Creeping sedums

Creeping sedums are among the most versatile, drought-resistant, easy-togrow perennials available. In Europe, they are the go-to rooftop plant.

They are evergreen to semi-evergreen. Slender, trailing stems have whorls of needle-like, toothed, or rounded leaves. These take root as they touch the soil, forming low, outward-spreading, ground-hugging carpets.

Some have a draping form, which can soften the edge of a container or rock wall. The stem tips turn upwards, topped in early to mid-summer with clusters of small, starry flowers in yellow, white, or pink.

The striking foliage of yellow and variegated sedums can out-do early flowers in spring for colour. Others show fresh, green foliage, a flurry of flowers in summer, and then a show of pinkish, purplish-red, gold or orange foliage through autumn and winter.

How to use

Weave plants through other low or clump-forming perennials. They also soften hard lines along walkways and edges, and provide texture, colour and contrast. Their thick growth excludes weeds and cools the ground, creating a living mulch. They’re an attractive and less aggressive alternative to more rampant groundcovers like ivy. Most carpeting varieties will grow happily in full sun or light shade, and prefer lean, gravelly soil. However, some, like the woodland Sedum ternatum, will not tolerate drought.

The striking foliage can out- shine spring flowers