Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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sedum ground cover

If you’re searching for a lush, low-maintenance way to blanket your garden with colour and texture, sedum ground cover could be your perfect solution. As one of the most versatile and easy-care succulents available in New Zealand, sedum ground covers thrive where other plants struggle, making them an excellent choice for gardeners who want beauty with minimal effort. Their dense, mat-forming habits help suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and add seasonal interest with vibrant blooms and ever-changing foliage. Whether you're looking to cover bare soil, stabilise slopes or create a living tapestry in rockeries, sedum ground cover brings both practicality and visual delight to your outdoor space.

Isotoma fluviatilis

Isotoma fluviatilis features small, dark green leaves that give the appearance of a lush, green carpet. The foliage is adorned with masses of small, blue, star-shaped flowers from spring through autumn. It typically grows to just 10 cm tall and will spread to 40 cm. Isotoma fluviatilis is commonly grown as a ground cover, planted between paving stones and similar areas, included in cottage gardens, or used to trail over a wall or from a hanging basket.

Buy Isotoma fluviatilis

From $19.58

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 40 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native

Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant or Pork and Beans Plant, is a compact, low-growing succulent reaching 15–20 cm tall and spreading up to 30 cm wide. It features plump, jelly bean-shaped leaves that are green with red tips, intensifying with sun exposure. Yellow star-shaped flowers appear in spring. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it perfect for pots, rockeries, and dry areas in New Zealand gardens.

Buy Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

From $20.93

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Succulents

Height: 20 cm

Spread: 20 cm

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Rock

Why Choose Sedum Ground Cover?

Sedum ground cover stands out for its exceptional drought tolerance and adaptability to a variety of soil types, including poor or rocky ground. Sedums, often called stonecrops, are ideal for covering sunny banks, edging pathways, or filling gaps between stepping stones. Their succulent leaves retain moisture, so they cope well with dry spells, and many varieties blush with red, pink or golden tones as the seasons change. Plus, sedum ground cover attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, all while requiring very little attention from you.

Popular Varieties for Your Garden

One of the most eye-catching types is Sedum spurium Voodoo (Stonecrop Voodoo), which boasts deep burgundy foliage that intensifies in cooler months. If you want a playful, sculptural spread, Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant) offers chunky, jelly-bean-shaped leaves that transition from bright green to a sunset red. For a unique blend of colours, Sedum Rainbow Blob creates a living mosaic with its multi-hued succulent leaves. All these varieties are well-suited to the diverse climates found in New Zealand, and they establish quickly.

How to Plant and Care for Sedum Ground Cover

Sedum ground cover is best planted in a spot with full sun or light shade and well-draining soil. Simply space your plants or cuttings 20-30cm apart, water well at planting, and mulch lightly to deter weeds while roots establish. Once settled in, sedums require very little water and almost no fertiliser. Cut back any leggy growth after flowering, and share the bounty by propagating new plants from cuttings or divisions.

Companion Planting and Alternatives

Looking to diversify your ground cover tapestry? Try interweaving sedum varieties with other low-spreading plants. Isotoma fluviatilis, with its fine, starry flowers, makes a charming contrast to the fleshy sedum leaves. For a native option, Scleranthus biflorous forms a dense, moss-like cushion, perfect for softening stonework or covering garden edges.

Bring Colourful, Resilient Coverage to Your Garden

Sedum ground cover combines beauty, resilience, and ease in one plant family. From slopes to garden beds, green roofs or patio pots, these succulents offer stylish, sustainable coverage for every corner of your landscape. Browse our selection to find the perfect sedum for your New Zealand garden—whether you opt for the rich tones of Sedum spurium Voodoo (Stonecrop Voodoo), the quirky appeal of Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant), or the vibrant hues of Sedum Rainbow Blob. Enjoy year-round beauty that asks for so little in return.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.