John Creech sedum is a herbaceous perennial succulent in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae). It is evergreen in warm winter climates. It is native to Caucasus which is a region between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The genus name derives from the Latin word sedeo which means to sit referring to their growth habit of sitting and sprawling over rocks. The specific epithet means false. It was collected at the Central Siberian Botanic Garden in 1971 by John Creech, former director of the U.S. National Arboretum. It tolerates any soil including dry, poor soil that is not too moist in full sun. The John Creech sedum grows best in sandy or gravelly soils to prevent overwatering. The plant will reach 6” tall and should be planted 12” apart. It spreads quickly to 24” due to stems that easily root with soil contact. Once it is established, it is drought-tolerant. Light fertilization will quicken its growth. You can easily propagate it by division or cuttings planted in the soil. This sedum is virtually disease and pest-free. It is resistant to deer and rabbits. The small star-shaped pink blooms occur in fall. The foliage is showy year-round (in warm winter climates). The leaves turn burgundy in the fall. The John Creech sedum can be used as a ground cover in naturalized areas, sunny slopes, rock gardens, and roof gardens. Due to their small size, it is best to plant in groups or masses. They can fill a border along a pathway or cascade over stone walls and containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Pest Problems : No significant problems. Slugs, snails, and scale can cause minor problems. More information on Phedimus spurius .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Prostrate
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are thick with scalloped edges. The margins are reddish-tinged. The lower leaves are deciduous while the newer top leaves are evergreen and turn deep burgundy in the fall. Another common name is Two Row Stonecrop because there are two rows of leaves along the stems.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The pinkish-red flowers bloom August to September in dense, 4-branched inflorescences.