Planting Sedum in My Stone Wall

September 20, 2024

It takes a lot of time and patience to develop a garden. Here at my farm, I pay close attention to all the beds and planting spaces - how the specimens grow, what varieties work best, and what areas need filling. And then, every so often I plant a few more colorful and interesting additions.

One area I've been working on is the stone wall outside my Winter House. It is planted with different stonecrop sedums. These hardy ground covers grow rapidly and can thrive with very little soil. Yesterday, my gardeners filled in more of the cracks, softening the stones with colorful sedum foliage.

Enjoy these photos.

: Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants, also known as stonecrops. Sedums are members of the succulent family. They have fleshy, water-storing leaves and are drought tolerant.

: I first planted sedum in walls many years ago at my Connecticut home on Turkey Hill. I wonder how it is doing now?

: Sedum adds nice soft texture to hard stone and is considered very low maintenance.

: I had trays of sedum left over from other planting projects, so I planned these for the wall and steps surrounding the terrace outside my Winter House kitchen.

: Sedum will thrive where other plants do not. It is native to parts of eastern Asia.

: They can be used in slopes, tight spots, embedded in or tumbling over walls, rock gardens, and hanging baskets. I also use sedum as under plantings in large urns or just planted in a shallow pot on their own.

: Our NYBG garden intern, Matthew, is tasked with planting this tray of sedum along the wall.

: Matthew divides the plants into smaller sections to fit some of the crevices and between the stone steps.

: The roots of sedum plants are shallow and fibrous, and they help the plants take anchor and absorb water and nutrients.

: Many sedums are grown for their bold and colorful foliage and for their draping form.

: Matthew selects an adequate void between the stones and places the sedum securely into the crevice.

: Next, he simply tucks in the roots. Sedum, like other succulents, retain water in their leaves and can thrive in dry climates. They need little soil and water to survive, which makes them excellent for planting here.

: My Chow Chows Empress Qin and her younger brother, Emperor Han, watch with some curiosity – or maybe hope that something edible will fall their way. What do you think?

: Once sedums become established, they need little else to develop and flourish.

: After the roots take hold, the plant wedges itself and begins to spread.

: Most plants have a trailing nature and will begin cascading down the side of the wall as it grows.

: I’ve also planted sedum in between the stone pavers.

: And in corners, where the steps meet.

: Sedums do well nearly anywhere as long as they get good drainage and full sun.

: The sedum along this wall was first planted in 2012. And every so often, we add more and more. It is growing so nicely and looks as if it has been here so much longer.