Stonecrop (Sedum 'Cutting Edge')

Overview

Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ Stonecrop is a highly valued, extremely vigorous cultivar prized for its reliable texture and vibrant summer color. This tough, succulent perennial features fleshy leaves that remain attractive throughout the season, culminating in cheerful yellow blooms in mid-summer. As a highly adaptable ground cover, Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ offers excellent performance even in challenging, dry garden spots.

This particular Stonecrop spreads slowly, forming dense, low clumps perfect for edging beds or filling spaces between pavers. Its succulent nature means it inherently requires minimal supplemental watering once established, making it an essential choice for low-water landscaping designs. Gardeners appreciate this plant for its resilience and ease of culture.

The genus Sedum, commonly known as Stonecrop, generally features species known for sprawing or sitting upon rocks, which inspired its Latin name. Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ embodies this tough, easy-going spirit, offering low-growing structure and reliable summer flowers in full sun locations nationwide.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Crassulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: July to August
• Bloom Description: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ in the spring or fall after the last hard frost, ensuring the location receives full sun exposure for the best performance. The most critical requirement for success with this Stonecrop is excellent soil drainage. It thrives in average soil leaning towards dry, ideally sandy or gravelly, and tolerates moderate fertility. Avoid rich, heavy soils, as these promote weak, floppy growth, compromising the plant’s naturally tight habit.

Water only sparingly, especially once the Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ is established. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings; this plant handles drought exceptionally well. Fertilization is rarely necessary; overly rich feeding encourages lush growth prone to flopping rather than compact form.

For robust structure, ensure the plant receives sufficient sunlight. Taller Sedum varieties often flop due to too much shade or excessively moist, rich soil, but Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ maintains a short, tight habit if cultural conditions are met. If any thinning occurs, pinching the stems back lightly in the spring can encourage thicker, bushier development before the summer bloom commences.

Landscape Uses

Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ excels where low, spreading texture is needed. It is perfectly suited for defining the front edge of mixed perennial borders, providing year-round greenery and bright yellow texture right where visitors pass by. Because this Stonecrop handles dry conditions well, it is indispensable in rock gardens and creeping between larger, sun-loving specimens.

Mass planting achieves the most visual impact, turning Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ into a living carpet of color. Its short stature also makes it an excellent choice for small area ground cover or tucked into decorative containers where trailing succulents complement upright features. Site these wherever both the interesting foliage and the summer flower displays can be fully appreciated.

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).’Cutting Edge’ is a yellow-edged sport of Sedum ellacombianum with an extremely vigorous growth habit. Throughout the season the short clumping plants only reach about 6” tall and 12” wide. This plant is protected by patent number PP28926.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Drought

Potential Problems

The primary concern when growing Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ involves incorrect water management. Rotting out is possible if the plant sits in wet, poorly drained soil, especially during winter dormancy, so ensuring sharp drainage is vital. Watch regularly for slugs and snails, which may chew on the succulent foliage, and scale can occasionally be a minor pest issue. Avoiding overly rich soil or excessive shade will prevent the common problem of flopping seen in some other taller stonecrops. Spring pinching promotes thicker stems, helping maintain compactness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Stonecrop suitable for?

Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ Stonecrop is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, offering reliable perennial performance across a wide swath of the country.

How large does Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ grow?

This Stonecrop typically achieves a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 1 to 1.5 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ need?

This plant absolutely requires full sun to maintain its short, tidy growth habit and prevent legginess or flopping.

When does Stonecrop bloom?

Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ provides bright yellow flowers, generally blooming from July into August.

Conclusion

Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’ is an indispensable low-maintenance variety offering dependable texture, strong deer and drought tolerance, and cheerful yellow summer blooms. Incorporating this vigorous Stonecrop into your garden ensures you have attractive, water-wise coverage for borders or rockeries. Before planting, confirm your site offers full sun and sharp drainage to guarantee the best performance for your new Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’.

Companion Planting

When selecting neighbors for Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’, focus on plants that share its love for full sun and dry to medium soil conditions. Good companions include other drought-tolerant perennials like Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or ornamental grasses such as Festuca glauca. These plants do not compete aggressively for water and typically thrive in the lean soil conditions that favor strong growth in the Stonecrop.

Avoid planting this low-growing succulent near moisture-loving perennials that require regular deep watering, as prolonged wetness will invite root rot in the Sedum. For contrast in height, consider pairing it with slightly taller, clump-forming plants like Shasta Daisies, ensuring the Stonecrop remains the neat foreground accent.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Spring is the primary time for maintenance regarding Sedum ‘Cutting Edge’. Inspect the plants; a light shearing or pinching of new growth will encourage a denser basal mound, improving its overall structure throughout the blooming season. Once temperatures rise, summer care involves monitoring water; water deeply but infrequently only during extended dry spells, relying on its drought tolerance otherwise.

As summer transitions to fall, the yellow blooms of this Stonecrop provide lasting interest, often attracting late-season pollinators. Unlike some larger flowering sedums, this variety generally does not require deadheading or heavy cutting back after flowering. Prepare for winter by ensuring the soil is not overly saturated going into the cold, wet months, as this is when drainage issues become most critical for overwintering success.