Sedum

A genus most appreciated for its drought resistant, sun loving succulent-leaved perennials. Either as low ground cover or taller border plants and with the added bonus of attractive foliage and showy flowers loved by many insects and butterflies. The stonecrops have become a much loved and invaluable group of plants. Full sun and well drained soils are required by all, poor soils are preferable so as not to encourage soft leafy stems liable to flop over. The Chelsea chop can be practised on the taller sedums, which means cutting the growth back by half sometime in May which will prevent the plants becoming too tall, the stems will soon grow away and flowering will not be affected. Many plants have had a name change to Hylotelephium, instead of Sedum.

The former Sedum species now called Hylotelephium, in essence the ice-plants, are a staple of any wildlife garden in late summer and autumn, attracting bumblebees, honeybees, hoverflies and butterflies in abundance. But the lower forms still called Sedum all have pollen and nectar in their starry flowers, and attract pollinators accordingly. All species also have the benefits of drought-tolerance, and the mat-forming forms help conserve water and give shelter to ground invertebrates. There are a few lepidoptera that feed upon the leaves, although in Britain and Ireland sadly not what is arguably the most dramatic butterfly of all, the apollo. Being so drought-tolerant and often originating from bare, rocky habitats, non-native species are escaping into our countryside, and steps should be taken to minimise their spread outside of gardens.