Sedums, also known as stonecrops, are succulents with thick, fleshy leaves filled with water. There are an enormous number of them, most of which are good rock garden plants, especially the low-growing ones. Some of these are also good ground covers. I find the larger species very effective on borders. Most species have attractive flowers; some are also grown for their leaves, which are colorful and variegated. Moreover, sedum demonstrates a wide variation in chromosome numbers, and polyploidy is common. Thus, chromosome number is an important taxonomic feature.
Sedum acre (gold moss) is a yellow flowering prostrate creeper that is ideal as an edging, in rock gardens, and even in cracks between paving stones. S. spurium forms a six-inch mat and blooms in a variety of colors. S. kamtschaticum forms clumps a foot high or less and bears yellow flowers in the latter half of the summer. Good border types include S. spectabile, whose varieties Meteor and Brilliant bear reddish-pink flowers in late summer, and Autumn Joy, with pink flowers in fall that turn deep mahogany and leave seeds heads that are pretty all winter.
The plants have water-storing leaves and their flowers frequently have 5 petals, seldom 4 or 6. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals. The leaves of most stonecrops are edible, except Sedum rubrotinctum, though toxicity has also been reported in some other species. Sedums need good drainage, especially in winter but are otherwise not fussy about soil requirements. They are very easy to propagate by stem or leaf cuttings or from seed. The division is easy but not often necessary.
Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are usually recognized as stonecrops. Numerous sedums are cultivated as garden plants, due to their interesting and good-looking appearance and hardiness. Furthermore, sedum can be used to provide a roof covering in green roofs, where they is preferred to grasses.
