What Do Sedums Look Like and Their Types

Sedums are a diverse group of plants with a wide range of shapes and sizes. They can grow as small as 2 inches tall or as tall as 3 feet, with some species having a spread of up to 6 feet.

Some sedums have thick, fleshy leaves that store water, while others have thin, needle-like leaves that are more suited to dry conditions. The leaves can be a variety of colors, including green, blue-green, and even purple.

Sedums can be upright, spreading, or trailing, and some have a tendency to form clumps over time. This makes them a great choice for hanging baskets or containers where they can spill over the edges.

Their stems can be smooth or hairy, and some sedums have beautiful flowers that are a favorite of bees and butterflies.

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Sedums come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them a versatile choice for gardens and containers.

Creeping sedum is a great option for groundcover, sprawling up to 3 feet wide and featuring small, rounded or spiky leaves in a range of colors. The star-shaped flowers that bloom in summer add a pop of color to the landscape.

Tall sedum, on the other hand, has an upright growth habit, reaching 1-2 feet tall and wide, with thick, fleshy leaves in shades of green, purple, or burgundy. This type of sedum is perfect for adding a touch of drama to a garden bed.

Trailing sedum is ideal for hanging baskets and containers, or for spilling over rock walls or troughs, with leaves in a variety of colors and star-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, pink, or white.

Sedum types can be broadly categorized into three main groups: Creeping sedum, Tall sedum, and Trailing sedum.

Creeping sedum is a great option for groundcover, as it can sprawl up to 3 feet wide. It comes in a variety of foliage colors, including green, yellow, red, blue, silver, and variegated.

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The small leaves of creeping sedum are rounded or spiky, and star-shaped flowers bloom during summer in colors of yellow, orange, pink, or white. There are many species and varieties, including Rock ’N Low ‘Boogie Woogie’ and ‘Angelina’.

Tall sedum has an upright growth habit, reaching 1-2 feet tall and wide. Its thick, fleshy leaves are green, purple, burgundy, or variegated.

Star-shaped flowers on tall sedum occur in shades of pink, purple, or white. Varieties include Rock ’N Grow ‘Lemonjade’.

Trailing sedum is perfect for hanging baskets and containers, or to spill over rock walls or troughs. Leaves come in colors including green, silver, red, yellow, or variegated.

Trailing sedum's star-shaped flowers can be yellow, pink, or white. There are many different varieties, including ‘Kelp Forest’ and ‘Burrito’ burro's tail, which is grown primarily as a houseplant.

Some sedum species, like Sedum stenopetalum, have a narrow-leaved growth habit, while others, like Sedum divergens, spread readily and root where stem tips touch the ground.

Sedum stenopetalum, also known as narrow-leaved sedum or wormleaf stonecrop, is adaptable to crevices in rock walls and well-drained soil.

This sedum prefers dry conditions and has smaller, less showy starry clusters of flowers.

Crimson stonecrop (Sedum spurium) is a low-growing, mat-forming alpine that's perfect for forming a carpeting plant at the front of the border or in a gravel or rock garden.

It's tough enough to thrive in some shade, but it really comes alive in an open, bright position.

This sedum will create a dense mat, just 4in (10cm) thick and up to 2ft (60cm) across, given the right conditions.

Most cultivars of crimson stonecrop have dark green leaves, but you can also find red, purple, variegated, and golden leaved forms.

The foliage consists of small serrated succulent leaves in whorls along trailing stems.

Crimson stonecrop is drought tolerant and thrives on poor soil in a sunny or part-sunny spot.

It's a great choice for a low-maintenance ground cover that will add some color and texture to your garden.

Broad-Leaved Stonecrop is a type of Sedum that thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for gardens with varying light conditions.

Its unique characteristic is the bluish cast on its leaves, which is a distinguishing feature among native Sedum species.

Growing from thick rhizomes, the rosettes of small flat leaves vary in color from gray to sage green, sometimes red.

This Sedum can tolerate somewhat drier and rockier conditions than S. oreganum.

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Sedums come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from small, compact plants to sprawling, trailing varieties.

Their leaves are often thick and fleshy, with some species having a waxy texture to help retain moisture.

Some sedums have leaves that are a deep green color, while others are more variegated with shades of yellow, white, or even purple.

Their stems can be upright and rigid or flexible and trailing, depending on the specific type of sedum.

The flowers of sedums are typically star-shaped and come in a variety of colors, including pink, yellow, white, and red.

The blooms are often clustered together in a dense, rounded shape, adding to the plant's overall visual appeal.

In some cases, sedums can grow quite tall, reaching heights of up to two feet or more in ideal conditions.

Sedums are usually succulents with green, gray or red leaves.

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some growing up to 1ft tall and spreading up to 2ft or more.

The small border sedums have thin, lax stems and produce starry flowers in the late summer, which are highly attractive to pollinators.

Their flowers range in color from white and yellow to pink and purple, and some sedums change color throughout the season, like Sedum 'Vera Jameson', which starts with glaucous blue foliage and turns Burgundy red by July.

Sedums are usually succulents with green, gray or red leaves.

Their leaves are a great indicator of their succulent nature, and they can add a pop of color to any garden or indoor space.

The flowers of sedums are small and star-shaped, typically borne in clusters.

You might be surprised at how vibrant the flowers can be, ranging in color from white and yellow to pink and purple.

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Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant' is a stunning choice, with its glaucous-green leaves and large flat heads of bright pink flowers in September.

These plants can grow into large clumps, but their stems can flop, so they need a little extra care.

The Chelsea chop in late May can help keep them upright, or you can grow them through an upturned hanging basket for support.

Sedum 'Matrona' is a more upright option, with sturdy rhubarb-coloured stems that rarely need staking.

Its dark reddish-green foliage is a beautiful addition to any garden.

In summer, the broccoli-shaped flower heads carry broad heads of pale pink starry flowers that bees just love.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' has darker pink flowers that turn to brick-red, and its darker green foliage is a lovely contrast to its blooms.

Unfortunately, its flowers are sterile, so it doesn't attract pollinators like some other sedums do.

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Plum Dazzled is a wonderful small sedum with deep purple foliage that lasts all season. Its flowers bloom in August and September, producing a good deep pink color.

Growing Plum Dazzled with glaucous-blue myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites) creates a striking combination.

It's a compact plant, growing to only 20cm high and 40cm wide.

Sedums are incredibly versatile plants that can thrive in a variety of conditions. They're perfect for ground cover or rock gardens.

Gold moss sedum, Sedum acre, is a great option for a low-growing ground cover, growing only a few inches high. It's also extremely hardy and vigorous.

Some sedums, like Sedum 'Angelina', have beautiful foliage that changes color with the seasons. Its chartreuse foliage turns golden and bronze in fall and winter.

Sedums come in different shapes and sizes, including small border sedums that are like miniature versions of the large border sedums. They typically reach 1ft tall but can spread up to 2ft or more.

The small border sedums, such as 'Vera Jameson', have a trailing habit that allows them to weave through adjacent plants without harming them. They produce starry flowers in late summer that are highly attractive to pollinators.

Some sedums, like the SunSparkler Series, make denser clumps with a smaller spread, so stems remain more upright in the centre of the mound and flowers cover the plant all over.

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Sedums are a type of succulent plant that can thrive in a variety of environments. They have thick, fleshy leaves that can store water, allowing them to survive with minimal watering.

Sedums can grow in a range of shapes and sizes, from low-growing groundcovers to tall, upright plants. Some sedums can grow up to 3 feet tall.

Their leaves are typically arranged in a rosette pattern, with older leaves often turning a beautiful shade of red or purple.