Introduction

The smaller creeping sedums are often called stonecrops. This refers to their habit of growing in rocky areas and clambering over rocks. Many of them are easy to grow, and some are excellent pot plants that tolerate water, drought, heat, and cold. However, many of the stonecrops are from warm areas and are cold-sensitive.

The Details

Sedum divergens is an easy-to-grow West Coast native. It tolerates temperatures  below -30 F (apparently). I don’t know if this is true, but sometimes cold tolerance is tied to in-the-ground growth, a sunny location, or cold frames, and potted plants won’t take so much cold.

The plants are typically red or red-tinged, giving the plant a great look in the garden. It blooms heavily in spring and the masses of yellow flowers compete with any rock plant for an explosion of yellow. S. divergens grows rapidly for a small plant and will soon make a mat 10-inches across.

S. divergens is tolerant as a pot plant, but like many succulents does best with sun, regular or sandy soil, and good drainage. The plants tolerate a lot of water, but they do better if not kept constantly wet. They don’t need much fertilizer.