This past winter was a particularly cold and difficult one. I lost a number of plants and there are several others that have come out of dormancy looking shaken and forlorn. It’s frustrating, but I’m also trying to see the positive in this. Holes in the garden offer the opportunity to try something new or make unpredicted changes.
Over the weekend I purchased a few new hardy succulents, the purchase of which was rationalized by a few gaps in the Dry Garden Bed or rock garden. However, most of these succulents are diminutive, drought tolerant trailers that can be tucked into the smallest crevice or crammed into a pot. Every spring I seem to find space for more succulents and I suspect that I would have purchased these regardless!
Sedum dasyphyllum ‘Major’ aka Corsican Stonecrop
Just when I think I’ve heard about all of the best sedums, I find more that are even better. I love the way this one forms tight, elongated, blue-hued rosettes that will tumble and hang like jewels over a rock wall or the edge of a bed. Mine is destined for a spot next to a large rock, the hope being that it will be encouraged to grow over and spill down off the edge.
Old Man’s Bones (Sedum globosum)
This pretty little sedum comes with a suitable (and kind of cute) name. It really does remind me of vertebrae. It’s globular, green and wine coloured little leaves appear to be tightly stacked onto thin spines that are bent over by their own weight. Hardy to zone 3.
Delosperma ‘Jewel of Desert Garnet’
Delosperma aka iceplant are a South African succulent that have become notorious as an aggressive, albeit gorgeous weed that is running rampant over the California coastline. Many types such as this red-flowered hybrid are said to survive down to about zone 4, but I have found that they can be a bit finicky to keep alive. The trick to their survival is lots of summer sun and heat along with exceptionally well draining soil. I’ve had a lot of success overwintering them in pots in a cold, but protected spot where I can be assured that they will not become waterlogged. However, I have had some luck keeping them alive outdoors in my Dry Garden Bed where the soil is sandy, topped with pea gravel, and sun exposure is direct.
By-the-way: Pollinators love their blooms!
Sedum pilosum
I bought this adorable little sedum last year from Wrightman’s Alpines at the Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Sale. The $6 pot I bought was very small, but I could not resist its soft and fuzzy little rosettes that look more like a sempervivum than a sedum. The leaves really are very soft and delicate to the touch and I often find myself gently petting them when I’m inspecting that part of the garden. Now that a year has passed I can say with certainty that I do not regret the purchase. The plant propagated and spread nicely over the year and it made it through the winter like a champ. It may not be a sempervivum, but it is as tough as one.
Nice! I have to say, I’m continually impressed with my basic little sempervivums that have been suffering in a tiny pot for far too long, but two other succulents I have also survived this brute of a winter well. Sedum requieni (miniature stonecrop) and Sedum ‘Blue Spruce’ both sat under unbelievable amounts of snow and looked pretty great still during the brief thaws we had. They’re easy to propagate too and though I don’t have them in containers, I can’t imagine that they wouldn’t work well. Thanks for the post!
I would add Sempervivum and Lewisia. Nice post!! I love hardy succulents.
One of my newest is Sedum ‘Coral Carpet’ and it’s named well. Red in winter, green in summer, flowing like a rug over the terrain but at a manageable speed. Looks nice in small scale planters which match its own petite foliage.
That Corsican Stonecrop is calling my name!
I was a little down on planting this year (too little time, crazy hot terrace) but came across your site was was inspired by the succulent boxes.
Just put together a window box for my (monstrously) full-sun terrace with 4 succulents (s.v. silver thaw, sedum Weihenstephaner gold, sedum coral carpet, and sedum John Creech) and a Veronica winterperry (that I’ll have to be more careful with).
Thanks for the inspiration!
gayla, thanks for this roundup. i’ve recently gotten bitten by the succulent bug, and my current obsession is collecting hens and chicks to tuck into the crevices of my rock walls. i’ve had lovely results with letting yellow sedum (Sedum kamtschaticum) spread and tumble over a dry streambed as well.
have you seen sedum matrona? i love its stature, and its flowers are like pink jewels glistening overhead.
I replaced one front section of my yard with rock and succulents. People normally think of cactai when you mention succulents, but I am continually amazed by all of the different species and the beauty you can find in them. My next project is to put in a staggered step design with sedum in between the pavers.
Great pictures.