Sedums: varieties, types with photos and names

The rich species diversity of the genus Sedum makes it possible to select varieties of sedum to suit every taste and to achieve a wide variety of goals. Creeping groundcover perennials perfectly decorate an alpine hill or quickly fill the space allotted to them with a solid green carpet. Curtains of dense shrubs of different heights will look great both in solo plantings and in combinations with other plants.

Ampelous species, whose shoots hang picturesquely in long strands, are wonderful for placing in flowerpots, decorating a veranda, or even creating an original composition on the edge of a roof. Many sedums can be grown with equal success not only in an open area, but also in an apartment. The decorative appearance of this plant, which lasts for a long time, along with its rapid growth and ease of care, allows it to be an excellent decoration for the home and garden.

Description of the sedum plant

The genus Sedum or Sedum belongs to the Tolstyankov family. It unites about 600 plant species. To date, more than 100 sedums have been cultivated, on the basis of which a large number of varieties and hybrids have been developed.

Sedums are very diverse. They are distinguished by the shape, height of the bush, size and color of leaves and flowers, and life expectancy. Most often these are perennial plants, but there are also those that live only a year or two. The most common are herbaceous sedums, but they can also be shrubs or subshrubs.

These plants are succulents. They are adapted to growing in hot, dry climates due to the fact that water reserves can be stored in the tissue of their stems and leaves for a long time. All sedums prefer plenty of light, but they can also grow in some shade. In apartment conditions, tropical sedums are most often cultivated, while frost-resistant species and varieties are usually chosen for the garden.

Sedums can be grown both in open ground and on a windowsill in an apartment.

The roots of sedums are usually creeping, long, tuberous-thickened. Shoots can be erect, stretching upward, or creeping, spread out. Their height varies from 0.1 to 0.7 m. The leaves are usually dense and fleshy to the touch. The plates most often have a solid edge, occasionally a serrated edge. They are sessile (do not have petioles) and, as a rule, are attached to the stems alternately, although there are types and varieties of sedums with whorled and opposite leaves.The shape of the plates can resemble needles, barrels, coins, spindles, flat spatulas, or slightly elongated balls. Their color can be either monochromatic or variegated: with spots, stripes, streaks, and borders. The color range is varied: from soft green, almost white or cream to dark emerald, orange, burgundy, brown, yellow.

What does a sedum flower look like?

Flowering of sedum usually does not last long. Sedum can be observed in summer or autumn for 1-3 weeks. Depending on the species and variety, this period may begin at the end of May and end in October.

Sedum inflorescences can be apical or lateral. Most often they have the shape of a brush, umbrella or shield, combining many small bisexual star-shaped flowers. Their color can be very different: snow-white, yellow, golden, pink, purple-red, lilac. Each flower usually has 5 oblong petals, 5 pistils and up to 10 stamens.

The fruits of sedum are pink or red leaflets. Inside are numerous brown seeds. Each flower leaves behind 5 fruits.

Varieties of sedums with photos and names

Getting to know some of their types and varieties will help you visualize the diversity of sedums. The hardiest and most winter-hardy sedums originate from those that grow in the wild of North America, Europe and Asia. In the climate of the middle zone they are most often planted in open ground.

Forms and hybrids related to African and Mediterranean sedums are preferably grown in conditions that exclude harsh winters, in particular, in greenhouses and on apartment windowsills.

Below are some of the most beloved species and varieties of sedums by gardeners with photos and names.

Garden types of sedums

In landscape compositions on personal plots you can often admire both sedum (Sedum) and sedum (Hylotelephium). The latter represent a small subgroup within the genus Sedum.

Common sedum (Sedum telephium)

Otherwise known as Sedum major or Sedum telephium. Widely distributed throughout Europe up to Siberia. In nature it grows on the slopes of ravines, clearings, forest edges, in the vicinity of shrubs and coniferous trees. It is a bush with single straight stems 40-80 cm high. The leaves are oval, with teeth along the edge. The flowers are collected in dense clusters and appear in July-August.

Among the most interesting varieties:

1. The originator of the variety is Jennifer Hewitt. Plant height 50 cm.
   
   

   Jennifer's sedum flowers are painted in pink tones and look very original against the background of reddish-brown foliage

2. Raspberry Truffle. Sedum Raspberry Truffle is a representative of the “candy” series of Candy varieties. The size of the bush is usually 30-45 cm.
   
