Sedum ‘Lidakense’ at Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio

S. rupestre ‘Angelina’

Sedums (Sedum spp.) are tough, easy to grow perennials (zones 3-9). Plants prefer average dry to moist well-drained soils and full to partial sun. Most sedums do not tolerate wet soils. Their thick succulent glossy leaves lead to the plants’ exceptional drought resistance. Sedums are exceptionally easy to root from leaf and stem cuttings.

Low groundcover types are featured here. These creeping beauties fill in spaces between taller plants or creep into crevices in rock garden or on steep cliffs. These sedums produce masses of tiny, star-like floral heads and attract lots of pollinators. Some creeping sedums are evergreen or semi-evergreen with thick leaves of many shapes, sizes and colors. Most are deciduous. These undemanding plants love hot dry garden sites and thrive as well in containers, on rock walls and rooftop gardens.

Eight of the best low growing groundcover types:

S. cauticolum ‘Lidakense’ – round blue foliage on low 3-4 inch tall spreading plants with gracefully arching stems; tiny brilliant pink star flowers in late summer.

S. floriferum ‘Weihenstephaner Gold’ –4-6 inches tall dense groundcover; covered in canary yellow star-shaped flowers in late spring.

S. kamtschaticum – 3-6 inch tall with needle-like foliage that emerges chartreuse, turns golden yellow in summer, and orange and red shades in fall; yellow flowers in mid-summer.

S. reflexum ‘Blue Spruce – ground-hugging 3-6 inch tall dense mat of conifer-like blue foliage; deep mauve pink stems rise to 10 inches high, topped by brilliant yellow flowers.

S. rupestre ‘Angelina’ – 6-10 inch tall aggressive spreading; needle-like foliage that emerges chartreuse, turns golden yellow in summer and to rich shades of orange and red in fall; yellow flowers in mid-summer.

S. spurium ‘John Creech’ – 3-6 inch tall dense mat of small, scalloped green leaves, topped with rose pink flowers in late summer.

S. spurium ‘Red Carpet’ – vigorous grower that starts red in spring, holds its color all season; rosy red flowers in summer.

S. ‘Vera Jamison’ – low, spreading grower with arching stems of round, smoky blue foliage that gradually turns deep burgundy purple; dusky pink flowers in late summer.