Sedum tetractinum Coral Reef - Stonecrop

Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef' is a perennial and hardy stonecrop with a very creeping habit and small fleshy dark green rosettes. Its beautiful foliage turns to a reddish-bronze colour in autumn. In summer, it produces an abundance of small yellow star-shaped flowers. Hardy and evergreen, its creeping quality makes it a great alternative to lawns in low-traffic areas. Like all sedums, it thrives in poor, even limestone, soil with little substrate thanks to its shallow root system. It prefers full sun as it requires high light intensity and well-drained soil. It can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F) and periods of high heat and drought. It is perfect for filling gaps, dressing up pots, or adding colour to rock gardens.

Sedum tetractinum is a succulent plant from the Crassulaceae family, native to southern China. It thrives in extreme environments: its ability to store juices in its fleshy leaves and stems allows it to mobilise them in case of water scarcity. Sedum can either creep and act as ground cover or have an upright habit. Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef' is an evergreen variety with a creeping habit, reaching a height of 15cm (6in) at maturity and easily forming a very dense carpet. The fleshy and tightly packed leaves form dark green rosettes. From June to August, an abundance of small yellow star-shaped flowers appear, but the plant is especially prized for its beautiful ground-covering foliage, which turns a reddish-bronze colour in autumn.

Sedum is a modest and adaptable plant. This stonecrop is perfect for quietly colonising all corners of the garden. Plant it along pathways, at the edge of a patio, at the base of a wall, or in pots. It pairs well with all rock garden plants, requires no maintenance, and fills in neglected spaces. It is suitable for green roofs. It forms beautiful combinations with sempervivums, thymes, and saxifrages, for example.

Sedum is reputed to have healing properties for minor cuts, scrapes, or burns. It is also said to have diuretic and laxative effects.