152 A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNIALS 



Sedum — Stonecrop 



If there is a rocky spot in your garden you will desire a number of 

 sorts of Sedums, for they are most interesting in habit, leaf and flower. 

 Sedums are wild with us in America, but there are also many sorts 

 in Europe and Asia. 



Species. Sedum spedabile. Showy Stonecrop. This is one of 

 the handsomest of all Sedums. It has pink or rosy-red flowers pro- 

 duced abundantly in flat clusters. The leaves of this sort, are thick 

 and juicy, as is the case with all Sedums. The flowers open in late 

 Summer and remain in bloom several months. The varieties Brilliant 

 and atropurpureum are superior to the wild sort. 



iS. acre. Golden Moss. Wall Pepper. This low, tufted perennial 

 spreads over the soil. The leaves are small, attractive, hght green. 

 The flowers, bright yellow in color, completely cover the plants and 

 open in June and July. 



*S. Sieboldii. This sort has round, gray leaves borne in threes and 

 pink flowers produced in September. The plants grow less than a foot 

 tall. In the Autumn the leaves become pinkish. 



The following sorts are also good and should be searched for in 

 catalogs if one wishes to grow more of the species: 



S. album, white flowers, 4 inches to 6 inches taU. 



S. kamtschaticum, yellow flowers, 4 inches to 6 inches tall. 



S. reflexum, yellow flowers, 6 inches to 10 inches tall. 



S. sexangulare (resembles -S. acre but leaves and plants are smaller). 



S. sioloniferum (spurium). Purple Stonecrop. Pink or white 

 flowers. Trailing. 



S. ternatum. White flowers. Trailing. 



Uses. For perennial borders the Stonecrops are dainty and 

 efl'ective edging plants. As a cut flower the Showy Stonecrop is at- 

 tractive. They are entirely at home in the rock garden. For planting 

 in rock steps, between stepping stones and for a ground cover the 

 dwarf sorts are unexcelled. 



Culture. The Sedmns generally prefer a sandy soil; at least 

 it must be perfectly drained in Winter. Generally the Stonecrop 

 thrives best in sunbeaten places, but many of them may be coaxed to 

 grow in shaded places beneath trees and shrubbery. 



Propagation. The propagation is simple: each piece of the 

 plant may be rooted and wiU grow into a good plant in a short time. 

 They also grow from seed. 



