Sedum 'Tricolour'

Sedum spurium 'Tricolour': A Tapestry of Soft Colour and Texture

Delicate yet durable, Sedum 'Tricolour' earns its name with charming variegated foliage brushed in green, creamy white, and soft pink. This low-growing, mat-forming stonecrop creates a luminous groundcover that shifts in tone with the seasons—flushing deeper pink at the tips in cooler weather. Tiny, starry pink flowers appear in midsummer, adding another layer of interest while inviting pollinators. With its compact form and striking foliage, it brings a painterly quality to sunny borders and containers alike.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 10–15 cm
• Spread: 30–45 cm, slow-spreading mat
• Flower Colour: Soft pink
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Variegated green, white, and pink; succulent and colour-shifting
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil; thrives in sandy or gravelly conditions

Uses and Benefits: Sedum 'Tricolour' is perfect for edging, rock gardens, troughs, and containers, where its refined foliage provides interest even when not in bloom. It’s drought tolerant, deer resistant, and useful for filling in small gaps with style. Its soft tones offer a cooling contrast to bolder perennials and grasses, and it pairs especially well in modern, naturalistic, or coastal-inspired designs.

Companion Plants: Contrast 'Tricolour' with the inky blooms of Salvia 'Noche' for a rich, moody pop against its pastel foliage. Add Coreopsis 'Crazy Cayenne' for hot orange blooms that energize the palette. Balance the scene with Panicum 'Niagara Falls', whose wide, arching blades add flowing texture and cool blue-green tones that ground the composition beautifully.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Water occasionally during the first growing season; reduce once established. Trim lightly in early spring to refresh the foliage. Divide every few years to maintain vigour or to spread into new areas.

History: A cultivated form of Sedum spurium, native to the Caucasus, 'Tricolour' has been selected for its ornamental foliage and garden versatility. Its distinctive colour pattern and low maintenance needs have made it a popular choice for both residential and commercial plantings worldwide.

Final Thoughts: Softly variegated and delightfully adaptable, Sedum 'Tricolour' adds subtle brilliance to sunny spaces—proof that groundcovers can be both practical and artful.