Lemon Coral Sedum - Sedum mexicanum

An excellent groundcover sedum, covered in canary yellow star shaped flowers in late spring; tough and easy to grow, it thrives in just about any sunny location; also great for containers and rock gardens

Height: 8 inches. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 6b.

Ornamental features

Mexican Stonecrop has masses of beautiful clusters of yellow star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from mid to late spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its succulent narrow leaves remain lime green in color throughout the season.

Landscape

Mexican Stonecrop is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Mexican Stonecrop will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.