   

   The Raspberry Truffle variety is distinguished by pink inflorescences and glossy purple-brown leaves.

3. Bon Bon. Reaches 20-40 cm in height.
   
   

   The dark burgundy, almost chocolate leaves of the Bon Bon sedum beautifully set off the soft pink clusters of small flowers

4. This variety is considered a “giant” among sedums, as it can grow up to 60 cm.
   
   

   The flowers of the Matrona sedum are pale pink with clearly visible dark stamens, the stems are rich red, and the leaves are bluish, reddening at the edges and covered with a waxy coating.

Sedum acre

This is a creeping species with multiple thin, branching shoots, the length of which reaches 15 cm. It prefers to grow on sandy soil, scree and hillsides.

Common varieties:

1. Yellow Queen. The Yellow Queen sedum is considered one of the shortest (the length of the shoots does not exceed 10 cm).
   
   

   The small thick leaves of the Yellow Queen variety are painted in a light green-lemon color and form a thick carpet, and bright yellow flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter can be observed from the beginning of June

2. Octoberfest. The leaves of this variety of sedum are small, light green, and densely cover the shoots.
   
   

   Oktoberfest owes its unusual name to the abundance of creamy white flowers that appear in July and August and are associated with thick beer foam.

3. Minus. Forms dense mats 5-10 cm in height.
   
   

   The bluish-green leaves of the Minus variety are cylindrical and take on a pink tint in the sun.

Sedum reflexum

Another name is Sedum bent. Compact (10-15 cm), low-growing species, growing in nature on bare rock ledges. Feels good in a pot, on a loggia or open terrace. Its pointed leaves are needle-shaped, reminiscent of moss or spruce needles. Umbrella-shaped inflorescences, bright yellow in color.

You can often find the following varieties:

1. A very spectacular and unusual-looking variety.Flowering occurs in July and lasts 3 weeks.
   
   

   The greenish-golden leaves of the Angelina variety turn bright orange with the arrival of autumn.

2. Cristatum. The bright green dense foliage of this sedum is not only decorative, but also edible. The plant spreads along the ground in an openwork wave. Compared to other species and varieties of sedum, it grows slowly.
   
   

   Due to the curved shape of the thickened, slightly flattened shoots, Sedum Christatum is also called Cockscomb

White sedum (Sedum album)

The flat curtains of this ground cover species do not exceed 15-20 cm. In nature, it is found in Europe (except for the northern regions), the Balkans, and North Africa. Its numerous vegetative shoots are only 2-3 cm long, and the leaves in the shape of flattened cylinders are green in cloudy, humid weather, and become reddish in hot sunny periods. Flowering is abundant. It occurs in July-August and lasts 3-4 weeks. At the same time, there are so many white or pale pink flowers that they almost completely cover the foliage.

Popular varieties:

1. Coral Carpet. In summer, the leaves of this sedum are colored in light green tones, and only their tips have a reddish tint.
   
   

   In autumn, the Coral Carpet variety acquires a characteristic pink-orange color, justifying its name

2. Faro Form. It is rightfully considered the lowest grade of sedum. Its mats do not grow taller than 1 cm, and the tiny globular leaves are only about 3 mm in size.
   
   

   In the bright summer sun, the Faro Form variety gradually turns red, and by autumn it turns brown

3. Murale. The height of its shoots is 3-4 cm, and at the flowering stage, which begins in May, it is 12-15 cm. The peculiarity of this variety is its strong aroma, reminiscent of the smell of bird cherry.
   
   

   The delicate pinkish flowers of the Murale sedum blend harmoniously with its bronze foliage

False sedum (Sedum spurium)

Shoots of this species form loose mats up to 15 cm high. In warm climates this is an evergreen plant, but in severe winters it sheds its leaves. It usually blooms in the second half of summer. The color of the leaves and flowers of false sedum depends on the variety.

Here are some of them:

1. Dragon's Blood. "Chameleon variety." Its leaves are dark green with a red edge only until mid-summer. Closer to autumn they become rich burgundy with a purple tint.
   
   

   Purple rosettes of Dragon's Blood leaves complement dense clusters of deep pink flowers in late summer

2. This false sedum has an unusual coloring.
   
   

   The white border running along the edge of the green leaves of the Tricolor variety turns pink in spring and autumn

Kamchatka sedum (Sedum kamtschaticum)

This species is common in the Russian Far East, as well as in Northern China, Korea and Japan. In nature, it prefers to inhabit rocky slopes. It is distinguished by medium-sized (15-40 cm) stems raised above the ground, and rather large (up to 3 cm) spatulate leaves with a serrated or crenate edge. In June it is decorated with bright yellow-orange flowers.

