Sedum Sexangulare Tasteless Stonecrop Succulent Plant – Live Perennial

Overview

The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant, commonly known as Tasteless Stonecrop or Six-angled Stonecrop, is a remarkable and resilient addition to any garden or succulent collection. This particular variety of sedum is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial succulent, celebrated for its dense foliage and vibrant green color that often takes on reddish hues in bright sunlight or cooler temperatures. As a live plant, it offers both aesthetic appeal and incredible hardiness, making it a favorite among both seasoned gardeners and beginners. Its scientific name, Sedum sexangulare, refers to the six-angled arrangement of its leaves. This species is particularly valued for its ability to thrive in challenging conditions, requiring minimal care while providing continuous beauty. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking a durable and attractive ground cover or a unique accent in rock gardens and containers. The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant is a testament to nature’s resilience, promising to bring lush texture and easy-care charm to your outdoor or indoor spaces.

Key Benefits

The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it an outstanding choice for diverse gardening needs. Its robust nature and unique beauty contribute significantly to its popularity.

• Exceptional Drought Tolerance: This succulent is incredibly water-wise, requiring very little irrigation once established. It stores water in its thick leaves, making it perfect for xeriscaping or gardens in arid climates, significantly reducing water consumption.
• Low Maintenance: The Tasteless Stonecrop care is minimal, making it an ideal plant for busy individuals or those new to gardening. It doesn’t demand frequent pruning, fertilizing, or specific soil amendments, allowing you to enjoy its beauty with ease.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it an excellent ground cover, especially for sunny slopes, rock gardens, green roofs, or between stepping stones. It can also be grown in containers, adding texture and interest to patios and balconies.
• Hardy and Resilient: Known for being one of the most hardy succulents for garden applications, Sedum sexangulare can withstand a range of temperatures and conditions, including some frost, once properly acclimated. This resilience ensures long-term enjoyment.
• Attractive Foliage and Flowers: Beyond its distinctive green foliage, the plant produces clusters of small, star-shaped yellow flowers during late spring and early summer, adding a cheerful burst of color and attracting pollinators like bees.
• Erosion Control: As a dense drought tolerant ground cover, its spreading root system helps to stabilize soil on inclines, preventing erosion and maintaining landscape integrity, especially in challenging areas.
• Easy Propagation: This succulent is known for its ability to reproduce easily from cuttings or even fallen leaves, allowing you to effortlessly expand your collection or share with friends.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care for your Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant will ensure its vibrant health and continuous growth. These plants are remarkably forgiving, but understanding their basic needs will help them thrive. They are naturally adapted to arid conditions, so their care routine reflects this.

Sunlight requirements for the Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant are crucial. This plant thrives in ample light, preferably full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. A south-facing location is highly recommended for outdoor planting. If grown indoors, place it in the brightest window available or supplement with a grow light to ensure it receives sufficient light. Insufficient light can lead to leggy growth and less vibrant coloration.

When it comes to watering schedule and soil moisture preferences, less is definitely more for the Tasteless Stonecrop. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is the most common cause of succulent failure, leading to root rot. During the active growing season (spring and summer), water thoroughly but infrequently. In fall and winter, significantly reduce watering, perhaps once a month or even less, depending on humidity. Always ensure the pot or planting area has excellent drainage to prevent water from sitting around the roots.

For soil type and drainage requirements, a porous, well-draining soil mix is essential. Standard garden soil often retains too much moisture. A specialized cactus or succulent potting mix is ideal. You can create an adequate mix by adding pumice, perlite, or coarse grit to regular potting soil to improve drainage. This mimics their natural habitat and prevents waterlogging. For outdoor planting, ensure the site has good drainage, or amend heavy clay soils with sand and organic matter.

The temperature range and USDA hardiness zone for Sedum sexangulare generally fall within USDA zones 4-9. It is quite cold-hardy for a succulent, capable of tolerating some freezing temperatures when established. However, prolonged periods below 20°F (-6°C) can be damaging, especially for younger plants. In colder zones, consider providing winter protection or growing it in containers that can be moved indoors. The plant prefers cooler temperatures in winter for a dormant period but is generally adaptable to a wide range of conditions.

Fertilization schedule and type for this succulent is minimal. Sedums are not heavy feeders. A light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer or a diluted liquid succulent fertilizer once in spring at the start of the growing season is usually sufficient. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to weak, leggy growth rather than robust, compact foliage. Addressing succulent light requirements is more critical than heavy feeding for this species.

Common problems and solutions primarily revolve around watering. If leaves are shriveling, it may be underwatered. If they are yellowing or turning mushy, it is likely overwatered. Pests are rarely an issue, but occasionally mealybugs or aphids can appear. Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid environments. With proper Tasteless Stonecrop care, this plant will be a long-lived and beautiful specimen.

Size & Details

The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant is a delightful low-growing perennial, typically reaching a height of about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) and spreading outwards to form dense mats up to 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to establish itself as a ground cover within one to two seasons. This live plant usually ships bare root, which encourages vigorous new root growth upon planting and minimizes transplant shock. Upon arrival, the plant may appear slightly stressed from transit but will quickly recover once planted and given appropriate light and water. Expect the plant to bloom with charming yellow, star-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer, adding a bright contrast to its green foliage. It is a long-lived succulent, providing years of beauty with minimal intervention. The small, tightly packed leaves are a distinctive feature, giving it a unique texture that stands out in any arrangement. This resilient plant is perfect for adding evergreen interest to your garden or container displays, thriving with simple care and modest attention to its succulent light requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant is a low-growing variety, typically reaching a height of 2-4 inches but spreading outwards to form mats up to 12-18 inches wide. It’s excellent for ground cover or container edges.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While it can be grown indoors in a very bright, sunny location, the Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant thrives best outdoors in full sun. It’s a hardy perennial suitable for USDA zones 4-9.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This succulent requires a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to flourish and maintain its compact form and vibrant color. A south-facing exposure is ideal for optimal growth and to satisfy its succulent light requirements.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Tasteless Stonecrop is considered very easy to care for, making it perfect for beginners. Its drought tolerance and minimal needs contribute to its low-maintenance reputation, making Tasteless Stonecrop care simple.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Most plants, including succulents, are typically shipped bare root to ensure they travel well and establish quickly upon planting. They may appear slightly dry or stressed but will perk up with proper care.
• Q: How often should I water my Sedum Sexangulare? A: Water sparingly. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. Overwatering is the biggest threat to this plant. Reduce watering significantly during cooler months.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for this succulent? A: A well-draining soil mix is crucial. Use a cactus or succulent potting mix, or amend regular potting soil with perlite or pumice to ensure excellent drainage. This is key for hardy succulents for garden success.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Sedum Sexangulare succulent plant is cold-hardy down to USDA Zone 4. In colder zones, it can often survive winter with mulch protection or by being brought indoors if in a container.
• Q: Can I use it as a ground cover? A: Absolutely! Its spreading, mat-forming habit makes it an excellent drought tolerant ground cover for rock gardens, slopes, and sunny borders, helping with erosion control.
• Q: Does this plant have any special pest issues? A: Sedum sexangulare is generally pest-resistant. Occasionally, mealybugs or aphids might appear, but these are easily managed with organic pest control methods like insecticidal soap.