Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a drought-tolerant succulent that grows well in various soils and light conditions. The plants have thick, fleshy leaves and small, star-shaped flowers that bloom from mid-summer through fall. Hundreds of sedum varieties are available, with upright and low-growing or trailing growth habits.

Sedums are suitable for rock gardens, ground covers, and mixed succulent gardens. Also, its many varieties make lovely houseplants. So, read on to discover the best types of sedum for indoor and outdoor gardens.

Sedum Varieties to Grow Indoors

Under the right growing conditions, sedum makes a beautiful, low-maintenance houseplant. They grow best in bright, indirect sunlight and well-draining, dry, sandy soil. As such, it's vital to plant them in a pot with drainage holes and avoid overwatering them.

Here are a few kinds of sedum that grow well indoors.

Burro's Tail

Burro's tail

Image credits: Bozhena Melnyk via Shutterstock

'Burro's Tail' (Sedum morganianum), has long, trailing stems with small, plump bluish-green leaves and pink or red flowers. However, its long stems are brittle and break easily. Consequently, keeping the plant in a protected location where it won't get accidentally bumped is best.

Jelly Beans

Jelly Beans Sedum

Image credits: mark6mauno via Openverse

'Jelly Bean' Sedum (Sedum × rubrotinctum), also called Pork and Beans, has plump, oblong leaves that change from green to red or bronze in the summer or under bright light. They have an upright growth habit and perform well in containers.

Additionally, healthy mature plants produce vibrant yellow flowers.

Tricolor Sedum

Tricolor Sedum

Image credits: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova via Openverse

Bring an extra pop of color to your houseplant collection with a 'Tricolor' Sedum plant (Sedum spurium). Featuring uniquely variegated leaves that have green centers with white and pink edges, this eye-catching succulent produces long, trailing stems and reddish-pink flowers.

Ogon

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Image credits: David J. Stang via Openverse

With tiny, delicate golden leaves and greenish-yellow flowers, 'Ogon' Sedum (Sedum makinoi) is a beautiful and unique succulent. It has a dense growth habit, and the trailing stems look gorgeous, spilling over the sides of containers and hanging baskets.

Angelina

Angelina Gold Sedum

Image credits: By Nahhan via Canva

'Angelina' Sedum (Sedum rupestre) offers striking yellow foliage that turns a vibrant reddish-orange in cooler temperatures. With their unusual, spiky leaves and bright yellow flowers, these gorgeous trailing succulents are great for hanging baskets

Best Sedum Varieties for Outdoor Gardens

Sedum plants are well-suited for many types of outdoor gardens. They're wonderfully low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants, requiring minimal watering and fertilizing once established. As such, these perennial succulents frequently appear in rock gardens and xeriscapes

Here are some of the most popular sedum varieties to plant outdoors.

Autumn Joy

Bumble Bee On a Sedum Plant

Image credits: as_trofey via Shutterstock

With its light green foliage and large flower clusters, Autumn Joy Sedum (Hylotelephium telephium) is a fantastic addition to perennial flower gardens. Furthermore, after blooming in late summer, the pink flowers gradually darken to a deep, rosy red before fading to a rusty copper color in the fall. These hardy succulents form dense, upright clumps approximately 18 to 24 inches tall and wide and grow in USDA zones 3 to 9.

Purple Emperor

Purple Emperor Sedum

Image credits: Acabashi via Openverse

'Purple Emperor' is a striking sedum variety with deep purple foliage. Moreover, its large clusters of pinkish-purple flowers bloom from mid-summer through early fall. These upright plants grow 12 to 18 inches tall and wide and are remarkably cold-hardy, thriving in USDA zones 3 to 7.

Neon

Neon Sedum

Image credits: David J. Stang via Openverse

'Neon' is an upright sedum variety with bright green leaves and brilliant pink flower clusters. The plants grow between 12 and 24 inches tall and wide and bloom from mid-summer through fall. 'Neon' Sedum is well-suited for USDA zones 3 to 9.

Dragon's Blood

Dragon's Blood Sedum in a pot

Image credits: Gail Frederick via Openverse

'Dragon's Blood' Sedum (Sedum spurium) is an excellent choice for an eye-catching ground cover or a trailing container plant. Green leaves with red edges emerge in the spring and turn deep purple by fall. Additionally, bright pink to red flowers bloom from mid-summer to early autumn. Once mature, the plants form a dense mat 3 to 6 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. These succulents grow well in USDA zones 4 to 9.

Blue Spruce

Bee on Blue Spruce Sedum flowers

Image credits: David J. Stang via Openverse

Named for its spiky bluish-green leaves, 'Blue Spruce' Sedum (Sedum reflexum) adds distinctive color and texture to your garden. Furthermore, this low-growing succulent spreads out to form a dense mat, making it a perfect choice for a drought-tolerant ground cover. Also, it's attractive when planted in rock walls, containers, and hanging baskets where the long branches trail over the sides.

The plants grow 6 to 9 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, with bright yellow flowers emerging in mid-summer. They thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9.

Succ It Up!

For low-maintenance gardening, sedums might be your new best friend. These exquisite succulents don't require much extra care once established, making them a perfect choice for containers, hanging baskets, perennial gardens, or rock walls. Whether you want to grow them as indoor houseplants or plant them in your outdoor landscape, there's a sedum for every occasion.

Are you a succa for succulents? Share your best sedum stories in the comments!