Caucasian stonecrop (Sedum spurium ‘Schorbuser Blut’ DRAGON’S BLOOD)

Features and Characteristics

Sedum spurium, commonly called Caucasian stonecrop or two row stonecrop, is a low-growing, sprawling, mat-forming sedum or stonecrop that is commonly grown as a ground cover. It is native to the Caucusus. This is an evergreen plant that typically rises only 3-6” tall but spreads to 18-24” wide by creeping, branching stems that easily root at the nodes. Thick, succulent, opposite, obovate, flattened leaves (to 1” long) with wedge-shaped bases are toothed near the ends. Leaves are medium green with reddish-tinged margins. Lower stem leaves are deciduous, but newer leaves near the stem tips are evergreen, typically turning deep burgundy in fall for overwintering. Leaves are arranged in two rows along the stems, hence the sometimes used common name of two row stonecrop. Tiny, 5-petaled, star-shaped, pinkish-red flowers (to 3/4” diameter) in dense, 4-branched inflorescences (to 4-6″ tall) bloom from late spring to mid-summer (June-July in St. Louis) atop upright reddish flower stems. Flowers are attractive to butterflies.

Genus name comes from the Latin word sedeo meaning to sit in reference to the general growing habit of many of the sedums (they sit and sprawl over rocks).

Specific epithet means false. Its use here is unclear.

DRAGON’S BLOOD is a sprawling, low-growing, ground-hugging, mat-forming stonecrop (also commonly called two-row stonecrop because leaves are in two columns along the stems) that is frequently grown as a ground cover. Green leaves (to 1″ long) with a tinge of purple-red on the margins become entirely red by fall. Leaves are thick, flattened, rounded, succulent and toothed or lobed near the tips. This is an evergreen plant that typically rises only 3-6” tall but spreads to 12-18” wide. Creeping, branching stems root at the nodes. Tiny, star-shaped, pink to red flowers (to 3/4” diameter) bloom above the foliage mat from mid-summer into autumn. Developed in Germany under the cultivar name of ‘Schorbuser Blut’, but sold in commerce in the U. S. under the trade name of DRAGON’S BLOOD.