Tasteless Sedum

Sedum sexangulare

Characteristics

Culture

Tasteless Sedum is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Good tolerance for light shade. Also tolerates moist (not wet) soils with good drainage. Thrives in sandy to gravelly soils of moderate to low fertility. Plants will naturalize to form an excellent ground cover. Propagate by division or seed.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sedum sexangulare, commonly called Tasteless Stonecrop or Tasteless Sedum, is a vigorous, dense, glabrous, mat-forming, evergreen stonecrop that it native to Europe and southwestern Asia.  Cylindrical, succulent, bright green leaves (1/4″ long) appear in six spiral rows (sexangulare from Latin means six-angled). Leaves take on copper-bronze tones in fall and winter. Tiny, star-like, 5-petaled, bright yellow flowers bloom in cymes just above the foliage in summer (June to August). The leaves of tasteless stonecrop have a very mild taste (as opposed to the similar Sedum acre leaves which are bitter), hence the common name. Tasteless stonecrop is also commonly called watch chain stonecrop in reference to its chain-like foliage appearance and six row stonecrop in reference to its leaves appearing in six spiral rows.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for slugs and snails. Scale may occur.

Garden Uses

Excellent ground cover. Border fronts or rock gardens. Green roof gardens. On rock walls. Best massed or in groups. Site in areas where both the foliage and flowers may be appreciated. Effective in containers.