Well known varieties:

1. Weihenstephaner Gold. Hybrid of Kamchatka flowering sedum. It grows quickly and blooms profusely. Can be grown in partial shade.
   
   

   The small yellow-green flowers of Weihenstephaner Gold create a beautiful contrast with its dark green glossy leaves, which are serrated at the tops.

2. Takahira Dake. A low (7–15 cm) compact hybrid with bright green, curly, unevenly jagged leaves. Flowering occurs in early summer.
   
   

   The bright glossy foliage, reddish stems and small yellow-orange flowers of the Takahira Dake variety look very decorative

Sedum spectabile (Hylotelephium spectabile)

This sedum was given to the world by Asia - North Korea, Japan, Eastern China. Its strong, erect stems grow up to 0.3-0.7 m. The leaves are large, usually green with a blue tint, have an oval or spade shape and small denticles along the edges. Half-umbrellas of inflorescences can reach 15 cm in diameter. Flowering later, in August-October.

Among the most common varieties:

1. Thick burgundy shoots of this sedum form a dense bush up to 50 cm high. Red veins are noticeable on the wide green leaves.
   
   

   Lush bright pink clusters of flowers of the Carmen variety appear in mid-August and attract the eye until frost

2. Low (0.4-0.6 m) variety with bluish-green leaves and succulent stems. It grows slowly.
   
   

   Small snow-white sedum Stardust flowers with pointed petals are indeed associated with stardust

3. Autumn Fire. Shoots of this variety reach 0.5 m in height.
   
   

   Against the background of gray-green foliage, large heads of Autumn Fire inflorescences, painted in copper-red tones, look like bright flashes of an autumn fire.

Indoor types of sedums

Many types and varieties of sedums look beautiful and grow well not only in open ground. You can create favorable conditions for them in the winter garden or on the window of a city apartment without much hassle.

Morgan's sedum (Sedum morganianum)

This decorative succulent comes from Mexico. The long lashes of its shoots can reach a meter in length. Each of them is densely covered with thick, elongated-rounded fleshy leaves of a bluish color, covered with a waxy coating.The plant looks very beautiful in hanging pots. The flowering period of this sedum is from April to June. Each inflorescence has up to 10 buds, which open one by one.

Interesting varieties:

1. Translated from Spanish, this name means “donkey.” Its bluish-green leaves are somewhat shorter and thicker than other Morgana sedums. In addition, they are very fragile and easily break off from the stem if you touch them carelessly.
   
   

   The overgrown lashes of the Burrito variety look very impressive

2. The elongated gray-green leaves of this sedum are shaped like fingers.
   
   

   Unlike most varieties of Morgana sedum, Magnum's shoots do not hang in strands, but grow close to each other, gradually filling the entire space of the pot

Siebold's sedum (Sedum sieboldii)

A very beautiful hanging plant, native to the Japanese Islands. The reddish thin shoots of this type of sedum do not grow large - only about 30 cm, but they very decoratively hang from the pot, decorated with rounded greenish leaves with a pink border around the edge. The sizes of the plates vary from 1 to 3 cm, their color is gray-green or gray-blue.

The following varieties are popular in indoor floriculture:

1. Mediovariegatum. The length of its shoots is within 40-50 cm.
   
   

   The Mediovariegatum variety is distinguished by its original two-color color: its leaves have green edges and a creamy yellow spot in the middle

2. Dragon. Evergreen variety. Blooms from late summer until autumn frosts with pink star-shaped flowers.
   
   

   The gray-green leaves of the Dragon variety are edged with a bright scarlet stripe

Red-colored sedum (Sedum rubrotinctum)

Low growing creeping species. With age, its shoots, branched at the base, grow to 15-20 cm and begin to rise.The leaves are usually round or spindle-shaped. They densely cover the stems and acquire a very beautiful color in bright light: the main part of the plate remains rich green, and the top gradually becomes bright red, burgundy or orange. Yellow flowers appear on the tips of shoots in late summer.

