Top Ten Drought Tolerant Plants
Our Crew members weighed in on their favorite drought tolerant plants.
A groundcover stonecrop with large clusters of deep pink flowers held atop dark cherry red succulent foliage with coral-pink edges; a drought-tolerant perennial that does best in poor soils; a colorful feature in containers or rock gardens
Discover an unparalleled selection of perennials at Gertens! With the largest variety in Minnesota, we offer endless options of colorful perennials, natives, and pollinator plants to beautify your garden year after year. From vibrant flowers to lush foliage, our perennials are perfect for adding beauty and charm to your outdoor space. Visit Gertens today and see why we're known as Minnesota's Destination Garden Center!
Plant Height: 4 inches
Flower Height: 6 inches
Spacing: 15 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Other Names: Autumn Stonecrop, Showy Stonecrop
Group/Class: SunSparkler Series
Description:
A groundcover stonecrop with large clusters of deep pink flowers held atop dark cherry red succulent foliage with coral-pink edges; a drought-tolerant perennial that does best in poor soils; a colorful feature in containers or rock gardens
Ornamental Features
SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum has masses of beautiful clusters of rose star-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive small succulent oval leaves emerge bluish-green in spring, turning cherry red in color with distinctive coral-pink edges throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our store for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.
Bloom or Harvest Time | August, September |
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Sun Preference | Full-Sun |
USDA Hardiness Zone | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Common Family Name | Sedum |
Mature Spread (Range) | 12" - 24" |
Mature Height (Range) | 7-12" |