Sedum 'Czar's Gold'

Sedum 'Czar's Gold': A Cold-Proof Mat for Hot, Dry Banks

'Czar's Gold' covers itself in golden-yellow stars like it's been raiding the jewellery box again. Glossy green leaves on reddish stems, then red and orange when the weather cools. BLING, BUT MAKE IT GROUNDCOVER.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Sedum hybridum 'Czar's Gold' (also listed as Phedimus hybridus)
• Common Name: Stonecrop, Mongolian Stonecrop
• Height: 10–15 cm (4–6 in)
• Spread: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
• Flowers: Golden-yellow, star-shaped flowers in flat clusters
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Glossy, narrow, scalloped green leaves on reddish stems, turning red to orange in fall and winter

Where to Plant: Use it as a groundcover on sunny slopes, along path edges, in rock gardens and over walls. It fills gaps quickly and helps hold soil on dry banks. It's a smart choice for the hot, dry patches by a driveway or along a sunny foundation.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Czar's Gold' as a carpet in a sunny, dry bed with red catchfly, red pinks and silver leaves. Stachys 'Helene von Stein' adds big woolly silver leaves at 25 to 30 cm. Silene Forged By Fire™ brings bright red stars at 38 to 45 cm in May and June. Dianthus Rockin'™ Red adds vivid red, fringed flowers at 45 to 60 cm from June to September. Pennisetum 'Moudry' arches behind at 75 to 90 cm with dark, almost black plumes.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun or light part sun in well-drained soil. Average, sandy or gravelly soil all work. In heavy clay, add grit or plant on a slope so water doesn't sit around the crowns in winter. Water through the first season, then only in extended drought. No fertilizer needed. Shear off spent flower stems after bloom if you want a tidier look. To keep it in bounds, pull pieces from the edges in spring. They root easily, so you can replant them elsewhere.

History: Sedum hybridum grows wild in the central and southern Urals and across northern Asia, including Siberia and Mongolia, which explains why it handles cold winters so well. Jelitto Perennial Seeds introduced 'Czar's Gold' in 2004 as a seed-grown selection of the species, despite the "hybridum" in its name.

Final Thoughts: It handles dry, sunny spots, and the bees and butterflies treat it like a treasure hunt. ALL THAT GLITTERS IS SEDUM.