Among the most spectacular varieties:

1. Aurora. Its fleshy, elongated leaves grow densely on the shoots in a spiral pattern.
   
   

   In the color of the Aurora variety growing in a sunny window, it is very interesting to observe the transition of colors from delicate pale green to pink and cream

2. Jelly Bean. The leaves of this sedum actually resemble a glossy, oval marmalade dragee, sparkling with bright colors.
   
   

   The lower part of the leaf blades of the Jelly Bean variety is yellow-green, while the upper part has a rich pink color.

Planting and caring for sedums

Sedum is not a capricious plant, but it still has some preferences. When choosing a site for planting, it is advisable to take them into account:

• the place should be sunny, or at least slightly shaded;
• Any type of light soil with good drainage properties is suitable;
• There should be no trees or shrubs nearby that could cover the ground with fallen leaves in the fall—in the spring, the sedum will not be able to break through them and will not germinate.

The area should be prepared in advance:

• clear debris, dry plant remains, and weed rhizomes;
• dig up the soil (you can add a little compost or humus);
• level the ground with a rake.

Most often, sedums are propagated by cuttings. This method is simple and equally good for both tall and creeping varieties. The apical cuttings are cut in the spring, when the shoots are just starting to grow.For rooting, they are buried 1-2 cm in a small container filled with a light, loose substrate, and kept in a warm, not damp room, avoiding direct sunlight and watering as needed. After 2 weeks, the sedums can be transplanted into open ground or into a separate pot for growing in an apartment.

Leaf cuttings can also be prepared in summer. They should be plucked off and allowed to air dry a little. Then the prepared leaves need to be laid out on the surface of the ground, covered with a thin layer of soil and sand on top, compacted a little and watered.

The easiest way to propagate sedums is by cuttings

Large sedum varieties are also propagated by dividing the bush. These sedums are dug up in early spring and the rhizome is cut into 2 parts so that each of the plants has buds from which shoots will grow. The cut sites are treated with a fungicide and dried in air for several hours. After this, the sedums are rooted in selected areas, providing them with shading for the first time.

Some species and varieties can be successfully propagated by seeds. The seed is germinated in low, wide containers with a light substrate, placing them in a warm, lighted place. At first, they are covered with film or glass, ventilated from time to time and carefully moisten the soil. The emerging sedum seedlings are usually very small. After the sedums grow a pair of true leaves, they are planted in a larger container or in a garden bed.

Caring for sedums of different types and varieties is equally simple.The main points are as follows:

1. Watering sedum is required when planting and during prolonged summer heat. These plants are very resistant even to prolonged droughts.
2. Regular weeding of sedum beds is the key to its health. Almost all types and varieties of sedum are vulnerable to the dominance of weeds. Often it is this that causes the development of plant diseases.
3. Most varieties of sedum respond well to liquid fertilizers - mineral and organic. You cannot fertilize sedums with fresh manure.
4. It is necessary to carefully monitor the growth of shoots and shorten them in time so that the clump of sedum looks beautiful and attractive. Wilted stems and leaves must be removed without delay.
5. Some gardeners advise cutting sedum after the first frost, leaving 3-4 cm of shoots above ground level. In this case, a layer of soil should be poured over them for the winter. However, another point of view is also widespread, whose adherents do not see the need to prune sedum during the cold season.

Sedum should be watered very sparingly.

Useful tips

In addition to the basic rules for caring for different types or varieties of sedum, you can adopt a few more useful tips:

1. Due to the high frost resistance of sedum rhizomes, they usually tolerate winter well. They do not need any additional artificial shelter.
2. The most convenient way to propagate sedum is by cuttings.
3. This plant should be fed with fertilizers, especially nitrogen, with extreme caution. If there is an excess of them, the sedum can grow excessively, lose its decorative appearance and overwinter worse.
4. Many types and varieties of sedum should be rejuvenated every 5 years so that the carpet of its shoots remains thick and even. To do this, first cut off all the old stems of the plant, and then transplant it to a new place. It is usually recommended to divide the bush in this case.

Conclusion

All kinds and varieties of sedums, ground cover, ampelous and tall, common and rare, capable of growing on a windowsill and in the garden, are usually united by unpretentiousness to environmental conditions and undemanding care. Most of these ornamental perennial plants tolerate drought and frost well. With extremely moderate watering, light and well-drained soil and the absence of weeds, they retain their spectacular and attractive appearance for a long time, allowing them to be used to implement a wide variety of design solutions. Even a novice gardener can cope with growing sedums without difficulty.

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