Stonecrop (Sedum 'Lime Zinger')

Overview

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ is an outstanding herbaceous perennial valued for its dynamic, year-round foliage color. This Stonecrop cultivar showcases small, upright leaves featuring a vivid lime-green hue sharply outlined by bright cherry-red edging, an asset that remains effective for up to seven months. As a member of the tough succulent family Crassulaceae, Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ thrives in challenging, sunny locations where many other plants falter. Its resilience combined with its low maintenance needs makes this compact Stonecrop a highly practical choice for instant texture and reliable performance in the modern landscape.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Crassulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.5-0.75 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: August to October
• Bloom Description: Light pink
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ in the spring or fall after the danger of hard frost has passed, ensuring it receives full sun exposure for the best foliage color development. This Stonecrop performs exceptionally well in average, well-drained soils. Good drainage is critical; avoid heavy, waterlogged conditions, as this can lead to plant failure. Plants readily adapt to sandy or gravelly soils and tolerate heat and drought once established, minimizing watering needs.

Maintenance for Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ is generally low. Avoid planting in overly rich soils or deep shade, as these conditions encourage weak, floppy growth instead of the desired compact habit. Fertilization is rarely necessary for healthy established plants. If you notice excessive flopping, ensure the plant is receiving maximum sunlight or consider lightly pinching back stems in the spring to encourage a bushier, thicker base structure.

As a drought-tolerant succulent, water sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out to medium moisture levels between irrigation, especially once the plant is settled into the garden. This Stonecrop generally requires little seasonal clean-up, though old flower stalks can be removed after blooming if aesthetics dictate. Winter protection is usually unnecessary in its hardy zones.

Landscape Uses

The fantastic foliage and compact size make Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ an ideal choice for border fronts, where its bright color can lead the eye into the garden row. It excels when massed or used in drifts to create carpets of contrasting color beneath taller perennials or shrubs. Because it establishes well in tough conditions, this Stonecrop is excellent for naturalizing areas, dry slopes, or rock gardens where sharp drainage is natural. Do not overlook its suitability for containers; its vibrant colors pair beautifully with trailing annuals or contrasting dark foliage plants, offering season-long visual interest.

Standout Features

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sedum is a genus of about 400 species found mainly in the mountainous areas of North America but some also in dry area of South America. Most are succulent. They are tough, drought tolerant, easy-to-grow perennials that feature star-shaped flowers in clusters blooming on fleshy-leaved plants ranging from mat-forming ground covers to clump-forming upright mounds. Some of the most popular garden plants are hybrids.Genus name comes from the Latin word sedeo meaning to sit in reference to the general growing habit of many of the sedums (they sit and sprawl over rocks).Plants in the genus Sedum are commonly called stonecrops because they are typically found in the wild growing on rocky or stony areas.‘Lime Zinger’ is a hardy, compact cultivar with small lime-green leaves outlined in bright cherry-red, which persists for 7 months during the growing season. The foliage is small, upright and rounded. Pink flowers appear in late summer lasting several weeks. ‘Lime Zinger’ is part of the SunSparkler® series from the breeding program of Chris Hansen. U.S. Plant Patent #24,632 awarded July 8, 2014

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer
• Drought
• Erosion
• Clay Soil
• Dry Soil

Potential Problems

The primary cultural issue to avoid with Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ is excess moisture, which can lead to rotting out, especially in poorly drained sites. Scale insects may infrequently affect the plants. Slugs and snails can also pose a threat, particularly to new growth. To mitigate flopping in taller Stonecrop varieties, ensure full sun and avoid overly rich or wet soil; for this compact cultivar, pinching back in spring can encourage a thicker habit if needed. Promptly address pest issues and ensure soil conditions align with its dry to medium water needs for optimal health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Stonecrop suitable for?

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 9.

How large does Stonecrop grow?

This compact Stonecrop typically reaches a height between 0.5 and 0.75 feet, spreading to 1 to 1.5 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ need?

For the best performance and most vibrant foliage color, Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ requires full sun exposure.

When does Stonecrop bloom?

This variety produces light pink flowers beginning in late summer, typically spanning bloom time from August into October.

Conclusion

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ provides essential texture, striking color contrast, and unmatched drought tolerance, solidifying its role as a backbone perennial in sunny landscapes. This low-maintenance Stonecrop is a superstar for gardeners seeking reliability. Before planting, always confirm that your intended site offers the full sun and superb drainage that Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ demands for peak performance.

Companion Planting

When selecting companions for Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’, always prioritize plants that share its love for full sun and dry, well-drained soil. Pairing it with other drought-tolerant perennials creates a cohesive, low-water garden space. Good companions include ornamental grasses that provide movement, such as Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats Grama), or other succulents like taller Sedum varieties that offer different textures. Gray-leaved plants, like Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears), intensify the lime-green and red tones of the Stonecrop foliage when planted nearby.

Design Ideas for Ground Cover Applications

Due to its low profile and spreading habit, Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ excels as an informal ground cover where it suppresses weeds while providing continuous color. Use this Stonecrop to edge pathways or soften the hard lines of retaining walls or large boulders in a rock garden setting. Because the foliage persists through the seasons, massing large drifts of Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ provides an impactful swath of persistent color that anchors mixed perennial borders, offering structure even after summer bloom cycles end.