• Photo of Sedum (Sedums)

Plant Profile: Sedum

Taxonomy: Sedum

Names

Roseroot, Sedum, Stonecrop

  • Photo of Sedum (Sedums)

Phonetic Spelling:SEE-dum

Genus:Sedum

Species:

Family:Crassulaceae

Sedum is a type of succulent perennial herb characterized by its thick, either flat or rounded leaves. This genus encompasses more than 300 different species. Sedum can thrive as a houseplant, in interior landscapes, or as a herbaceous perennial in outdoor gardens. Most varieties prefer full to partial sunlight and require well-drained soil. Their fleshy leaves enable them to tolerate dry conditions, although they may be susceptible to damage from deer.

The taller perennial varieties produce impressive clusters of flowers, making them suitable for borders or pollinator gardens. In contrast, the shorter species are primarily valued for their attractive foliage and propagate through rooting stems, making them ideal for slopes, rock gardens, or as ground cover. However, sedums can only endure light foot traffic.

Quick Identification

Sedum Feature Summary

Sedum Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#deciduous
#fall color
#yellow
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#semi-evergreen
#succulent
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#colorful leaves
#low maintenance
#green roof
#rabbit resistant
#playground
#cpp
#children's garden
#groundcover
#roof garden
#slug resistant
#pollinator plant
#fantz
#bird friendly
#partial shade tolerant

Similar Plants

Sedum is often confused with:

Sedum Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa
Bees enjoy the nectar. Birds enjoy the seeds.
The stems and leaves can be eaten raw when very young and tender.  Later, until they flower, they may be eaten after briefly cooking.
Perennial
Seed
Stem Cutting
Leaf Cutting
Attracts Pollinators
Textural
Attractive Flowers
Flowers
The flowers usually have 4-6 petals. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. They are general in cymes and star-shaped. Varies per species.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Green
Orange
Spring
Summer
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Leaves are fleshy, flat to terete, opposite to whorled, or alternate; variable in shape, size, teeth.
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Opposite
Alternate
Whorled
Stem
Stems are erect, decumbent, or tufted, usually more or less glaucous and fleshy.
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Poisonous to Humans
Unknown, but possibly gastrointestinal symptoms
Alkaloids sedine, sedamine
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Poisonous
Ground Cover
Succulent
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Erect
Spreading
Horizontal
Low
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Fruit
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Border
Small groups
Drought
Dry Soil
Poor Soil
Foot Traffic
Container
Walkways
Recreational Play Area
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Poisonous to Humans

Sedum Attributes

Sedum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa

Sedum: Wildlife Value

Bees enjoy the nectar. Birds enjoy the seeds.

Sedum: Edibility

The stems and leaves can be eaten raw when very young and tender.  Later, until they flower, they may be eaten after briefly cooking.

Sedum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sedum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Sedum: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Sedum Flowers

Sedum: Flower Description

The flowers usually have 4-6 petals. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. They are general in cymes and star-shaped. Varies per species.

Sedum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Sedum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Sedum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Sedum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sedum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Sedum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Sedum Leaves

Sedum: Leaf Description

Leaves are fleshy, flat to terete, opposite to whorled, or alternate; variable in shape, size, teeth.

Sedum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Sedum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Sedum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Sedum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sedum: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Sedum: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Sedum Stem

Sedum: Stem Description

Stems are erect, decumbent, or tufted, usually more or less glaucous and fleshy.

Sedum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sedum: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Sedum Poisonous to Humans

Sedum: Poison Symptoms

Unknown, but possibly gastrointestinal symptoms

Sedum: Poison Toxic Principle

Alkaloids sedine, sedamine

Sedum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Sedum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Sedum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Sedum Whole Plant Traits

Sedum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sedum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Sedum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Sedum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Sedum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Sedum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Sedum Cultural Conditions

Sedum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sedum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sedum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Sedum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Sedum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Sedum Fruit

Sedum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Sedum Landscape

Sedum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Sedum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Sedum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Sedum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Sedum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Sedum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy