(Sedum oreganum 'Oregon Stonecrop')
Oregon Stonecrop Sedum is a hardy, warm weather, sprawling perennial succulent groundcover that is native to the Western United States and can be commonly found growing on rock ledges, slopes, and gravelly ridges. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-6” and features green foliage that turns red with starry yellow flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought and frost, and is also edible!
Genus: Sedum
Species: oreganum
Variety: Oregon Stonecrop Sedum
Native to: Alaska, British Columbia, California, Oregon, Washington
Grown as: Perennial
Growth Habit: Spreading
Maturity (Blooms): Summer
Hardiness: Hardy. Sedum oreganum prefers night temperatures above 55 °F and day time temperature must be at least 65-70 °F. However, the hot days of summer will not be a problem and the temperature of 100 °F can still produce good quality plants. High temperatures and high humidity can create a lot of disease issues, so stay on the lookout. The plant can tolerate freezing temperature. When the temperature drop below 50 °F the plant start to go dormant. If you experiment with the plant that are borderline resistant to freezing temperatures, or if you live in an area where the temperature frequently drops below freezing, then consider growing the plant in containers so you can move them indoors for protection from cold conditions.
Light: Sedum oreganum do best in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun per day). The plant require high light to develop strong leaf coloration and will stretch badly under low light conditions.
Water: Low to Medium. Oregon stonecrop are drought-tolerant but young plant will need supplemental water for the first couple of weeks to establish roots.
Soil Moisture: Medium to dry. It is very important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Suitability: loose loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with sharp drainage. pH 5.8 - 6.8
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, butterflies, and is resistant to deer.
Containers?: Yes. Sedum grows in a pot, container or in garden with loose loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with sharp drainage.
Maintenance: Low
Height: 1-6”
Dimension: 12"
Spacing: 24”
Sow Depth: Press into soil
USDA Zones: 2-4 Annual
5-9 Perennial
Produces: Green foliage that turns red and starry yellow flowers.
Garden Uses: Rock Gardens, Butterfly Gardens.
Known hazards of Sedum oreganum: Although not poisonous, if large quantities of this plant are eaten it can cause a stomach upset.
Germinating Oregon Stonecrop Sedum Seeds:
1) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
2) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter seeds evenly over the medium.
3) Press seeds into the soil but do not cover fully add a label with the plant name and date.
4) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 70°F.
5) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop.
Temperature: 60-70°F. 68-70°F Ideal.
Average Germ Time: 14-28 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Do not cover the seed but press into the soil
Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Oregon Stonecrop Sedum prefers a loose loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with sharp drainage that has a pH between 5.8 and 6.8 in an area that offers full sun.
When outdoor temp: 63˚F to 82˚F.
Spacing: 24"
Support: No.
Temperature: Oregon stonecrop prefers night temperatures above 55 °F and day time temperature must be at least 65-70 °F. However, the hot days of summer will not be a problem and the temperature of 100 °F can still produce good quality plants. High temperatures and high humidity can create a lot of disease issues, so stay on the lookout. The plant can tolerate freezing temperature. When the temperature drop below 50 °F the plant start to go dormant. If you experiment with the plant that are borderline resistant to freezing temperatures, or if you live in an area where the temperature frequently drops below freezing, then consider growing the plant in containers so you can move them indoors for protection from cold conditions.
Watering: Oregon stonecrop are drought-tolerant but do need some water. They do their best with regular watering from spring through fall. Water thoroughly and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Young plant will need supplemental water for the first couple of weeks to establish roots. Established plants, as long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, shouldn’t need any extra watering. Avoid wetting the leaves, stems, and flowers when watering. In winter, water just enough to keep your plants from shriveling.
Fertilizer: Sedum oreganum typically needs no supplemental fertilization and can tolerate nutrient-poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich, this can cause weak, leggy growth. If you have very poor soil, mixing some compost into it will generally be enough to give your plant a boost. Chemical fertilizer can lead to stretching and flopping.
Pruning: Oregon stonecrop don't need deadheading (removing spent blooms), and they often look good even into winter. However, extreme heat and a lack of sunlight both can cause sedum plants to get a bit leggy. Cutting back the plants after they are done flowering can help to maintain their shape and encourage bushier, sturdier growth.
Over Wintering: Care needs to be taken to avoid overwatering and over-fertilizing any of these plants especially during the short days, lower light levels, and cooler conditions of winter.
Covering the plant with a layer of straw or placing a tent made from plastic or bed sheets over the plants can protect them from sudden freezing temperatures; don't allow plastic to touch the plants, however. Remove any kind of covering as soon as the temperature warms.
Leaves and young shoots: raw or cooked.
Known hazards of Sedum oreganum: Although not poisonous, if large quantities of this plant are eaten it can cause a stomach upset.
Suggested Varieties
(Callistephus chinensis ‘Powder Puff Mix’)
Powder Puff China Aster is a cool weather fall blooming annual flower that is native to China. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2' and features serrated, 2-3” pointed leaves and fragrant 4-6” full, double blossoms in varying shades of pink, white, red, and purple-blue with pale yellow centers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, lacewings, hoverflies, and praying mantis, is deer resistant, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Callistephus chinensis 'Tall Paeony Duchess Apricot')
(Callistephus chinensis ‘Tall Pompon Blue Moon’)
Tall Pompon Blue Moon Aster is a cool weather annual that is native to China which can be found growing on the edges of deciduous forests in the northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 20” and features 2-3” wide dark blue disk-shaped flowers that are white in the center. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, lacewings, hoverflies, and praying mantis, is deer resistant, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Callistephus chinensis 'Tall Pompon Hi-no-maru')
(Echinacea purpurea ‘Purple’)
Purple Coneflower is a native perennial flower that is commonly found growing in moist meadows, woods, and prairies throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-4' and features stiff stems, narrow hairy leaves, and 3-4” flower heads with drooping purplish pink petals and a spiny orange center cone. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, has medicinal uses, is resistant to deer, and is great as a cut flower!