Sedum spurium, commonly called Caucasian stonecrop or two-row stonecrop, is a low-growing, sprawling, mat-forming sedum or stonecrop widely grown as a ground cover. It is native to the Caucusus. This evergreen plant typically rises only 3-6” tall but spreads to 18-24” wide by creeping, branching stems that easily root at the nodes. Thick, succulent, opposite, obovate, flattened leaves with wedge-shaped bases are toothed near the ends. Leaves are medium green with reddish-tinged margins. Lower stem leaves are deciduous, but newer leaves near the stem tips are evergreen, typically turning deep burgundy in fall for overwintering. Leaves are arranged in two rows along the stems, hence the sometimes used common name of two-row stonecrop. Tiny, 5-petaled, star-shaped, pinkish-red flowers in dense, 4-branched inflorescences bloom from late spring to mid-summer atop upright reddish flower stems. Flowers are attractive to butterflies.
‘John Creech’ is a small spreading stonecrop that typically grows to only 2” tall but can quickly form a dense mat of foliage by creeping stems that root at the nodes as they spread along the ground. Small, scalloped green leaves. Pink flowers appear above the foliage in fall. John Creech, former director of the U.S. National Arboretum, reportedly collected this plant at the Central Siberian Botanic Garden in 1971.
They are quickly grown in acidic, average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Likes sandy or gravelly soils. Tolerates poor soils. It needs good soil drainage to perform well. Drought tolerant. Avoid overwatering. Plants may be sited 12” apart when grown as a ground cover. Easily propagated by cuttings or division. Plants spread quickly (root where nodes touch the ground). Cut a leaf from a healthy sedum with about 1-2" of stem and plant the stem with the leaf above the soil. Plants are evergreen in warm winter climates.
