Plants
Stonecrop
Sedum · Crassulaceae
Stonecrop is the most indestructible perennial of the late-summer garden: thick fleshy foliage that shrugs off drought, and broad flower heads mobbed by bees and butterflies from August to October. It is fully hardy and one of the best plants for low-maintenance borders, green roofs and grave planting. Depending on the season we stock it as a border perennial and as a low cushion form.
- Light
- Full sun; in semi-shade growth turns soft and flowering suffers.
- Watering
- Very sparing — established plants only need water in long dry spells.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Sedum
Botanically the tall border stonecrops are now classed as Hylotelephium, though the trade sticks with Sedum. The classic is ‚Herbstfreude‘ (Autumn Joy) with dusky pink heads that dry to coppery brown; alongside it ‚Matrona‘ with dark foliage and ‚Brillant‘ in strong pink. The low carpet species such as Sedum album or goldmoss stonecrop (Sedum acre) are the workhorses of green roofs.
Its greatest ecological value lies in the late bloom: when little else is on offer in the garden, the flower heads are one of the last big nectar sources for bees, bumblebees and butterflies. That is why stonecrop belongs in every insect-friendly border and is a first choice for low-maintenance permanent grave planting.
The site decides how well it stands: full sun and rather lean, free-draining soil produce compact, upright clumps. In rich, moist soil or semi-shade the shoots grow soft and flop apart at flowering time — the most common cultivation mistake. Cutting tall cultivars back by half at the end of May (the so-called Chelsea chop) keeps them even sturdier.
A second argument for stonecrop is its winter silhouette: the spent heads dry to bronze and carry hoarfrost and caps of snow like small sculptures. We therefore advise cutting back close to the ground only in early spring — the hollow stems also serve insects as winter quarters.
Stonecrop works as a cut flower too: the firm heads last a good two weeks in the vase and dry reliably for autumn wreaths. In planted bowls we like combining it with grasses, heather and lavender — all partners that enjoy the same dry, sunny spot.
Is Stonecrop toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
The tall border stonecrops are considered largely harmless, but individual species such as goldmoss stonecrop (Sedum acre) contain irritant compounds. To be safe we class the genus as mildly irritating — children and pets should not eat it.
Typical symptoms: With larger amounts possible: gastrointestinal irritation with nausea or vomiting; with Sedum acre also a burning sensation in the mouth.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose a spot in full sun with free-draining, rather lean soil.
- 02Once established it hardly needs watering — it copes with drought far better than with wet feet.
- 03Feed little or not at all, otherwise the shoots grow soft and flop.
- 04Cut tall cultivars back by half at the end of May to keep them upright.
- 05Leave the spent flower heads standing over winter and cut back in spring.
- 06Divide the clump in spring every few years if it goes bare in the centre.
Frequently asked
- Is stonecrop hardy?
- Yes, completely. The common border and carpet sedums easily withstand hard frost and need no winter protection at all. The only requirement is free-draining soil — winter wet harms it more than any cold.
- Why does my stonecrop flop apart?
- It is almost always down to living too well: rich, moist soil or too little sun make the shoots long and soft. The remedy is a lean, sunny site and cutting back by half at the end of May — it regrows more compactly and flowers only slightly later.
- Is stonecrop bee-friendly?
- It is among the most valuable late-summer perennials there are: the flat flower heads offer plentiful, easily accessible nectar for bees, bumblebees and butterflies from August into October — precisely when little else is left in the garden.
- When should I cut stonecrop back?
- Only in early spring, close to the ground before new growth starts. The dry flower heads add structure to the border all winter and shelter insects. An additional summer cut by half at the end of May makes tall cultivars sturdier.