Planting Of Tall Sedums Around Mailbox

Tall sedums (Sedum x spectabile) are a popular late summer blooming perennial often nicknamed “showy stonecrops” (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Members of the succulent plant family, tall sedums have thick round leaves and are recognized for their drought resistance. Star shaped flowers are clustered in colors ranging from whites, pinks, and reds, depending on the cultivar. Bloom clusters attract bees and butterflies.

Sedums are best grown in full sun but can cope with half day or less of sun. Numbers of flower buds in clusters are less and stems tend to be floppy when planted in shady garden areas. They thrive in average well-drained soil with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Old-timey cultivars tend to flop late in the summer and need staking. Avoid this problem by cutting plant(s) back by half in early June.

Sedums are best divided every 3 or 4 years. They are also easy to propagate from stem or leaf cuttings. Cuttings set in the summer root quickly in sand or perlite. Disease problems are rare and mealybugs, scales, slugs, and snails are occasional pests.

For decades ‘Autumn Joy’ (‘Herbstfreude’) has been the popular favorite. Here are six other tall sedums (hybrids of S. spectabile and S. telephium) to try:

‘Autumn Fire’- dusty-rose (August) to red (October) flowers on 18-24 inches tall on sturdy stems.
‘Brilliant’- compact 16-18 inch high plant and hot pink flowers.
‘Matrona’- bright pink flowers, purple stems on 24 inch high plant.
‘Neon’- dense flower clusters with deep rose color compared to ‘Brilliant’, a sister sibling.
‘Stardust’- plants 18 inches high, open to large silvery white flowers, aging to pinkish tinge.
‘T-Rex’- light rose pink aging to dark pink flowers atop 26-28 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Very upright branching and leaf edges sharply toothed.