Caucasian Stonecrop Care
Sedum spurium
A fast-spreading, drought-tolerant, evergreen succulent ground cover that likes full sun and well-drained soil. It is ideal for rock gardens, border edges and dry areas; it is very easy to care for and broken pieces root easily.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- General care: With cold and sun stress, the leaf colors (red, bronze) become even more vivid.
- Pests & diseases: Root rot is the only risk; make sure the soil is free-draining.
- Pruning: If the plant has become very sprawling and woody, it can be rejuvenated by hard pruning close to the soil toward the end of the month.
- General care: Preparation can be made to create new areas.
- Frost risk: Protect newly planted seedlings from severe frosts.
- Watering: Only for newly planted seedlings, keep lightly moist for the first few weeks.
- Pruning: If it has not been done, this is the last chance for rejuvenation pruning.
- General care: The best time for propagation. Just break off a piece and press it into the soil; it will root.
- Pests & diseases: Snails can damage new growth.
- Plant protection: Check for aphids; it is generally not a problem.
- General care: It spreads quickly and covers the area.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy, water-retaining soil, plant on a mound or bed raised 20-30 cm, and keep the root collar above the surrounding soil level.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: It opens pink or red star-shaped flowers. Very attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: The plant sheds its seed.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: It revives with the autumn rains. The colors of colored-leaf varieties intensify with cool nights.
- General care: To spread it to new areas or fill gaps, you can break off pieces and plant them.
- General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
- Frost risk: Protect newly planted seedlings during the first winter.
- Pests & diseases: Make sure drainage is good against the risk of root rot.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
Browse all plant guides