Stonecrop (Sedum lineare)
Sedum lineare, or Stonecrop, is a mat-forming evergreen perennial featuring bright green linear foliage and attractive yellow blooms in early summer.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Sedum lineare, commonly known as Stonecrop, is a treasured, mat-forming evergreen perennial valued for its fine texture and ease of care. It readily spreads to create a dense groundcover, making it an excellent choice for softening hard edges in the landscape. The foliage consists of narrow, light green, linear leaves that retain their color well.
This Stonecrop thrives in challenging locations where other plants might struggle, preferring full sun conditions. Performing best in well-drained soils, Sedum lineare is highly tolerant of dry conditions once established, aligning perfectly with low-water gardening practices. Its adaptability makes it a superb, dependable addition to rock gardens and sunny slopes.
The plant puts on a modest but effective display when its cheerful yellow flowers emerge in early summer. Gardeners appreciate this species for needing very little attention, requiring low maintenance while delivering high visual impact through its spreading habit. Utilizing Sedum lineare ensures vibrant coverage across dry, sunny expanses.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Crassulaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Southeastern China, Japan
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Sedum lineare during the spring or fall in locations that provide excellent drainage. This Stonecrop performs best when sited in full sun; however, it can tolerate some light shade, especially in hotter climates. It thrives in average soils but excels in sandy or gravelly mixes with moderate to low fertility, often found in natural rocky settings. Good soil drainage is non-negotiable for the long-term health of this perennial.
Maintenance for Sedum lineare is exceptionally low. Watering should be infrequent; allow the soil to dry out between waterings, as it has robust drought tolerance once established. Fertilization is rarely required; rich soil can encourage legginess. Pruning is generally unnecessary, though any winter damage can be cleaned up in early spring.
At the northern edge of its hardiness range, such as in the St. Louis area, site Sedum lineare in the most protected spots available to ensure winter survival. If grown in containers, they offer flexibility, as the pots can often be brought indoors to overwinter in zones colder than Zone 6.
Landscape Uses
Sedum lineare is prized primarily as an outstanding, tough ground cover. Its low, spreading habit effectively blankets surfaces, suppressing weeds and providing year-round textural interest as an evergreen Stonecrop. It works perfectly along the front of borders where its fine foliage won’t overwhelm neighboring plants.
This Stonecrop is an essential component in rock gardens, cascading over stones or thriving between paving stones where soil depth is shallow. Mass planting Sedum lineare creates sweeping drifts of green, punctuated by bright yellow flowers in June and July. It also adapts well to containers, offering a trailing element when paired with upright specimens.
For best results, design planting areas where the foliage and flowers of this dynamic Sedum can be fully appreciated, perhaps near pathways or viewed from above on slopes. Ensure companion plants share similar needs for full sun and dry to medium moisture to keep the entire planting performing optimally.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Sedum lineare is a mat-forming evergreen stonecrop that is native to eastern Asia. It typically grows to 4-6” tall but spreads by erect to decumbent stems to 12” or more wide. Yellow flowers bloom in cymes in late spring to early summer, while the name honors the linear shape of its leaves. Sedums, commonly called stonecrops, derive their common name from their tendency to inhabit rocky or stony ledges in the wild.
Tolerances
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Shallow-Rocky Soil
Potential Problems
This Stonecrop is recognized for having no serious insect or disease problems, which contributes greatly to its low-maintenance appeal. Gardeners should remain vigilant for occasional pests such as slugs and snails, particularly during damp periods. Occasionally, scale insects may be seen clinging to the stems. Management of slugs is best achieved through cultural practices like ensuring good air circulation, or by employing baits if infestations become noticeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Stonecrop suitable for?
Sedum lineare is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9, requiring protection only at the northern limits of this range.
How large does Sedum lineare grow?
This plant typically reaches a low height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet, spreading outward to cover an area of 0.5 to 1 foot wide.
What sun exposure does Sedum lineare need?
This Stonecrop requires full sun exposure to thrive, though it can tolerate a small amount of light shade without severe issues.
When does Sedum lineare bloom?
The characteristic yellow flowers of this plant appear mid-season, typically blooming from June into July.
Conclusion
Sedum lineare offers exceptional value to the low-maintenance gardener due to its drought tolerance, evergreen nature, and attractive spreading form. This resilient Stonecrop is ideal for rockeries and difficult, sunny spots where dependable ground cover is needed. Assess your site’s drainage and sun exposure to ensure successful establishment of this vigorous Sedum lineare this planting season.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Sedum lineare, focus on other xeriscape plants that share its love for full sun and lean soil conditions. Plants that require constant moisture will rapidly degrade the performance of this Stonecrop. Excellent companions include other low-growing succulents like Echeveria or Sempervivum, which offer contrasting rosette forms. Taller, dry-tolerant perennials such as ornamental grasses (like Festuca glauca) or hardy Lavender (Lavandula) create beautiful texture contrasts next to the fine, linear leaves of the Stonecrop.
Propagation Tips
Propagation of Sedum lineare is remarkably simple and effective, primarily carried out through vegetative cutting. Because it is a mat-forming perennial, division is also an easy option when you wish to spread the plant to new areas or thin out older patches. Stem cuttings taken at almost any time during the growing season will root readily. Simply snip a piece of stem, allow the wound to dry for a day or two, and then place it directly onto dry soil, keeping it lightly moist until roots form.
