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Sedum

Sedum (SEE-dum)

Family: Crassulaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Stonecrop 'Touchdown Teak' is a vigorous, hardy, drought tolerant cultivar that maintains a compact and erect habit with multiple flower heads that do not tend to flop. The plant boasts red-brown to purple glossy leaves, red stems, and rose-red flowers. Its interesting color makes it a great choice for the back of a border, walkway, rock garden, or cottage garden. 'Touchdown Teak' typically grows to 1 to 2 feet high with an equal spread. Its blossoms and foliage provide interest from early summer into winter. It is easy to grow and low maintenance. It can be grown as a houseplant, ground cover, or in containers. If grown indoors, use bright direct light from a window or grow light and a coarse, well-drained soil, preferably a cactus mix. ' Touchdown Teak ' also does well grown outdoors in full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. The plant tolerates rocky and poor soils, establishes itself quickly, and is heat tolerant once established. The succulent leaves make it drought and dry soil tolerant. This cultivar attracts butterflies and also tolerates deer and rabbits. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails. Hardy and disease resistant. Avoid wet or poorly drained conditions. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course created in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Sedum .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 62 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Fills a similar niche Hylotelephium 'Matrona' Sedum Sedum 'Birthday Party'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Houseplant; Perennial; Succulent
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); 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: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Red-brown to purple-brown leaves forming a clump of thick, fleshy foliage. Retains interest and color through summer into winter.
Fall color
Brown/Copper
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Rose-red, star-shaped flowers in terminal cymes resembling broccoli. In blossom throughout the summer. Dead inflorescence remains on plant into the fall and winter retaining interest.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit follicular, membranous or leathery, often surrounded by a persistent membranous corolla, opening on the adaxial side, Seeds mostly minute, usually with fleshy endosperm.
Stem detail
Red stems, topped by flower heads, rise out of dense foliage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia
Distribution
Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa, North America
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers; Stems
Fruit type
Capsule

Edibility

Stems and leaves, when very young and tender, can be eaten raw. Later, until they flower, they may be briefly cooked. Ingesting leaves in quantity can lead to stomach upset.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#rock garden #mass planting #red leaves #border back #purple leaves #green roof #heat tolerant #easy to grow #perennial #succulent #houseplant #deciduous #low maintenance #groundcover #drought tolerant #full sun tolerant #colorful leaves #fall interest #dry soils intolerant #evergreen #wildlife friendly #container plant
Problems & Resistance
Disease problems
Southern Blight of Herbaceous Ornamentals
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Poor Soil; Rabbits
Propagation
Division; Leaf Cutting; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.