Tales of Turquoise Tails Sedum
Turquoise Tails blue sedum, photo: Lauren Springer Ogden
The first sedum in the Plant Select® program, Turquoise Tails sedum was pioneered by renowned plant innovators Kelly Grummons, and Scott and Lauren Ogden. A unique addition to Plant Select®, it is an heirloom species native to the Mediterranean, and expected to become one of the more popular plant species in the program.
Why choose sedum? This little jewel has spiky, succulent leaves of turquoise blue, and in June and July, small clusters of creamy yellow flowers rise above them. The compact mounds create a sculptural accent for dry xeriscapes or water-smart gardens, and it can be tucked in among larger perennials, cacti, or succulents due to its petite size. In a larger garden setting, you may want to group 3-5 together in a mass planting to showcase this little gem’s textural qualities. It is winter hardy to zone 5a (-15 to -20° F), which means it can be used in most locations throughout the Denver metro area and the front range of Colorado. It survives with very little care once established, and is evergreen during the winter months. All this is just for starters! In addition, it is drought tolerant as well as deer resistant.
Are you a fan of rock gardening? Turquoise Tails sedum is perfect for that setting, and it will work in all but the smallest rock gardens. It can be combined with other sedums on a green roof, which is an exciting concept in which a roof is specially constructed then planted with plants to create a green space which flowers and attracts butterflies and birds.
All you need to provide is a full sun location, well-drained soil, and high expectations. Turquoise Tails sedum will shine for you, meeting and exceeding expectations- try it for yourself!
View the plant profile here. Or watch the video here.
Turquoise Tails Blue Sedum (Sedum sediforme)
Perennial
Height: 4-6”
Width: 8-12”
Blooms: June-July
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to xeric
Hardiness: USDA zones 5a-10
Culture: Clay, loam, or sandy soil
Thanks to Ginger Jennings, Tagawa Gardens, Centennial CO for writing this piece.
I believe my grandmother had one of these as a house plant. Am I mistaking it for another plant?
Yes, you are probably thinking of the house plant Burro’s Tail- Sedum Morganianum. Even though these two sedums are slightly different they both do well in containers, but Tales of Turquoise is winter hardy in Colorado.