Sedum Spurium: Magic Carpet, Indeed

When gardeners gather, plant-talk prevails. And the topic of favorite plants inevitably comes up in the conversation. When friends ask about my favorites, I ramble. I have lots. Funny thing is, groundcover Stonecrop (Sedum) never is on the tip of my tongue. But if my garden were devoid of groundcover Stonecrop for a season, I would notice its absence. I would miss it.

It may be the low-lying nature of groundcover Stonecrop that keeps it off the radar when I talk of favorites. Taller plants come to mind first. But groundcover Stonecrop varieties, and Sedum spurium in particular, truly make my garden special. Mosses, Ajuga, and other groundcover plants join in to create soft mats of color here and there. And Sedum spurium becomes a key part of these carpets, with its interesting foliage and starry flowers.

Stonecrop is synonymous with Sedum. Sedum of all sorts is so easy-going, it will grow among rocks and stones, as its “Stonecrop” moniker would indicate. It takes hold readily, and its water-retaining foliage will keep it fresh and fine when other plants show that they are parched.

I love tall Sedum such as ‘Autumn Joy’, with its towering stems and flowers with longevity enough to provide autumn interest. In spring, I look forward to seeing its crown of small nubs, which quickly erupt into grayish-blue, sculptural foliage. I do remember to name this as a favorite.

But as nice as tall Sedum is, it is groundcover Stonecrop that is the evergreen workhorse which ties everything together beautifully. In my Horticultural Zone 6b, Sedum spurium is unfailing. It makes my garden inviting, even though its profile is so low and its needs are so minimal, I seem to take it for granted.

Sedum spurium can have different “looks”. An old friend of mine has always been Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’, with bright green scalloped foliage and a covering of pink star-like flowers in warmer months. When temperatures drop, the foliage of ‘John Creech’ turns burgundy. And for me, the best part is the ease of propagation of ‘John Creech’ and other groundcover Stonecrop varieties. Any time a bit of Stonecrop gets clipped off, I place the cut end in soil to develop shallow but more-than-sufficient roots which form in what seems to be the blink of an eye. With the human touch to help with propagation and with its own propensity to spread, ‘John Creech’ is an ideal variety for those who need to cover a patch of ground with ease.

Sedum spurium sends out foliage-covered, trailing stems. These spreading stems take hold in the soil at various points along their lengths. When a bit gets clipped, the rest hangs on. And the new cutting can go to work to create more beauty elsewhere, crowding out weeds as it grows. Place it in a stone wall, and it will drape beautifully. Plant it on a flat plane, and it becomes matting groundcover. But be sure that wherever you choose, you ensure that your groundcover Stonecrop has good drainage and full sun.

Now, for those who love ‘John Creech’ in the cooler months when its foliage turns ruddy, there is Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’ which shows off reddish foliage right off the bat, darkening to purple when temperatures drop. ‘Voodoo’ has staying power, not petering out like some groundcover might as years pass. And with flowers that bloom in the best rose-pink, Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’ works its magic on just about any gardener.

I am drawn to garden displays which combine these and other Sedum spurium varieties to create a color-filled “tapestry”. The foliage and flower colors play off one another, while the growing habit and leaves show consistency, just as a fine carpet might be woven using yarns of different colors but all of the same gauge. And I am also drawn to gardens that mix Sedum spurium with more distant cousins within the same large plant family, so that not only color but also form and flourish show differences.

Well, I must say that I think I have made up for my oversights of the past, praising groundcover Stonecrop to the extent I have here. But groundcover Stonecrop surely has earned that praise.