Sedum acre Yellow Queen - Stonecrop

Sedum acre 'Yellow Queen', also known as wall pepper, is a small evergreen ground cover with bright foliage. Persistent and yellowish-green, its multiple and tiny needle-like leaves quickly form a carpet that colonises the most difficult terrains. Its long stems easily take root in all crevices and thrive in poor and dry soils, preferably in the sun. Its yellow flowering, in a myriad of stars, is a blessing for insects during June and July.

From the Crassulaceae family, this yellow stonecrop is proof that poor soil can grow beautiful specimens with vibrant hues. If your soil is poor, rather dry, even rocky or slightly chalky, you can still benefit from this hardy perennial (which withstands temperatures below -15°C (5°F)), which requires no maintenance and promises to enliven the garden with visits from butterflies. Stonecrops are easy-to-care-for succulents that have flowers and foliage in various shades, which can be used to create colourful palettes, whether in flower beds, pots, or rockeries. They should not be subjected to excess humidity in winter, nor covered with dead leaves (as this may cause them to deteriorate). Plant them in a sunny, even scorching, exposure. It will thrive in a few millimetres of substrate.

This creeping sedum has a spreading habit that can reach a width of 45cm (18in), thanks to its stoloniferous stems. The stems end their course by slightly arching to a maximum height of 10cm (4in). They bear small ovate triangular leaves measuring barely 2 to 3mm. Alternate and imbricate, they appear to form a rosette. This foliage displays a bright yellowish-green shade. These nuances vary, like most of its cousins in the same genus, depending on climatic conditions: the amount of light and water provide the opportunity to lean towards green or yellow. Its lively and delicate flowering further enhances this sparkling effect. Its miniature corymb inflorescences consist of multiple star-shaped yellow flowers, highly prized by insects that continue to forage on them. Perched on the stems, they can double the height of this small carpet.

Sedum acre 'Yellow Queen' brings light to every corner of the courtyard and garden. It easily combines with all rockery plants, requires no monitoring, and colonises abandoned spaces (making it suitable for green roofs). Its small touches of light should be strategically placed to attract attention: at the base of a stone staircase, along a pathway, or in a pot of complementary colour. Easy and carefree, these miniature perennials quickly inspire the desire to multiply them. Consider choosing companions with staggered flowering and dark foliage for a variegated and joyful rockery.