Features of sedum
Stonecrop (Sedum) is a genus of plants of the succulent family, more than 400 species belonging to the genus Sedum. Stonecrops are mostly undersized carpet perennials, although some can reach a height of up to 80 cm. Among them there are also subshrubs and annuals. They tolerate drought, infertile soils and, in most cases, temperature extremes. These are ideal plants for rock gardens. Their undoubted advantage is the durability and decorative foliage.
The distinguishing feature of these flowers is their thick, glossy leaves, which are a clear indication that they belong to succulents, a species known for their ability to store water in their stems and leaves. In some species, the leaves are covered with a bluish wax coating. This is protection against evaporation of water through the leaves. All this means that stonecrop plants are perfectly adapted to the periodic lack of water.
Their leaves can be gray-green to deep purple. Stonecrops, in addition to delighting with the beauty of their fleshy, like artificial leaves, bloom in season in white, yellow, red, purple or pink, and quite intensely. Flat inflorescences up to 20 centimeters in diameter consist of many small star-shaped flowers. Usually five-petalled, they appear from late spring to autumn, attracting large numbers of bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Sedum is not afraid of drought and decorates the garden until frost. Everything around is gray, but he still pleases with colors.
Stonecrops are generally considered typical plants for rock gardens. Indeed, hardly any other species thrives so well on shallow rocky soil. Landscaping designers recommend them primarily for path edges, paving slabs and flowerbeds, i.e. wherever it is desired to cover a piece of concrete.
They can also decorate year-round pots and flower beds, as well as green roofs that are gaining popularity. Usually, unpretentious, low-growing creeping or climbing types of perennials are selected for roof gardening. Stonecrop for green roofs is also becoming more and more popular.
Note! Stonecrop looks best in the front of the flower bed next to sage, milkweed and ornamental cereals, such as fescue. Lovers of colorful autumn gardens also willingly arrange them with asters and chrysanthemums.
Only frost-resistant stonecrops can be grown in the garden. Some species, such as Morgan’s stonecrop, can only be grown as houseplants.
How to grow stonecrop in the garden?
This is a great plant for beginners, growing it does not cause many problems. It loves full sun and can handle even heat and drought. It blooms less in partial shade and has thin shoots.
Sedum: soil requirements
It needs well-permeable soil. If the stonecrop is constantly too wet, its soft parts begin to rot. If the soil in the chosen place is loamy or constantly wet, it should be loosened with sand or pebbles.
Plants will grow best in a fresh, light, permeable substrate with a near neutral pH, preferring dry, rocky soil. They have a poorly developed root system, which does not need to grow deep into the soil. Water should not accumulate in the ground even during heavy rains.
Watering and feeding
Stonecrops do not need to be watered and fertilized, because they grow well even on completely barren soils. Few perennials can survive drought as painlessly as sedum. Fleshy shoots and leaves covered with thick skin and wax coating serve to store moisture. Thanks to this, the plant can withstand even a long time without water.
Note! Planted stonecrops require moisture in the substrate so that they take root in a rock garden or flower bed. Therefore, in the first weeks, they make sure that the substrate does not dry out too much, because the plant may not take root and die. After that, stonecrop is not watered at all, even during exceptional drought.
Although they are undemanding to the soil, they will grow more luxuriantly if they are lightly fertilized with a multi-component slow-acting fertilizer in the spring. Young, growing plants need nutrients. For plants with flowers, use a flowering plant fertilizer with a high potassium content.
pruning
The only maintenance treatment that needs to be carried out is the removal of faded and dried shoots. It is worth doing this in the spring, because the inflorescences dry out beautifully and look decorative throughout the winter. In the spring, young shoots are released, which grow rapidly.
Additional Information! In the spring, when the shoots reach about 15 centimeters in height, it is worth shortening them by two to three centimeters to form more compact stems. Pruning is expedient, and contributes to a better sodding of plants.
Sedum tolerates pruning in any conditions and at any time, except for late autumn and winter. In the spring, cut off damaged or frozen shoots. Large 3-4 year old bushes should be rejuvenated, as they “bald” in the middle.
winter protection
They are resistant to frost, disease and pests, and generally do not require frost protection. Such species as stonecrop white, Oregonian, bristly and Kamchatka stonecrop freeze slightly. The last two are only recommended for growing in warmer regions.
Pests usually do not attack thick shoots. Stonecrop can suffer from fungal diseases when there is too much shade and humidity.
stonecrop reproduction
These plants are fairly easy to propagate and there are several ways to do so. They propagate and rejuvenate in the spring (from March to May) by dividing the overgrown bushes into smaller parts, followed by planting in the chosen place. This division is recommended for the rejuvenation of the mother plant, it produces young seedlings, usually of very high quality.
Stonecrop can be propagated by leaf and stem cuttings throughout the season, which are placed directly in garden soil. The substrate must be constantly moist. With regular watering, they will quickly take root. After about two weeks, the cuttings will begin to form new roots.
The least convenient is the propagation of stonecrop by seeds, which can be obtained in autumn from faded inflorescences. They are sown indoors in the spring and germination is usually quite effective. By this method, you can get the largest number of seedlings, which are transferred to the garden in late spring or planted in pots.
Stonecrop in the garden: varieties
Stonecrop (Sedum) has quite a few species. A few are grown in gardens. Many of them are low, creeping plants, strongly sprawling. However, among them there are species that differ in size, for example, stonecrop Big. They have erect shoots, sometimes growing up to 50 cm in height. They form more or less spreading stems that do not spread. They have showy flowers.
One of the most popular is the stonecrop “Prominent” originally from Asia. Rock purple stonecrops “Carpathian” and “Big” are also cultivated.
Many stonecrops form large cushions (“White”, “Kamchatka”, “Lydian”, “Spanish”). Siebold’s stonecrop has longer shoots, which in summer dress up in yellow, white, pink or purple flowers. Stonecrops with colorful shoots and leaves look very attractive: the variety “Matrona”, “Red Cowley”, “Purple”, “Emperor” and others.
Recently, many new varieties and hybrids of stonecrops have appeared, which have very beautifully colored flowers, as well as stems and leaves. However, it happens that these varieties are more capricious and less durable than the basic species.
