It is with great anticipation that this week’s “What’s Doing the Blooming?” is finally doing just that! Watching the sedum come into bloom is like watching the stars come out. Large, dense clusters of buds appear in August atop the sedum’s strong and sturdy stems. By

late August their crowded flower clusters begin to burst open. First one perfect starry flower, then a star cluster appears. Before you know it, it’s a virtual sedum flower galaxy! All through spring and summer the upright sedum have been patiently filling our garden beds and landscape borders. Their beautiful clean, succulent foliage provides texture and fullness that is unparalleled.

Many are familiar with the ever popular Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and ‘Autumn Fire’. This week I would like to highlight five “allstar” sedums that are lesser known. ‘Carl’, ‘Red Cauli’, ‘Neon’, ‘Lemonjade’ and ‘Lidakense’ are fantastic plants that deserve space in your sunny

beds or borders. All sedum prefer well-drained soil and full sun. They are hardy in zones 3-9. They make excellent cut flowers and in winter, their thick stems and seed heads add texture and interest. Sedum grow well with ornamental grasses, rudbeckia and asters. They make a stunning late summer display that will take you through fall and right into winter!