, 14-24 and USDA zones 4-9. Its height is supposed to 8-12 inches and maybe it would if it didn't flop over so I would say it is more like 4-5 inches tall with a width of 12 inches. S. 'Vera Jameson' blooms late summer to early fall with cymes of rose-pink, star-shaped flowers. Succulent, purple leaves that begin in spring as blue-green changing to a purple-burgundy color as the season progresses. This is a clump-forming sedum, well behaved but so beautiful you wish it would creep around the garden some more. It also won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993. I think they were on a sedum high that year!
Give this sedum a complete organic fertilizer in spring and side dress with compost or manure..
S. 'Vera Jameson' is a cross between Sedum telephium maximum 'Atropurpureum' and Sedum 'Ruby Glow'. This beautiful sedum adds color to the garden even when not in bloom. New growth shows blue-green leaves that slowly turn a deep burgundy purple foliage. In the winter the flower heads add winter interest even though the plant dies down to the ground. All these attributes make it a sedum I would not be without. This is a clump-forming sedum, well behaved but so beautiful you wish it would creep around the garden. Mine grows on a rock wall above the pond next to sedges and small rhododendrons. A great bee and butterfly plant.
Debbie
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 7:54am
Well . . . I guess my purple sedum can stay in the rock garden, if it is Sedum spathufolium "purpureum". Good--because I like it there! It adds a warm, reddish-violet color that shows up well against the rocks.
The Sedum spurium "tricolor" is not doing well for me, so disappointing! It's so pretty. But it's gone all flat, with small leaves, and is not spreading. I may try this variety again, in a container, and really improve the drainage.
I bought a bright green (think "neon") sedum at the F & G show in Feb (can't remember the name of it right now). Small, flat leaves. It's going to be difficult to find the perfect place for it, with that eye-catching foliage, but I'm sure I'll be able to fit it in somewhere.
Great topic! Sedums are wonderful little plants!
Barb
Carolyn
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 8:40am
Eleven varieties and looking to add more. I love them.
I've got Autumn Joy, Erythostictum/alboroseum, Selskianum 'variegata', Red Carpet, Sieboldii October Daphne, Oreganum, Blue Carpet, Blue Spruce, Fuldaglut, Ogon (Lemon Lime), and Cape Blanco. Now what shall I pursue next? Maybe Sedum 'Matrona' look pretty special!
Thanks for a great thread and descriptions, Deb. I admit I buy more of what grows well and Sedums are very dear.
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 10:12am
Thanks for the info on S. spectabile. I bet that is what I have. Got mislabeled at the nursery. Maybe I'll have to buy another Sedum "Autumn Joy" when I see the flower color.
I also have S. Vera Jameson. Love the purple leaves. S. Cape Blanco sounds cool. I like your reasoning on Cape Blanco, Wanda. Makes sense to me! I've also got S. arachnoideum and sedum oreganum in a black ceramic pot. Love them both. Look cute together. Maybe S Lydium would be a good additon to my collection.
Jeanne
Trish
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 11:48am
One of my favorite sedums is "Brilliant." It grows like "Autumn Joy" but the blooms stay pink/rose.
Here's an idea page from a local source that specializes in mat-growing sedums and sempervivums. There's 20 pictures. My faves are the living wreath and the overgrown dish drainer.
black cat
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-07-2004 at 11:00pm
Garden Spider wrote: Well . . . I guess my purple sedum can stay in the rock garden, if it is Sedum spathufolium "purpureum". Good--because I like it there!
It grows in some clay soil in my garden so I think it is more adaptable than to just the rock garden, if you was thinking about moving it. I am finding it likes just about anywhere except a bog.
Garden Spider wrote: The Sedum spurium "tricolor" is not doing well for me, so disappointing! It's so pretty. But it's gone all flat, with small leaves, and is not spreading. I may try this variety again, in a container, and really improve the drainage.
You might give it a little more time as it took mine a few years to fill in and now one spot it looks great another spot still spotty. I was like you ready to rip it out but it finally came into its own.
Garden Spider wrote: I bought a bright green (think "neon") sedum at the F & G show in Feb (can't remember the name of it right now). Small, flat leaves. It's going to be difficult to find the perfect place for it, with that eye-catching foliage, but I'm sure I'll be able to fit it in somewhere.
Would love to know the name of this one. I have some new ones from last year that I am still learning about and I will be adding them to the plant gallery later on this year. So many sedums, so little time.
Carolyn wrote: Eleven varieties and looking to add more. I love them.
I've got Autumn Joy, Erythostictum/alboroseum, Selskianum 'variegata', Red Carpet, Sieboldii October Daphne, Oreganum, Blue Carpet, Blue Spruce, Fuldaglut, Ogon (Lemon Lime), and Cape Blanco. Now what shall I pursue next? Maybe Sedum 'Matrona' look pretty special!
Oh please give us some descriptions and how you have them in your garden if you have time! I have Blue Spruce as a new one (from a plant swap trade?) and S. 'Blue Carpet' is divine! I plant to add pics this year of it as I have it all over a wall and this year it should be looking fab! Fuldaglut sounds interesting. So more info please, not fair to drop names and run!
JeanneK wrote: Thanks for the info on S. spectabile. I bet that is what I have. Got mislabeled at the nursery. Maybe I'll have to buy another Sedum "Autumn Joy" when I see the flower color.
