Autumn Color with Native Plants
Sedum Ternatum
Sustainable Landscaping with Native Plants
In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November.
The crisp fall air heralds the emergence of golden hues, native asters, and graceful meadow grasses in our garden beds; and this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness isn’t complete without autumn colour. One such native plant, whose color lasts through the autumn season and well into the winter is Sedum Ternatum Stonecrop.
If you’re looking for a beautiful plant that thrives with virtual neglect, sedum ternatum just might fit the bill. Sedums strut their stuff where many other plants dare not venture. They make themselves at home, for example, in the cracks of a garden wall or walkway, on roofs or the tops of gently sloping birdhouses, or even under massive trees where enormous roots monopolize most of the soil’s moisture. They also perform well in rock gardens, borders, and containers and are excellent for fall and winter interest with their ornamental seed heads
Mats of succulent leaves ranging from green to bluish gray to reddish bronze are topped with five-petaled flowers in yellow, white, or pink. The leaves of evergreen species turn shades of red and russet in winter. Plant in rock gardens, walls, pathway niches, and containers; as edging for borders; or in sweeps on hillsides.
The genus Sedum includes more than 400 species of succulent annuals, perennials, biennials, subshrubs, and shrubs native to the Northern Hemisphere. Many sedums in cultivation are creeping ground covers. There is at least one species hardy to each USDA Hardiness Zone. Most are hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
Creeping sedums, also commonly known as stonecrops, offer unending interest throughout my garden. They are among the most versatile, drought-tolerant, and easy-to-grow perennials I’ve ever cultivated during several decades as a gardener. Sedums actually decrease work for a gardener as they increase in square footage. Renowned for their ability to spread quickly, these low growers thus keep weeds from taking hold.
Most creeping sedums prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Sedum ternatum, a native of North America, is one sedum that prefers the shade and a bit more moisture than its relatives.
At Lincoln Landscaping cultivating the environment is our life and livelihood. It is our number one goal to help our clients create and maintain beautiful landscapes while reducing the impact on the environment. Whether you are interested in a pollinator landscape garden design and build or other landscaping or property management project; we can create for you an environmentally friendly, organic and beautiful property.
Lincoln Landscaping of Franklin Lakes offers complete
organic landscaping, lawn care, turf and property management services.
Lincoln Landscaping “The Natural Choice”
Mike Kolenut President & CEO
https://lincolnlandscapinginc.com
(201) 848-9699
