Chinese sedum (Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef')
Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef' (Chinese sedum) is a tough, low-mounding perennial perfect for dry rock gardens and ground cover.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’, often referred to as Chinese sedum, is a superb choice for gardeners seeking extremely low-maintenance, durable ground cover. This herbaceous perennial forms dense, creeping mats featuring attractive round, flat green leaves. Its success lies in its resilience, thriving where many other border plants struggle.
The cultivar ‘Coral Reef’ is highly valued for its extremely short profile, rarely exceeding a quarter-foot in height, ensuring paved areas, rock crevices, or slopes remain tidy. During mid-summer, it offers a delicate display of tiny, star-shaped flowers that appear white to pale pink, adding textural interest above the dense foliage mat.
As a drought-tolerant stonecrop, this Chinese sedum is ideally suited for xeriscaping or difficult hot, dry locations in full sun. Its robust nature and ease of propagation make it a cost-effective solution for quickly covering tough spots in the landscape.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Crassulaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0-0.25 ft
- Spread: 0.25-1 ft
- Bloom Time: July to August
- Bloom Description: White to pale pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ in the spring or fall, though its adaptability means almost any time outside of the extreme heat of summer will work provided adequate water is supplied initially. The most crucial requirement for this Chinese sedum is excellent soil drainage; it performs best in average, gritty, or dry soils. It will tolerate light shade but performs best and maintains the tightest habit in full, unfiltered sun.
Care for this mat-forming sedum is minimal. Water sparingly until established; after establishment, it thrives on neglect and handles drought easily. Avoid richly amended soils or heavy mulch layers, as excessive moisture retention encourages rot. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary.
Propagation is incredibly simple, making mass plantings economical. Simply snip off sections of the creeping stems—they root readily at the nodes when placed on or just under the soil surface. To maintain a tight form, you can trim back stems after flowering, although this is rarely mandatory for Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’.
Landscape Uses
The primary roles for Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ are as a highly effective ground cover and for naturalizing areas where maintenance access is difficult. Its dense, creeping habit makes it an excellent choice for softening hardscape edges or filling in narrow strips between pathways. It integrates beautifully into rock gardens, spilling over stones with its succulent foliage.
Due to its low-growing nature, pair this Chinese sedum with upright architectural plants or larger perennials that provide summer height variance. Think of companions like ornamental grasses or taller coneflowers whose blooms contrast beautifully with the tiny white flowers of the sedum in July and August.
Mass planting is recommended for Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’; planting individuals about 12 inches apart allows them to quickly knit together into an impenetrable, weed-suppressing carpet. It is also highly adapted for erosion control on shallow, rocky slopes where standard turfgrasses fail.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
‘Coral Reef’ is a low-growing, mat-forming stonecrop or sedum cultivar. Its foliage typically grows to 3” tall but spreads aggressively to 12” wide or more via creeping stems that root readily at the nodes. The blooming display features tiny, star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers (to 3/4”) appearing on short stems in mid-summer.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
- Air Pollution
Potential Problems
This Sedum generally boasts exceptional pest and disease resistance, posing no serious insect or disease problems for the dedicated gardener. The key preventative measure revolves entirely around environmental control: ensure soil drainage is superior. Overwatering or planting in heavy, moisture-retentive clay soils is the quickest way to invite rot in this succulent.
If the plant appears leggy or sparse, it is often an indication that it is receiving too much shade or that the soil is too wet. In such cases, thin out the overcrowded sections and relocate pieces to a sunnier, drier site for renewed vigor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Chinese sedum suitable for?
Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ grow?
This ground cover remains very low, achieving a height of only 0 to 0.25 feet, but it spreads outwards to cover between 0.25 and 1 foot wide.
What sun exposure does Chinese sedum need?
This plant requires full sun exposure to maintain its tight matting habit and produce the best flowering display.
When does Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ bloom?
This variety blooms reliably from July to August, producing small flowers described as white to pale pink.
Conclusion
Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ excels as a tough, vibrant, and virtually maintenance-free solution for ground coverage in harsh, dry locations. Its ability to handle drought and poor soil makes this Chinese sedum indispensable for rock gardens or slopes. Before planting, confirm your site receives adequate sun and ensure drainage is fast, allowing this resilient perennial to thrive for many seasons.
Propagation Tips
As an exceptionally easy-to-propagate plant, increasing your stock of Sedum tetractinum ‘Coral Reef’ is straightforward, adding significant value to your garden budget. Because the creeping stems root readily at every point where a node touches soil, bare-root division in spring or fall is highly effective. Alternatively, stem cuttings can be taken anytime during the growing season and simply laid directly onto dry soil or stuck shallowly if you wish to establish new patches quickly.
Companion Planting
When selecting partners for this Chinese sedum, focus on other sun-loving, drought-tolerant species that offer contrasting textures or bloom times. Pair it near plants with finer texture, like Thyme varieties, or use it to frame the base of spikier plants such as Yucca for visual dynamism. Because this sedum tolerates shallow, rocky soils, consider companion planting with other low-growing alpines or native Mediterranean herbs.
