PlantFiles: Kamschatca Stonecrop, Russian Stonecrop
Sedum kamtschaticum

I purchased this plant last year because I loved the way it crowded its pot while some of the other sedum on the nursery shelf seemed a little too whimpy. I put half of the plant in a spot that receives about five hours of sun and the other half in a shallow, twelve inch pot in full sun. I worried that neither would make it through the drought, but both did so well that I have pulled a bit of a start from the potted plant to restart in a pot and planted the rest in a very well-drained hot bed in full sun. I love the growth habit of this plant but have yet to see those lovely yellow blooms. Maybe this year?

I recieved this as a free-bie, left it by the air conditioner potted in a converted milk jug over the winter and finally planted it in the shallow well of a flagpole planter (about 3" deep, in awful soil). More abuse one really couldn't have piled on it, and not only did it survive, but thrived. Highly recommended for the most inhospitable spots where nothing else grows, as long as it gets enough sun. In fall, the reddened leaf is striking combined with the brown seed heads and splashes of the original chartruse color where not yet frost bitten.

I rate this species at part shade too - it will grows happily along with Dragon Blood Sedum in regular garden soil in the eastern part of the United States. Will shrug off droughts and heavy rains that drench the soil along with large amounts of snow that sit over a long period of time. Will also shrug off crown rot brought by fallen leaves during dormancy that will kill some of the other sedums. I would agree that seedlings is rare and also once in a while it will root from cut plant stems but usually stays in clumps so it won't make good groundcover for large areas - it's best for small areas if planted in poor soils or stressed environment.

Note: Seem to prefer sandy soil - except on slopes and dry spots like under the roof overhangs clay soils may give it troubles but I don't know for sure.

This plant does very well in my zone 4/5 Canadian garden, it is certainly not a weed, but can be direct sown with relative ease. It provides early spring light green colour in the rock garden, followed by nice bright yellow flowers and keeps its light green foliage well into October before turning a light red in late fall. It is hardy, looks great and low maintenance.

This sedum helps to fill the gaps between steppingstones and plants. It also grows on the roof of my garden shed. It needs little soil to grow an can stand the dry, hot and sunny conditions there making a nice tapestry at the same time.

I use this sedum to edge some of my flower beds and like it because it greens up and starts growing very early in the spring and gives me something green to look at before much else is growing. I do have to go around once a year and dig back any that is spreading too far into my beds, but it is swallow rooted so this is easy to do. I never water it and it does great planned right next to the sidewalk and street.

This is the groundcover to cover that trouble-spot. Mine grows over a downspout and completely covers it up by June. I never water it. Weeds barely sprout in it. All I do is cut back the dead plants before spring growth starts. The yellow flowers cover it in mid summer. I does self seed a very little bit. Its vegetative spread is easily contained. It's happy with only morning sun along a NE wall.