Succulents are all the rage with people who love plants, but lack a green thumb. They are a fantastic way to learn propagation, pruning, and watering methods because of their mostly carefree nature. Likewise, when you grow native succulents outdoors, you will have a low maintenance and highly intriguing garden for all passersby. With hundreds of sedum species existing, there is no doubt one suited to grow in your climate.
I was thrilled when I found a wild growing Sedum scattered across the landscape at Aquarian Acres. When the deer fail to find one of these little red-green plants tucked away under some brush or pine needles, they inevitably erupt in an amazing micro show of vibrant flowers. Take a look around you next time you go for a walk in nature. You may be just as surprised as I was when you notice that there are wild sedum growing in your neck of the woods!
Sedum are a stonecrop, often called succulents due to their interesting, puffed up leaves. They are almost always very simple to care for, and almost always very showy when they blossom. It's for these reasons that I write about Sedum today.
You can make an amazing xeriscaped garden with stonecrops, requiring little more than your admiration upon passing. While they are edible (the deer know this well), sedum is typically grown as an ornamental plant. They make for an excellent ground cover as they will produce lots of tiny seeds that will readily germinate the following spring. Pollinators love these little blossoms, and in many cases they are the sole lifeline for endangered species.
Another interesting use of sedum is in the green roofing industry. Literally hundreds or thousands of plants composed into a shallow rooted living roof. These roofs can increase air quality, stabilize temperatures, and be a powerful tool for repopulating pollinator species.
Often overlooked, stepped on, or grazed by animals, sedum truly do not ask for much. We owe this little succulent some respect, as it very well may be one of the more under-appreciated plants on Earth. Find your locally native sedum and encourage it to grow!
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