Thundercloud Sedum

Thundercloud Sedum is a beautiful groundcover for the driest and hottest parts of a garden. This native of North America forms tight rosettes of ground-hugging foliage and blooms late in the summer, providing nectar for late-foraging pollinators like honeybees, native bees, and hummingbirds. The clusters of foamy white blooms last for weeks and make for lovely dried flowers in winter arrangements. The common name for sedum is stonecrop, and it perfectly describes how this member of the Crassulaceae family multiplies.

Thundercloud Sedum is an excellent addition to planters and containers. Stonecrop is also lovely as part of seasonal wreaths and tabletop décor. A genuinely unusual way to grow Thundercloud is in a hanging wire basket where it can be planted not just on the top but around the outside of the basket for a spherical effect. Deer and rabbits rarely browse the foliage, although slugs and snails can be an issue for the youngest and most tender growth. 

Thundercloud Stonecrop Care

Thundercloud Sedum is a low-growing variety that can tolerate more shade than taller-growing types. Full sun to part shade with well-draining soil is perfect. Sedum does prefer slightly acidic soil, although neutral soil is acceptable. This evergreen perennial rarely requires heavy watering after it is established and prefers to have soil that dries between sessions. Fertilize once a year with a slow-release, balanced feed in the spring. Mulching with 1-2 inches of compost will give sedum a good start but will be more difficult the older the plants get as the foliage hugs the ground and suppresses weeds almost completely.

Maintenance chores for Thundercloud are very few and almost unnecessary as the plants mature. Deadheading the spent flowers will help to tidy plants for the fall. Clumps of plants need to be divided every 2-3 years and are easily separated as whole plantlets from the mother plant. Sedum that is growing in pots will require more frequent watering than those growing in the garden. Ensure that drainage is excellent in the pot, and let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry between watering.

ThunderCloud Stonecrop Spacing

Thundercloud is a very compact plant that only reaches a height of 6-8 inches and has a spread of 10-12 inches. Place plants 10 inches apart when growing as a groundcover, which can be used to cover the soil like a living mulch. Individual stonecrops in containers can be grown in pots as small as a 4-inch diameter.