How often should I water my sedum?

Only water when the soil has dried out completely.

Do they need full sun?

Yes, most varieties perform best with at least six hours of direct sunlight.

Plant guide

Sedum.

Sedum

Pronounced SEE-dum

Also known as Stonecrop, Stonecrops

Sedum palmeri — Photo by Tavenetat Kevin (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Stonecrops are incredibly resilient succulents that thrive in sunny spots with well draining soil. They come in many forms, ranging from low growing ground covers to upright varieties. These plants are perfect for beginners because they handle neglect quite well.

Another photo of Sedum — Photo by Jere Kahanpää (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 14 to 30 days
Mature size: 60 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late summer to mid autumn

Care

Plant these in a spot with plenty of sun and gritty, fast draining soil. Only water when the soil is completely dry to prevent root rot. Watch for mushy stems, which usually mean the plant is getting too much water.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer once during the spring.
Pruning: Trim back dead stems in early spring to encourage fresh growth.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound.
Soil: Sandy or rocky, well draining
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -40 to 35°C
Humidity: 10 to 50%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
The plant has stopped growing during the active season.
Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: Ingestion can cause stomach upset or nausea in humans.
Pets: Some species can cause mild stomach upset if ingested by pets.
Children: Keep away from young children as the succulent leaves can be a choking hazard if ingested.
Contact allergens: Some people may experience mild skin irritation from the sap.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant risk of airborne allergies.
Edibility: Many species are considered mildly toxic and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Fleshy, water storing leaves
Star shaped flowers in clusters
Low growing or upright habit
Often drought tolerant foliage

Height: 0.05 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, blue-green, purple, variegated, succulent
Flowers: pink, red, white, yellow, 0.5 to 1.5cm

Problems to watch for

MealybugsCommon
Root RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Stem RotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: Most sedums are hardy and just need to be kept dry during the winter months. If you live in a very cold climate, ensure the soil is well drained to prevent freezing rot.
In containers: Sedums are excellent in containers, provided you use a gritty, fast draining potting mix and a pot with drainage holes.

Stem Cuttings

Snip a healthy stem piece about 3 inches long.
Let the cut end callous over for a few days in a dry spot.
Insert the calloused end into a pot of dry, sandy soil.
Wait a week before lightly watering to encourage root growth.

Pair sedums with other drought tolerant plants to ensure they do not get overwatered.

Grows well with

Lavender · They share similar requirements for sun and well draining soil.
Thyme · Both are low growing and drought tolerant.

Similar species

Sempervivum · They share a similar succulent habit and love for rocky soil.

Science

Family: Crassulaceae
Genus: Sedum
Order: Saxifragales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northern Hemisphere temperate regions
Conservation: Most common garden varieties are not of conservation concern.

They thrive in nutrient poor, rocky soils where other plants struggle to survive.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, late season food
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths
Uses: rock gardens, ground cover, container plants, pollinator gardens

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 3/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I water my sedum?: Only water when the soil has dried out completely.
Do they need full sun?: Yes, most varieties perform best with at least six hours of direct sunlight.

Where the name comes from

The name comes from the Latin word sedere, meaning to sit, referring to how the plants sit on rocks.

Good to know

Sedum is often called stonecrop because it grows in rocky places.
They use a special type of photosynthesis called CAM to save water.
These plants are incredibly easy to propagate from a single leaf.
They provide vital late season nectar when other flowers have faded.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.