Sedum anglicum
English stonecrop
Overview
Sedum anglicum, English stonecrop, is a low, mat-forming succulent perennial in the family Crassulaceae, growing just 1-3 inches (2-8 cm) tall and creeping across the ground on rooting stems. The small, fleshy, egg-shaped leaves are 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) long, grey-green and often flushed red in sun or drought, packed alternately along the trailing shoots. In summer short upright stems carry loose clusters of star-shaped flowers, white with a pink flush on the back of each of the five pointed petals, about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across. It grows on rocks, walls, shingle, cliff tops, and dunes on dry, acidic to neutral ground, storing water in its leaves to survive long dry spells in full sun. The creeping stems root as they spread, forming open, low patches rather than dense cover. In rich, moist, or shaded soil the plant grows poorly, becoming soft and short-lived, and it is easily overgrown by larger neighbours. Topgrowth persists through winter as small evergreen rosettes. Bees and other insects work the flowers through the summer.
Native Range
Native to western Europe along the Atlantic fringe, from Iberia and France through the British Isles to Scandinavia, growing on coastal rocks, cliffs, dunes, and inland on acidic outcrops and walls. It occurs on open, sunny, sharply drained sites with thin soil.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, gravel gardens, green roofs, wall crevices, and troughs where a tiny, drought-tolerant succulent suits hot, dry, sharply drained spots. Used between paving and on sunny banks as low, spreading cover. Combined with other alpines and stonecrops in sinks and container displays.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 3"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Colors
Bloom Information
Star-shaped white flowers open from June through August, scattered in small clusters above the foliage. The pink-backed petals show clearly as the buds open. Bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies visit the flowers, which give way to reddish seed heads by late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grey-green, often red-tingedGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Growth is strongest in full sun on sharply drained, gritty, acid to neutral soil of low fertility, such as sand, gravel, rock crevices, and wall tops. The fleshy leaves store water, so the plant tolerates drought and needs no watering once established. Rich feeding and moist, heavy soil cause soft growth and rot, so lean conditions and free drainage matter most. It spreads slowly from rooting stems and can be increased by pressing detached pieces onto gritty soil, where they root within weeks. No feeding is needed, and winter wet is more of a risk than cold. Clear encroaching plants that would shade or smother the low mats.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent flower stems can be trimmed off after seeding to tidy the mat. Overgrown or bare patches are easily refreshed by replanting rooted fragments.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons