Species · genus Sedum · Crassulaceae
Colorado Stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium Hook.
Also known as: Broad-leaved Stonecrop · Broadleaf Stonecrop · Colerado Stonecrop · Pacific Stonecrop · Spatula-leaved Stonecrop
Cultivars of S. spathulifolium
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under S. spathulifolium yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.
Guide
The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.
A Low, Silvery Stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium, known as spoon-leaved stonecrop, is a mat-forming evergreen perennial in the Crassulaceae family. It stays low, rarely reaching more than about 10cm tall, and carries sprays of starry yellow flowers in summer.
Source: RHS
Native to Western North America
This stonecrop's natural range lies in western North America. It is not native to Britain or Ireland, but has long been grown in rockeries and alpine collections there.
Source: RHS
Sun, Shelter, Sharp Drainage
Grow this sedum in a sheltered spot in full sun, in moderately fertile, well-drained soil that leans alkaline to neutral. It suits chalk, loam or sandy ground, and is hardy enough (H5) to withstand most UK winters outdoors. No feeding regime is specified beyond keeping the soil moderately fertile and free-draining.
Source: RHS
Seed or Softwood Cuttings
The species can be raised from seed or from softwood cuttings. The purple-leaved cultivar 'Purpureum' is propagated specifically by softwood cuttings taken in spring.
Source: RHS
Spoon Leaves, Mat Habit
The species carries thick, obovate, silvery-grey leaves tinged with purple, held low in a spreading, mat-forming habit. The cultivar 'Purpureum' takes this further with fleshy reddish-purple leaves, the inner ones bloomed white, set off by flattish clusters of bright yellow flowers.
Source: RHS
Slugs to Mealybugs
Watch for slugs, snails, vine weevil grubs, scale insects and mealybugs, all of which may trouble this sedum. These are the usual suspects to check for on the fleshy leaves and at the base of the mat.
Source: RHS
Rot at Crown and Root
The main disease risk noted is fungal and bacterial crown and root rot, which points back to soil that stays too wet. Sharp drainage and a sheltered, sunny position are the safeguards the sources point to.
Source: RHS
Little Pruning Needed
The plain species asks for no pruning at all. Where 'Purpureum' is grown, cutting it back after flowering helps keep its shape tidy.
Source: RHS
Care recipe
The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.
Care notes are early — not yet verified
- Light
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Water
- ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 10-21d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Direct sun
≈ every 21 days
Low — average room
4–24 °C
Very gritty, sharply draining succulent mix
Offsets and rosette division; leaf and stem cuttings
Little to none — a weak feed once in spring at most
Slow
Bright yellow flowers on short stalks in spring
Not yet documented
This is where toxicity lives — every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.
Reference images
Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.
PrimarySources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 10-21d) · ai:claude-fable-5
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Colorado Stonecrop yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.
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