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Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman

‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum covers the ground with rich red color.

Plant just one low-growing sedum and you’re likely get hooked. Before you know it, you’ll be headed back to the garden center to buy all different kinds. That’s because low-growing sedums are the great problem solvers of the gardening scene. These lovelies dare to grow where few other plants survive – and they look spectacular doing it!

Also commonly called stonecrop, Sedum is a huge genus of plants. There are about 400 species worldwide, and those varieties made specifically for the garden share some wonderful characteristics, including plump, waxy, interesting leaves and fascinating flowers. Even better: They’re some of the lowest-maintenance plants around.

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Photo Credit: Felder Rushing

Gold moss sedum is a great choice for sunny rock gardens.

These sun-loving succulents are especially great for those hot, dry spots that just bake all afternoon long. As a group, the low-growing sedums tend to do better in desert conditions than the taller types (which need a bit more water). The trade-off is that the taller types tend to be more cold-hardy, so the type you want really depends on where you live and what your garden’s needs are.

If you choose a sedum variety that’s hardy to your neck of the woods, you’re guaranteed four seasons of show. The selections that die back in the winter look good from the moment they emerge from the ground in spring. They’ll peak with flowers in fall and can be left standing all winter. (They look especially nice with a dusting of snow.) And depending on how cold your region’s winters are, your sedums may well be evergreen or semievergreen.

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Photo Credit: Yoder Brothers Co.

With its beautiful cream and green foliage and fascinating flowers, Sedum kamtschaticum var. kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ is one of the showiest low-growing sedums.

Some of the more popular, easier-to-find low-growing sedums include ‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum (S. spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’), which spreads quickly and covers itself with deep red flowers in late summer; donkey’s tail or burro tail sedum (S. morganianum), which is a favorite for planting in containers because it trails so wonderfully over the sides; and gold moss sedum (S. acre), which features golden flowers and works great in rock gardens.