With their large corymbs of tiny star-shaped flowers and succulent, coloured leaves, sedums bring both dramatic shape and rich colour to the garden throughout late summer and autumn. Also known as stonecrop, sedum flowers come in pink, purple, red, yellow and white, and as the season progresses the pink and red ones deepen to bright crimson, firey bronze and copper red. The tall late-flowering species entice late-season butterflies into the garden, while in winter sedum skeletons add striking shapes to the landscape.

TYPES OF SEDUMS
The genus includes some 400 species, from low-growing alpine varieties, which make excellent ground cover, to more exotic plants that grow to up to 1 m. Most are evergreen and are best planted en masse to achieve rolling mounds of colour. Elegant varieties include long-stemmed Sedum spectabile 'Iceberg', with pure-white flowers and sage-green leaves, and S. 'Frosty Morn', which has pretty variegated leaves and rose-tinted flowers. For stunning colour you can't beat S. 'Brilliant' and S. 'Herbstfreude', whose flowers range from vibrant pink to brick red, while award-winning S.
HOW TO GROW SEDUMS
Taller sedums perform best in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil with lots of sunshine, though vigorous species will tolerate partial shade. Most can withstand and even benefit from hot dry summers and little nourishment. Smaller ground-cover sedums are suited to the soil in rockeries or between the cracks and crevices of pathways and terraces. Propagate by the simple division of larger plants, or stem or leaf cuttings in spring or early summer. Divide larger, herbaceous species every three to four years to improve flowering.

WHERE TO BUY THEM
• Beaches Nursery, Ashdon, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2HB, (01799) 584362.
• The Nursery at The Beth Chatto Gardens, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB, (01206) 822007.
• Choice Plants, 83 Halton Road, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 5LD; www.choiceplants.net.

WORDS JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT
OCTOBER 2004