Small with big hearts

You have to be tough to succeed. And if you’re just a few inches tall and live in some of the most inhospitable spots on Earth, you need to be very tough just to survive.
SedumSedum
Sedum

This is why the sedums are such a success story. These small, compact, vigorous, free-flowering little plants have got what it takes to compete in the world of the big boys.

Small guys with big hearts, they are often called ice plants, although the name stonecrop is far more suitable for a family that thrives in the sun and blooms profusely during the height of short UK summers.

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Most are quite capable of surviving drought and deluge, can thrive in the poorest soil, and bounce back after being trampled underfoot by man and beast alike. They are also ideal for “green” roofs.

Unfortunately, as with all families, there are always one or two black sheep who tend to give the rest a bad name. S acre and S album produce masses of yellow and white flowers respectively, but they have a bad habit of spreading, colonising ground and taking over rockeries.

So if you don’t want a prolonged battle, choose instead “Coral Carpet”, “Cappa Blanca”’ or S spurium, whose white, pink or red flowers can just about make it to the heady heights of three inches. They are garden trained and produce compact mounds of foliage which burst into colour in June and July.

And just to prove how tough these little fellers are, come autumn they can be lifted from the soil and prised apart to produce numerous clones to carry on the family name. Plant them anywhere – just make sure the soil isn’t waterlogged. In fact, they prefer it a bit on the dry side.

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Not all sedums keep close to the ground – there are some which will happily make their mark in an herbaceous border and make their mark in later summer.

With fleshy leaves and wonderful, colourful flowers, they make summer a delight for both gardeners and the many insects which find the plants irresistible.

Last but not least comes a late-bloomer – S “Autumn Joy”, which finally bursts into flower in September and then 
lingers on to produce stunning seedheads much valued by 
flower-arrangers.

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