Anyone who wants to cultivate the decorative stonecrop in the garden naturally wonders whether Sedum is also hardy. Because the fleshy leaves usually don’t look as if they could survive frosty days. But here it also depends on the selected variety of sedum, whether it is hardy and evergreen, or whether it needs to be protected in winter and loses all its decorative leaves. The following article provides information about the winter hardiness of Sedum.
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Depending on origin, hardy
It depends on the origin whether the plants from the genus Sedum are hardy or not. Not all species are therefore suitable for the garden bed in winter. Especially those that originally come from the subtropical and Mediterranean countries are not used to cold or even frosty temperatures and are therefore not hardy. The situation is different with the varieties that are usually offered in local shops, these are very robust and can be exposed to temperatures down to -15° Celsius or even less. Nevertheless, it makes sense to offer some sedum in the garden or on the balcony and terrace in the cold winter. The fat hens are defined as follows:
- belong to the thick leaf family (Crassulaceae)
- also known as stonecrop
- about 500 species worldwide
- depending on the variety for garden or apartment
- perennial perennials
- either floor covering as a flat carpet
- or up to the upright clump-forming perennial
- many different flower colors
- many evergreen varieties
High grades
Especially the tall sedum varieties, which are mostly hybrids, were bred to be hardy. In addition, the plants look great in any garden bed due to their height and popularity with bees, bumblebees and other nectar-sucking insects. They fit wonderfully in many perennial beds and in a natural cottage garden. The leaves are fleshy, light or dark green, with red veining in some varieties. In late summer, the sedum flowers bloom in many different colors. In the case of the tall varieties, however, the following procedure should be followed when pruning, also to protect the plant a little in winter:
- only cut in the spring
- leave dead sprouts standing
- look particularly decorative when covered in snow
- also protect the base of the plant
- there is less moisture and cold at the base
- new shoots are already forming at the base
- with leaves
- cultivated in the pot must be protected
- wrap the bucket with brushwood mats
- Depending on the location, stand on a piece of wood or Styrofoam
Tall hardy evergreen sedums – list
Dark sedum carbuncle stone (Telephium hybrid)
- large flower plates
- brownish to pink flowers
- dark to almost black leaves
- Height between 40 and 50 centimeters
Sedum populifolium
- up to 30 centimeters high
- pink-white flowers
- Flowering time from July to August
- growing in umbels
Autumn Joy (Telephium Hybrid)
- pink flower umbrellas
- stable stems
- long flowering period
- Classic among the fat hens
- Growth height up to 70 centimeters
Matrona (Telephium-Hybride)
- dark stems
- Leaves green to purple
- large flower plates
- Flowers in green-pink
- Growth height up to 70 centimeters
Cushion-forming varieties
Most of the cushion and carpet-forming varieties sold in local shops are also hardy. These are evergreen sedums that show their decorative cushion all year round, from which the panicles of flowers stand out in summer. They can be used in a variety of ways in the garden and add a colorful eye-catcher to the dreary, gray surroundings in autumn and winter. Because even if the plants are called “evergreen”, this only means that they keep their fleshy leaves even in winter. However, these can also form other colors, such as red, for example. The following should be observed for the cushion-forming sedum in winter:
- do not cover
- need air
- must be able to dry well
- Cultivated in a bucket and placed under a roof
- can be protected from too much moisture
- do not require frost protection in the garden bed
- but cover the bucket with brushwood mats
Cushion-forming hardy evergreen sedums – list
Mauerpfeffer (Sedum makinoi)
- shiny leaves
- creamy white, small flowers
- arranged in umbels
- Flowering time in August
October fat leaf (Sedum sieboldii)
- slightly taller growth
- still ground cover
- late autumn bloom
- pink flowers
Sharp Wall Pepper (Sedum acre)
- flat growing
- yellow flowers
- like little stars
- Flowering period from June to July
- evergreen
Teppich Fettblatt (Sedum spurium)
- very low growth
- bee friendly
- flowering in autumn
- reminiscent of red carpet
- dark red leaves
- crimson flowers
White Stonecrop (Sedum album)
- also white sedum
- flat growing
- many white flowers
- Flowering period from June to September
