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Stonecrops or Sedums have sometimes been called ‘uninteresting” or invasive. It is a matter of selection, and of knowing what is available to select from. Although some of them are fast spreaders, none are really invasive as many other plants found in the border. S. album is probably the one most likely to run riot, since unlike other border species it can spread by rooting dropped leaves.
General advantage of the common garden species are that they are hardy, resilient, easy to propagate and provide in series a profusion of bright flowers from spring to fall. There is a wide variety of habit, and of foliage in color, shape and diversity alone to provide ornamental effects. There are species for sun and shade, tufts and open screeds, crevice plants, trailing forms to cover bare rock faces and tumble over the edges---and as companion plants to Sempervivums.
It is when we talk about the rock garden and trough that the Sedums display their most useful and attractive forms. The ‘Anglo-Saxon’ name “stonecrop” describe the plant as a “‘rock-top” dweller. This genus Sedum is a member of the family Crassulaceae which contains both tender and hardy species. Here, I will deal with the garden species only.
Since there are so many species of sedums, they are classified according to growth pattern, flowers, roots, leaf shapes, and other technical details that are of no interest here. Latin names are taken from my copy of Handbook of Cultivated Sedums, by Ronald L. Evans.
In my mind, Sedum and Sempervivums go together, especially when rocks are added for them to creep around, over, or draping down. However, they need to be small enough in height when grown near Semps. The following species are perfect for this because they go with the flow of the land, and around objects in their path. All are hardy to zone 4.
S. album ‘Laconium’---This is a miniature form of album and slower-growing. White blooms. A true ground-hugger to 1” high. S. acre---A bit taller at 2” with yellow blooms in June. S. sexangulare---A 1-inch tall creeper with yellow blooms in July. S. urvillei---Graying green tiny leaves on a 1” high ground-hugging plant. Yellow blooms June and July. S. kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’(aka Tricolor)---Much more compact and slower-growing than others in its class due to the variegated leaves. Green and white, with a splash of pink during spring. Pale pink blooms in June.
I know there are many others, some not hardy in my zone. I have listed those that are commercially obtainable, and/or I am personally familiar with.
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