Guide
Creeping Sedum: Drought-Proof Groundcover for Hot, Poor Soil
The short answer
Creeping sedums, or stonecrops (Sedum spp. and close relatives like Phedimus spurius), are low succulent perennials whose stems creep along the ground and over rocks, forming dense mats. Their fleshy, water-storing leaves make them tolerant of drought, extreme heat, and the poor, rocky soils that defeat most groundcovers, and some species are winter-hardy to USDA zone 3.
Give them full sun to part sun and coarse, well-drained soil — sandy or rocky is perfect — and then leave them alone. They establish quickly, need no fertilizer program, and their most common cause of death is overwatering or soggy soil. They are the go-to choice for sunny slopes, rock gardens, curb strips, and green roofs, but they will not tolerate foot traffic.
Where They Work
- Full sun to part sun; too much shade and the plants stretch and struggle (NC State Extension).
- Coarse, well-drained, even poor rocky soil; they tolerate drought and extreme heat.
- Sunny slopes and banks, rock gardens, gravel gardens, between pavers at path edges, and green roofs.
- Not for walked-on areas — the succulent stems crush underfoot — and not for wet or heavy clay soil.
How to Plant Them
- 1Pick a species for your look — Options range from yellow-green stringy stonecrop (Sedum sarmentosum) to two-row stonecrop (Phedimus spurius) with pink-red flowers; heights and colors vary, so mix species for texture.
- 2Plant in well-drained soil — Set plugs or divisions in spring, firm them in, and water sparingly until rooted. Many sedums also root readily from stem pieces laid on soil.
- 3Then under-water on purpose — Once established, rely on rainfall in most climates; irrigate only in prolonged drought. Wet soil is their main killer.
Care Notes
Missouri Extension calls sedums some of the best low-maintenance plants in existence: no mowing, no feeding schedule, few pests. Shear or pinch after flowering if you want tighter mats.
A few creeping species, notably stringy stonecrop (Sedum sarmentosum), spread vigorously and root from fragments, so keep them out of borders you want to stay tidy and do not toss trimmings into natural areas.
✔ If a spot bakes too hot and dry for anything else — a curb strip, a south slope, a rooftop planter — creeping sedum is usually the answer.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Phedimus spurius (Creeping Stonecrop) — Requirement for full sun and well-drained sandy or shallow rocky soil; drought preference; groundcover use
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Sedum sarmentosum (Stringy Stonecrop) — Mat-forming creeping habit, full-sun preference with limited shade tolerance, vigorous spread
- University of Missouri IPM — Sedum: The Ultimate Low-Maintenance Plant — Succulent leaves confer drought and dry-soil tolerance, hardiness of some species to zone 3, quick establishment, tolerance of rocky poor soils, use on slopes, rock gardens, and green roofs