Turkish Stonecrop, Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’, is a popular, resilient, and visually appealing groundcover. This succulent perennial offers vibrant foliage and charming flowers, making it a favored plant for various landscape designs. Its ability to thrive with minimal intervention and striking appearance contribute to its widespread appeal.
Key Characteristics and Garden Uses
Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’ presents dynamic visual interest throughout the seasons. Its fleshy, rounded leaves emerge bright green with burgundy edges in spring, deepening to a bronze-red in summer. In autumn, the foliage transforms into a brilliant red. This mat-forming plant reaches 4-6 inches high and spreads 12-18 inches wide, creating a dense, evergreen carpet.
Small, star-shaped flowers, ruby-red or rose-red, appear in dense clusters atop short stems during summer. These blooms attract pollinators like butterflies, adding ecological value. Turkish Stonecrop is versatile in landscaping; it excels as a groundcover, suppressing weeds and controlling erosion on slopes. It is an excellent choice for rock gardens, xeriscaping, borders, and container plantings due to its drought tolerance and low-growing habit.
Planting and Ongoing Care
Selecting the right location is key for Turkish Stonecrop. This plant thrives in full sun, ideally receiving five or more hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can tolerate some light shade, its best color and growth occur in brighter conditions. It is adaptable to various soil types but requires well-draining conditions; sandy or gravelly soils are suitable. Amending heavy or clay-like soils with sand and perlite can improve drainage.
When planting, ensure the soil is broken up, and if compacted, amend it with compost and sand to encourage quick drainage. For established plants, watering needs are minimal due to their succulent nature, which allows them to store water in their leaves. Once established, Turkish Stonecrop is highly drought-tolerant, often thriving on rainfall alone. Overwatering is a common issue and can lead to root rot; therefore, allow the soil to dry completely between waterings.
Fertilization is not necessary, as these plants perform well in poor to average soils. Minimal pruning may be done to maintain shape or remove spent flower stalks, which can encourage new growth.
Propagation and Troubleshooting
Propagating Turkish Stonecrop is straightforward through stem cuttings or division. For stem cuttings, select healthy stems 3-4 inches long, allow them to callous for a few days, then plant them in well-draining soil. These cuttings root readily, and new plants establish quickly. Division involves digging up an established clump and gently separating it into smaller sections, ensuring each section has roots and stems, then replanting them. This method is effective for multiplying plants or rejuvenating older clumps.
Turkish Stonecrop is a resilient plant, resistant to most pests and diseases. The most common problem is root rot, which occurs from overwatering or poorly draining soil. Symptoms include yellowing leaves, especially at the base, and a soft, mushy appearance. Ensuring proper drainage and adhering to a ‘soak and dry’ watering method prevents this issue. Occasional issues like slugs or snails may occur, which can be managed with remedies like neem oil or insecticidal soap.