Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce' - Blue Spruce Sedum

This outstanding variety is grown for its fine textured carpets of needle-like gray-green foliage with blue highlights, that becomes bronzed in winter; presents flat topped clusters of bright yellow flowers in summer; excellent hanging container plant

Height: Plant Height: 5 inches. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 3b.

Ornamental features

Blue Spruce Stonecrop is smothered in stunning cymes of yellow star-shaped flowers with chartreuse overtones at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. Its attractive tiny succulent needle-like leaves remain grayish green in color with hints of silvery blue throughout the season.

Landscape

Blue Spruce Stonecrop is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, 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. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

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

Planting and growing

Blue Spruce Stonecrop will grow to be only 5 inches tall at maturity extending to 7 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 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 prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. Like most succulents and cacti, this plant prefers to grow in poor soils and should therefore never be fertilized. 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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.