Too bad you didn't live in the Seattle area I would give you lots of starts. Do you know someone that has it that might give you a rosette or two?
Trish thanks for the url to that page that was great!
Debbie
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Garden Spider wrote: I bought a bright green (think "neon") sedum at the F & G show in Feb (can't remember the name of it right now). Small, flat leaves. It's going to be difficult to find the perfect place for it, with that eye-catching foliage, but I'm sure I'll be able to fit it in somewhere.
Deb wrote: Would love to know the name of this one. I have some new ones from last year that I am still learning about and I will be adding them to the plant gallery later on this year. So many sedums, so little time.
I have 'Angelina' that I bought at Foxglove Nursery during Bainbridge in Bloom. It's Neon green or Lemony-lime as I like to call it and so far it's my favorite one. Wonderful contrast with my dark rocks and compost (or coffee grounds ). I've also seen it mentioned in a few articles as being one of the hot new sedums.
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-08-2004 at 7:11pm
The bright green Sedum I bought from the F & G show is S. makinoi "Ogon" . . . probably the same as what Carolyn has. This winter, when I bought it, it was very green, and it's turning more "lemony" in color. Maybe age? More sunlight? Who cares!
I was looking for Sedum "Brilliant" for the butterfly garden, but couldn't find it. So I bought "Neon" instead. That should be bright enough to attract the flutterbys!
And I saw "Matrone" at the nursery . . . very tempting. I may have to go back for it.
Barb
Phlox
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-08-2004 at 11:38pm
Thats it Debbie, Thanks so much. One down ? to go. They not only look good with rocks, they can look good just about anywhere!...................Linda
Trish, Just looked at the 'black cat' and can't wait to put some of my sedums in SPECIAL NEW PLACES!! Thanks for the pics.
........Linda........
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-10-2004 at 10:56pm
Theresa thanks I think that one sounds like one I need to add so must do trip to Foxglove soon.
Barb, Some gave me S. 'Ogon' planted in a drilled out rock. It is yellow for me sitting in full sun, I agree either one is pretty. They all attrack the bees and butters (flutterbys, love it!) the 'Autumn Joy is always full of bees, beneficial wasps, butterflies and anything wanting nectar. I think the flat tops of some of the taller sedums make good landing pads for de guys.
Phlox you are welcome and I agree about Trish's list to keep us busy for a millenia or two.
I saw another new one at the nursery the other day. I didn't write down the latin on it but remember it looked like Baby Tears and is called Baby Tears Sedum. Very tiny succulent leaves. So I need to go back and check it out as this might make a good full sun ground cover for a place that gets little water; like a hell strip. Actually most sedums will do well in hell strips as long as hell strip is well drained.
Debbie
Carolyn
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-11-2004 at 2:15pm
Loved the pictures from Black Cat Nursery! What a wealth of good ideas, but hubby said no on the dish drainer idea - but I thought it sooooo cute! I guess we have to stay sophisticated for the garden tour - harrumph! Maybe next year?
Deb, as far as what I've done with my sedums - well, they are just here and there. I love to display the hens and chicks in low saucers (with holes) as they fill in so well in a shallow container.
I've put Cape Blanco (bright silver) into a deep green ceramic pot (great contrast). I've put a very plumy hens and chicks into a terra cotta (plastic) pot - good contract there too.
I have 'Ogon' near a cement Asian lantern but also have it in spots where I need a punch of bright chartreuse.
I have this wee little leafed sedum (can't remember its name) but it is silvery and it is around the base of a plum colored oxalis.
There is another small leafed trailing sedum which I'd love to plant into a ceramic/cement pot with a face and use the sedum as hair trailing down. Now I use it in a pots and it always cascades down the pot's sides during the summer. Once last year I was watering these pots and up poked a little tree frog - he was so cute! I guess he didn't like the swimming pool I was creating for him.
As you can tell I love sedums. Their colors, characteristics, versatility, adaptability in diverse conditions (hot, dry, sun, shade, pots, etc.). Keep 'em comin'. I'd love to collect them all.
Carolyn
Phlox
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-11-2004 at 11:08pm
Just made a plant run last Wednesday and picked up a Sedum Makinoi 'Ogon' to add to my collection, love the color, not sure where It will be planted though, gotta find just the right place.
I also think a run to the Thrift Store would be in order to find some neat old containers to put some of my plants in.
........Linda........
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted:
I forgot this plant Sedum lineare 'Variegatum' that I placed in a pot for winter display on my porch. I will get a closeup of this one later on this year as its variegated leaves are great!
Debbie
Sydnie
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Apr-12-2004 at 11:13pm
Trish I loved the idea site. Lots of good ideas!!!! Sedums are sure great little plants!
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-13-2004 at 7:29am
I've bought several shallow containers lately just for planting my sedums and sempervivums. They look great together, take minimal summer water and thrive on my hot, sunny patio.
I've got Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco', S. s. 'Purpureum', Sedum oreganum, Sedum 'Meteor', Sedum 'Matrone', Sedum lydium, Sedum 'Vera Jameson' and a couple more whose names I can't remember that I got from plant trades.
I totally enjoyed visiting Black cat site, Trish. What an imagination! I'd never think to use a dish drainer as a planter, which I think you should do, Carolyn, and never mind any snooty garden visitors' reactions. Remember Debbie's post about coloring outside the lines?
Lisa A
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton