Caucasian stonecrop (Sedum spurium 'Album Superbum')

Overview

Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’, often recognized as Caucasian stonecrop, is a resilient and highly valued herbaceous perennial celebrated for its dense, mat-forming habit. This low-growing succulent excels as a practical ground cover, swiftly colonizing areas where other plants struggle due to dryness or poor soil quality. Its succulent foliage ensures excellent drought tolerance while offering evergreen interest, often showing deep burgundy tints in cooler weather.

This variety of Sedum spurium produces masses of tiny, star-like white flowers in early summer, creating a beautiful contrast against the medium green, slightly reddish-margined leaves. Gardeners appreciate Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ for its extremely low maintenance needs, thriving with intense sun and minimal water once established. It proves invaluable on sunny banks and rock gardens, providing functional coverage that remains neat and attractive throughout the season.

The ability of Caucasian stonecrop to spread easily by rooting at its stem nodes makes it an excellent, fast-acting solution for erosion control on slopes. Whether massed for impact or used as soft edging, Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ delivers enduring texture and color with minimal effort.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Crassulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
  • Spread: 0.5-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: May to July
• Bloom Description: White
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Caucasian stonecrop is best accomplished when conditions are mild, either in spring or early fall, allowing the roots to settle before temperature extremes. For best results, place Sedum spurium ‘Album Superyum’ in full sun, though it tolerates some light afternoon shade. It requires well-drained soil; sandy or gravelly conditions are ideal, as the plant absolutely needs drainage efficiency to prevent root rot. If planting as a ground cover, space plants approximately 12 inches apart to allow space for natural spreading.

Care for this stonecrop is remarkably simple. Water sparingly; the plant is highly drought tolerant. Avoid overwatering at all costs, as too much moisture is its primary vulnerability. Fertilizer is generally unnecessary, as Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ performs well even in poor soils. Pruning is rarely required, but if the mat becomes too vigorous in a specific location, you can easily propagate or thin the sections.

Seasonal care for this evergreen beauty is minimal. In early spring, tidy up any debris, but otherwise, let the plant manage itself. Throughout the growing season, ensure it receives blazing sunshine to maintain compact growth and good color. Propagation is incredibly easy: broken stems or even individual leaves with a short piece of stem can be rooted simply by laying them on soil surface until they establish.

Landscape Uses

The vigorous, spreading nature of Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ makes it a prime choice for ground cover applications. It works perfectly to soften the edges of hardscaping or integrate plantings into rock gardens, providing textural contrast against stone or gravel mulch. Consider using this Caucasian stonecrop on dry, sunny banks or slopes where its dense matting helps stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

For borders, mass planting Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ creates a thick, uniform ribbon of foliage punctuated by white summer flowers. Its low stature allows it to function beautifully in formal or informal settings alike, often used near the fronts of borders where taller plants obscure it. Furthermore, it adapts surprisingly well to containers, especially when paired with upright succulents or cascading trailers, adding textural variability to mixed planters.

When selecting companions, choose other drought-tolerant, sun-loving perennials that share similar low-input needs, such as creeping thyme, various ornamental grasses, or other low-growing sedums. Planting Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ in groups or masses drastically enhances its visual appeal and efficacy as a living mulch.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sedum spurium, commonly called Caucasian stonecrop or two row stonecrop, is a low-growing, sprawling, mat-forming sedum that is often utilized as an evergreen ground cover. This variety, ‘Album Superbum’, develops clusters of tiny, white, star-like flowers rising above the foliage during early summer. Its tough, succulent leaves offer deep green color throughout the season, frequently flushing burgundy or reddish tones upon sun exposure or in cooler weather.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer
• Drought
• Erosion
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil
• Air Pollution

Potential Problems

Generally, Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ experiences very few serious pest or disease issues, highlighting its robustness. The most common minor complaint involves slugs and snails, which may occasionally chew on the succulent leaves; management usually involves monitoring early in the season or using appropriate baits if populations are heavy. Another factor to watch for is scale insects, though this is infrequent for healthy specimens planted in their preferred sunny, dry environment. Be aware that this Caucasus stonecrop spreads readily; detached fragments of plant material can sometimes root where they drop, leading to unintended spread into adjacent garden beds if not managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Caucasian stonecrop suitable for?

Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 3 through 9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.

How large does Caucasian stonecrop grow?

This perennial typically reaches a mature height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet tall, but it spreads actively to form a mat that can range from 0.5 to 1.5 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Sedum spurium ‘Album Superyum’ need?

For optimal performance, full sun exposure is required, although this tough plant can tolerate slight amounts of light shade without significant loss of vigor.

When does Caucasian stonecrop bloom?

The bloom time for this stonecrop is typically from May through July, producing masses of attractive white flowers.

Conclusion

The Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ offers gardeners a durable, attractive, and virtually maintenance-free solution for sunny, dry areas. Its evergreen, mat-forming character, combined with charming white blooms, cements its place as a premier ground cover. Before planting your Caucasian stonecrop, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 3-9 and prioritize ensuring excellent soil drainage for long-term success.

Propagation Tips

Propagating Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ is one of its simplest joys. Because this stonecrop is so adaptable and its stems root easily where they contact the ground, division is an effortlessly effective method. Simply take a section of the sprawling mat, ensuring it contains some healthy roots, and transplant it to a new location.

For starting new patches from scratch, cuttings are excellent. Cut a leaf along with about one to two inches of stem attached. Plant the stem section directly into dry, well-draining soil with the leaf node just above the surface. Kept moist initially (but never wet), these cuttings will quickly establish into independent, dense mats.

Wildlife Benefits

Though primarily known for its architectural texture, the bloom of Sedum spurium ‘Album Superbum’ offers valuable mid-season nectar for beneficial insects. The tiny, star-shaped white flowers, which appear from May to July, are especially attractive to various species of butterflies seeking sustenance. Integrating this tough Caucasian stonecrop into your landscape contributes softly to supporting local pollinator populations in sunny, dry zones.