I had been quite ignorant about sedums and only began to be interested in them after obtaining a few Autumn Glory Sedums (Hylotelehium ‘Herbstfredude’) at the Headwaters Master Gardeners’ plant sale for the purpose of planting them at the Clarkesville Library where we had just begun a Children’s Garden Project. I was searching for a plant for the garden that would provide an autumn-interest and one that could survive the dry soil of a slanting grade in the little garden area. I can now say this plant has really performed. From two starts planted in spring 2020, we now have several stalks, and they have lovely bloom heads. The flower heads turn from pale pink to raspberry pink and then to garnet. When the stalks exceeded the available area, we had in the library garden, I dug out a couple and placed them in my yard.
I recently found the above book in an online library and I decided to investigate this group of plants. I was surprised to learn there are hundreds of different sedums, and that I have seen them many times in garden borders. Sedums are succulents and grow in sunny well-drained soil. They survive drought and neglect quite well. There are many species from all over the world, both low-growing and tall, with a variety of flowers and foliage colors. Some of the low growing sedums are known as Stonecrops. They grow well in a garden outdoors (only limited by cold) and in containers outside or inside. You can even create a pretty garden area filled with almost all sedums. Sedums are not aggressive so they can also be grown with other types of plants.
Brent Horvath’s book reviews 150 sedums for the garden and covers understanding sedums, growing and propagating these plants, and how to design border gardens with them. The review of sedum types highlights the unique colors of individual sedums and interesting combinations. Also, there are book chapters on where to locate sedums, books and websites, and places to see Sedum gardens including the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
If you are interested in gardening with these plants, this book is a well-organized, interesting, and strikingly photographed.