Sedum spurium 'Dragon Blood' is a vigorous mat forming stonecrop known for its brilliant red flowers and foliage that turns deep burgundy in cooler weather. It spreads easily along the ground, rooting at nodes and forming dense carpets that suppress weeds and add bold color to dry sunny areas.
Height & Spread: 4 - 6 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Midsummer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, sandy or gravelly soil; tolerant of poor soils
Watering Needs: Low; highly drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
Originates from the Caucasus and surrounding regions of Eurasia but is widely cultivated for ornamental and ecological ground cover use.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts butterflies such as Painted Ladies and Spring Azures with its nectar rich red flowers during summer.
Bees
- Visited by native bumblebees and sweat bees that forage on its blooms in hot dry conditions where few other flowers persist.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow fast spreading mats to fill gaps and cover bare soil effectively.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for sunny slopes, gravel beds, green roofs, retaining walls, and hot border edges. Works well between pavers or spilling over rocks and containers.
Companion Plants
- Thymus praecox (Creeping Thyme) - Combines well in dry, sunny areas with similar spreading habit and complementary flower color.
- Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) - Adds rosette texture and year round structure to sedum carpets.
- Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa Barbara Daisy) - Offers a soft flowering edge that contrasts with Sedum's bold foliage tones.
- Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue) - Provides upright blue toned blades that punctuate low spreading Sedum.
- Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' - Offers vivid pink blooms and fine gray foliage that pairs well in lean, dry soils.