Backyard Gardener (Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)
Hello, Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! The dry weather continues here in the Valley. I hope we receive the rain which is in the forecast for the weekend. Water needs for our field crops, gardens and landscape plants are always a big topic during a dry spell. Backyard gardeners may look into selecting more drought-resistant plants for the home landscape.
Drought-tolerant plants have built-in features to minimize water loss and maximize water uptake. Plants may have reduced leaf areas and bear small leaves or needles. Others have large leaves with deep indentations (sinuses) between lobes in the leaves to reduce their leaf area.
Another sign of drought tolerance is leaves covered with a heavy accumulation of wax to conserve water within a plant. The presence of fine hairs on the leaves of some plants is another adaptation that traps moisture at the leaf surface. Many drought-tolerant plants have deep roots that pull in moisture well below the soil surface.
Backyard gardeners have many choices for flowering, drought-resistant perennials. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a perennial which needs little water yet looks fresh in the heat and humidity of summer. Fernleaf yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) prefers conditions with full sun and dry soil.
Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) grows best in a dry, full-sun situation. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a favorite perennial herb which blooms in summer and prefers full sun and well-drained soils.
One of my favorite hardy, drought-resistant and low-maintenance perennials is sedum. These amazing plants offer diversity and durability in the landscape. Sedum’s alternate name of “stonecrop” is indicative of its toughness as the plant shines during hot, dry weather.
Furthermore, sedum is not only drought-proof but deer-resistant as well. Their thick, sturdy, wilt-proof leaves give way to massive heads of clustered mauve-red flowers in late summer that serve as a magnet to butterflies.
A member of the plant family Crassulaceae, sedum is a genus of succulent, herbaceous perennials with fleshy, flat or rounded leaves, depending on the species. The genus name
comes from the Latin word sedeo meaning “to sit,” which references the habit of many of the sedum species to sprawl over the ground.
Sedums are true succulents, meaning they have both morphological and physiological adaptations that allow them to survive hot, dry conditions. The taller sedums produce large clusters of tiny star-shaped flowers, in white, yellow, pink or red and can be used in borders or pollinator gardens. They are excellent choices for extending the flowering season of a pollinator garden because they bloom in late summer and into fall.
What really makes sedum unusual is how well it thrives under neglect. It will grow well in hot, dry locations with full sun, where other perennials would wither and die. As a succulent plant, sedum tolerates drought well and must have well-drained soil. In fact, if the soil remains too wet, the plants are prone to rotting. If the stems are falling over, then the plants have received too much water, too much fertilizer or are growing in too much shade.
Keep in mind although sedums are succulents and very drought tolerant, newly planted sedums need to be well-watered the first year. Once established, they should grow fine without any additional watering. As I mentioned, too much water can cause sedum stems and roots to rot and die. That’s why well-drained soil is imperative to keeping sedums healthy.
Sedums will tolerate low-fertility soils. A soil too rich in nitrogen can cause clumping plants to flop and flower later. Adding a 1-inch thick layer of compost when planting and annually in spring should be enough to keep your sedums growing and flowering strong.
Worldwide there are over 500 species of sedums but only a few varieties are usually available in garden centers. “Autumn Joy” and “Dragon’s Blood” have dominated the market in the past but there are many more varieties available now.
At least eight species, originally from Japan, China, Korea and the Caucasus Mountains, are available in local nurseries with over 50 more species and numerous varieties available from mail-order nurseries.
Sedums are a diverse group when it comes to leaf sizes and colors. Leaf colors vary from light green, blue-green, gray-green, variegated green and white and dark maroon. Flower colors may be white, shades of pink or yellow.
If diversity and durability were not enough, then maybe you will be swayed by their flowers’ entrancing attraction for hungry butterflies. From lime-green leaves to 5-inch long blue-green leaves, they all offer durability in dry, sunny areas. A good clue to their survivability is in their thick succulent leaves.
Sedums are relatively pest-free. However, because of their succulent leaves and stems, slugs and snails can become problematic. As mentioned, root rot is possible in wet and/or poorly drained conditions. Taller sedum hybrids with large flower heads are susceptible to flopping. This can be avoided by providing full sun conditions and planting in soils that are not too moist or rich. Pinching in spring can also force stems to grow thicker and bushier.
Sedums are customarily divided into low-growing and upright species. All sedums can be grown and thrive in containers. Foliage can be the main reason for planting low-growing sedums but their flowers can be equally rewarding when selected carefully. Colors vary from burgundy bronze on some species to pinks, whites, grays or greens on others.
Low-growing species such as “Goldmoss” are traditionally used as groundcovers and in rock gardens. It is a good choice for green roof gardens, a popular trend on flat-roof surfaces to improve surface water runoff while cooling the building.
Sedum telephium “Dark Magic” is a compact, dark-leaved selection of sedum that features dark pink blooms and a narrowly upright growth habit. Mature plants will reach 1 foot tall and spread to fill a 1 ½-foot area. The small, star-shaped flowers bloom from late summer into fall and are held in dense, terminal clusters reaching up to 7 inches wide. The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other insect pollinators.
Another low-growing variety is “Angelina,” which is larger than “Goldmoss” at 3-6 inches tall and is a great filler plant. During cold weather, the chartreuse leaves tinged with purple are striking when little else is notable.
Upright species can be used as specimens, in containers or in a mixed perennial border. Flowers on the upright sedums are red, pink or white. These flowers will attract butterflies. The dried seed stalks are persistent and decorative through the winter. Upright sedum has been reclassified to another genus (Hylotelephium) but is still commonly referred to as a “sedum.”
By far the most common upright variety of any sedum and my mother’s favorite is “Autumn Joy.” It is an upright variety with pink flowers which attract lots of bees. This clump-forming perennial features masses of tiny, star-like flowers which emerge pink and gradually change to deep, rose red and then coppery rust in autumn as they mature.
Flowers appear in large flattened heads 3-6 inches in diameter. Stems bear grayish-green, fleshy, rounded, succulent-like leaves. Growth habit is upright to slightly spreading clumps to a mature height of about 24 inches.
“Brilliant” (Sedum spectabile) is often referred to as “live-forever” and grows to 18-24 inches tall. Blooms consist of clusters of tiny, star-like, pink flowers (to half an inch across) which appear from late summer to frost (August-October) in dense, rounded flower heads.
Purple sedum is probably one of the best for dark burgundy leaves and rose red flowers. “Vera Jameson” is another excellent selection for its dark leaves and pink flowers. “Matrona” is from Germany, and its name means “lady of well-rounded form.” It is about 2 feet tall with blue-grey leaves on deep maroon stems. When in bloom, hungry butterflies form clouds over its flowers.
Sedum are hardy to USDA Zone 5. Most grow best in full sun but will do fine in some shade, including a native sedum, “Whorled Stonecrop.” Similar to other succulents, sedum can be
propagated by cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil, and it should take root under proper lighting and watering conditions.
Clumping sedums can grow large and form a dead area in the center of the plant. This usually means it needs dividing. Sedums typically need divided every three to five years. In spring, dig up the whole plant. Using a sharp spade or garden knife, cut the plant into one foot diameter sections and replant into an area with similar growing conditions or share with family and friends to plant in their yard.
Contact me with questions at the Wood County WVU Extension Office at 304-424-1960 or at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu. Until next time, Good Luck and Happy Gardening!