Sedum spurium "Red Carpet"

Sedum spurium "Red Carpet"

(Photo courtesy of Northscaping.com)

Other Names: Dragon's Blood Stonecrop, Two Row Stonecrop

Description:

A vigorous and long-lived groundcover emerging red in spring and staying that way throughout the season, becoming darker into the autumn; not prone to reversion like some other varieties

Ornamental Features:

Red Carpet Stonecrop is smothered in stunning red star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from early to mid summer. It's attractive tiny succulent round leaves emerge burgundy in spring, turning bluish-green in color with distinctive brick red edges. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous dark red in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes:

Red Carpet Stonecrop is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This perennial will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Red Carpet Stonecrop is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Plant Characteristics:

Red Carpet Stonecrop will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This perennial does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This plant can be propagated by division.

This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.