Scientific Name
Phedimus spurius 'John Creech'
Synonym(s)
Sedum spurium 'John Creech'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Umbiliceae
Genus: Phedimus
Description
Phedimus spurius 'John Creech', formerly known as Sedum spurium 'John Creech', is a small spreading succulent that typically grows up to 2 inches (5 cm) tall. It can quickly form a dense mat of foliage by creeping stems that root at the nodes as they spread along the ground. Leaves are small, scalloped, and green in color. Pink flowers appear above the foliage in fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 4a to 9b: from −30 °F (−34.4 °C) to 30 °F (−1.1 °C).
How to Grow and Care
When growing your Caucasian Stonecrop, you need to keep in mind that you have to give it sun and fertilizer, and you do have to water it sometimes even though it's drought-resistant. You can give it a balanced low-number fertilizer to help with poor soil, and you can even help it out with deadheading the dried flowers.
It isn't hard to grow Caucasian Stonecrop under the right circumstances, but these plants are forgiving even in the wrong ones. Sometimes the soil isn't as permeable as it should be, but the roots of Caucasian Stonecrops can actually push through it. Other times the sun doesn't come out as often, and while this can possibly stunt the plant's growth over a prolonged time, you can still have a healthy Caucasian Stonecrop.
The soil does need to be well-drained. Very good drainage is important for preventing root rot or fungal diseases.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Phedimus.
Origin
John Creech, former director of the U.S. National Arboretum, reportedly collected this plant at the Central Siberian Botanic Garden in 1971.
Links
- Back to genus Phedimus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
