Name: Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’

Type of Plant: This is a low stonecrop sedum, perfect for planting in between flagstones and in rock gardens. Hardy in zones 3 to 9, this succulent is drought tolerant and grows even in very poor but well drained soils.

Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love how this plant softens the cracks in between the stepping stones in my gardens. I like how it turns red in the winter or in very hot, dry weather, yet it also blooms in mid-summer and thrives in average garden soil.

A Word to the Wise: Every little piece of this plant that breaks off will root and grow where it lands. This is great in dry, infertile areas but when pieces land in better soil the plant will spread as quickly as butter on warm toast. So just know that you might need to edit it out in some places so that it doesn’t carpet your entire garden.

Like most stonecrops, this plant doesn’t do well in constantly moist situations. Plant it where the drainage is good, on slopes, and in places where there isn’t automatic irrigation.

This photo shows two things about Sedum album Coral Carpet. First, the white flowers, which appear in July. Secondly, notice how the plant is taller, thicker and greener to the right of the photo where the soil is richer. But where the plant is growing in pure sand, in between the flagstones, it’s short and isn’t flowering. This is really good because the stonecrop stays low where you are walking, so it’s not a tripping hazard, but it’s taller and more lush to the sides.

Here is the color that this stonecrop turns in the winter.

Right now, in March, here is how Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’ looks in my front garden.