Sedum ‘Green Carpet’, also known as Goldmoss Stonecrop or Sedum acre, is a resilient succulent groundcover. This low-maintenance plant forms a dense, vibrant green mat, making it an excellent choice for various landscape applications. Its drought tolerance and spreading habit make it an easy-to-care-for option.
Understanding Sedum Green Carpet
Sedum ‘Green Carpet’ has small, fleshy, linear leaves forming a tight mat. The foliage typically maintains a vibrant green hue throughout the growing season, often developing soft reddish tones during cooler autumn and winter months, providing year-round visual interest. This low-growing perennial spreads outwards, reaching a height of only 1 to 3 inches while spreading up to 2 feet wide or more, forming a continuous carpet over the ground. It is a hardy plant, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9, demonstrating its adaptability to a range of climates.
Essential Care for Sedum Green Carpet
Light Requirements
Sedum ‘Green Carpet’ thrives in full sun (at least six hours daily). While it can tolerate partial shade, particularly in hotter climates, growth may not be as robust, and the plant might become leggy. Ample sunlight promotes dense growth and vibrant foliage color.
Watering Practices
As a succulent, Sedum ‘Green Carpet’ stores water in its fleshy leaves, making it drought-tolerant once established. Overwatering causes root rot; therefore, it is important to allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Infrequent, deep watering is preferred, and supplemental watering is typically only necessary during prolonged dry spells or periods of extreme heat.
Soil Preferences
Well-draining soil prevents water retention and root rot. It adapts to average, rocky, sandy, or gravelly soils and can even thrive in poor soil conditions. An ideal soil pH range for this sedum is slightly acidic to neutral, between 6.0 and 7.5. Incorporating coarse sand, perlite, or pumice can significantly improve aeration and drainage in heavier soils.
Fertilizing Guidelines
Sedums have low nutrient requirements and do not need frequent fertilization. Over-fertilization leads to weak, leggy growth rather than the desired compact mat. If soil is particularly poor, a light application of a balanced, water-soluble succulent-specific fertilizer, diluted to half strength, can be applied once annually during the spring growing season.
Planting and Spreading Sedum Green Carpet
Planting Sedum ‘Green Carpet’ is straightforward and establishes quickly. Optimal transplanting time is mid-spring to early summer, allowing roots to establish before intense heat. When planting, space individual plants about 8 inches apart to allow for their spreading habit. This sedum easily propagates through various methods, including division, stem cuttings, or layering. Simply breaking off a stem and pressing it into the soil can lead to new root formation, making it easy to expand its presence in the garden.
Creative Uses for Sedum Green Carpet in Your Landscape
Sedum ‘Green Carpet’ is a versatile plant that can enhance various landscape designs. Its mat-forming habit makes it an excellent groundcover, effectively suppressing weeds and adding continuous green texture to open areas. It is well-suited for rock gardens, where its low-growing form and fleshy leaves provide a pleasing contrast against stones and boulders. This sedum can also be planted between stepping stones or along pathways, tolerating light to moderate foot traffic. For unique applications, it can be used for erosion control on slopes or in containers, where its trailing habit can spill attractively over the edges.