Sedum spurium 'John Creech' is a vigorous mat forming ground cover with scalloped green leaves and small pink flowers that bloom early to mid summer. It spreads quickly by rooting stems, forming dense highly drought tolerant weed suppressing carpets.
Height & Spread: 2 - 4 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Early to mid summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Soil Preference: Well drained, sandy or gravelly soil
Watering Needs: Low; highly drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer and rabbits
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from Sedum spurium, a species native to parts of the Caucasus and central Asia. Widely cultivated in ornamental gardens for its resilience and utility.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts small butterflies such as Pearl Crescent and Eastern Tailed Blue, which feed on its nectar in sunny dry sites.
Bees
- Visited by native sweat bees and honeybees that forage on its tightly clustered flowers during dry midsummer periods.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow for quick coverage and interlocking growth for ground layer cohesion.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for sunny slopes, rock gardens, walkable ground covers, green roofs, and between stepping stones. Performs well in poor soils and high heat locations where few other plants thrive.
Companion Plants
- Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) - Provides visual contrast with rosettes and thrives in similar drought tolerant conditions.
- Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) - Offers aromatic foliage and low profile growth to intermingle with Sedum.
- Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa Barbara Daisy) - Adds continuous bloom and a soft daisy texture to the planting edge.
- Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) - Complements Sedum with fragrance, upright form, and dry site adaptability.
- Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) - Brings airy foliage and flat flower clusters that echo Sedum’s structure and attract similar pollinators.