Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’ Live Succulent Plant – Easy Care Stonecrop

Overview

Introduce a splash of dramatic color and texture to your plant collection with the stunning sedum dragon’s blood. This resilient and visually appealing plant, scientifically known as Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’, is a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Also commonly referred to as caucasian stonecrop, it is a type of succulent known for its vibrant foliage. The leaves typically present a lush green hue, beautifully contrasted by striking burgundy edges that deepen in color with more sun exposure. This particular succulent live plant is highly adaptable, thriving in various settings from rock gardens to container arrangements, making it a versatile addition to any landscape or indoor space.

The ‘Dragon’s Blood’ cultivar is celebrated for its low-growing, mat-forming habit, making it an excellent ground cover. During the summer months, it produces small, star-shaped red flowers that add another layer of charm to its already captivating appearance. Its robust nature and minimal care requirements classify it as an easy care succulent, ideal for those seeking beauty without extensive maintenance. Whether you’re enhancing an outdoor garden or bringing a touch of nature indoors, this sedum promises enduring appeal.

Key Benefits

The sedum dragon’s blood offers a multitude of benefits, making it a highly desirable plant for various applications. Its striking appearance and hardiness contribute significantly to its popularity.

• Drought Tolerant & Low Maintenance: This succulent live plant is incredibly resilient, requiring minimal watering once established. Its ability to thrive in dry conditions makes it an excellent choice for xeriscaping and busy individuals who want beautiful plants without constant attention.
• Vibrant Foliage & Seasonal Color: The green leaves with burgundy edges provide year-round interest, intensifying in color with ample sunlight. Small red flowers appear in summer, adding seasonal beauty to your garden or home.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: As a low-growing ground cover, the caucasian stonecrop is perfect for rock gardens, borders, containers, or even as a living mulch. Its spreading habit helps suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion.
• Great for Beginners: Its forgiving nature makes it an ideal plant for those new to gardening. It tolerates a range of conditions and is an easy care succulent, building confidence for new plant enthusiasts.
• Compact Growth Habit: Growing up to 6 inches tall, it maintains a neat and tidy appearance without becoming unruly, fitting well into smaller spaces or alongside other plants.
• Attracts Pollinators: The summer flowers can attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, contributing to local biodiversity.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your sedum dragon’s blood is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels. Understanding its basic needs will ensure a thriving and vibrant plant. For optimal growth, this sedum spurium prefers full sun to slight shade. Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to encourage the most intense burgundy coloration in its leaves. While it can tolerate some shade, too little light may result in greener foliage and less compact growth. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or under a grow light to mimic its preferred conditions.

When it comes to watering, less is often more for this succulent. It thrives on infrequent watering, preferring to dry out completely between waterings. Approximately 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or manual watering, is generally sufficient during its active growing season. During cooler months or dormancy, reduce watering significantly. Overwatering is the most common cause of problems for succulents, leading to root rot. Ensure your plant is in well-draining soil, ideally a mix designed for cacti and succulents, to prevent waterlogging. A good soil blend often includes pumice, perlite, or grit to enhance drainage. Temperatures between 65-75°F (18-25°C) are ideal during summer, and it’s best to keep temperatures above 50-55°F (10-12.7°C). If outdoor temperatures drop below freezing, bring potted plants indoors. Repotting every 1-2 years into a slightly larger pot with fresh soil will support its continued growth.

Size & Details

The sedum dragon’s blood is a compact and vigorous succulent, perfect for various garden and container applications. This particular succulent live plant typically grows to a height of about 6 inches, with a spreading habit that can create attractive mats of foliage. When shipped, smaller 2-inch plants are usually provided with their pot and soil, ensuring they arrive ready for immediate placement or transplanting. Larger plants, including 4-inch and above sizes, are often shipped bare root. This method, while requiring a little more initial care upon arrival, ensures the plant’s health during transit and reduces shipping costs. You will receive a plant very similar to those pictured, though natural variations in shape and color are expected.

This resilient sedum spurium exhibits a moderate growth rate, quickly establishing itself in suitable conditions. It’s known for its ability to form a dense ground cover, making it an excellent choice for filling in gaps in garden beds or cascading over the edges of planters. The vivid green and burgundy coloration is a hallmark of the ‘Dragon’s Blood’ cultivar, providing consistent visual interest throughout the growing season. Its robust nature and ease of establishment make it a rewarding plant for any gardener.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’ plant get? A: The sedum dragon’s blood typically grows to about 6 inches in height. It has a spreading, mat-forming habit, making it an excellent ground cover.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This caucasian stonecrop is versatile and can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, it thrives in full sun to partial shade. Indoors, it needs bright, direct light, ideally near a south-facing window.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For the best color and growth, the sedum spurium prefers at least 6 hours of full sun daily. It can tolerate slight shade, but intense burgundy leaf coloration is achieved with more sun.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, the sedum dragon’s blood is considered an easy care succulent and is excellent for beginners. It’s drought-tolerant and requires minimal attention once established.
• Q: What condition will the plant arrive in? A: Smaller 2-inch plants are typically shipped with their pot and soil. Larger plants (4 inches and up) are often shipped bare root to ensure their health during transit.
• Q: What type of soil does this succulent prefer? A: This succulent live plant thrives in well-draining soil. A cactus or succulent mix enhanced with pumice, perlite, or grit is ideal to prevent waterlogging.
• Q: How often should I water my Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’? A: Water sparingly. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. About 1 inch of water per week during the growing season is usually sufficient, less in cooler months.
• Q: Can this plant survive cold temperatures? A: The sedum dragon’s blood is quite hardy, but it’s best to protect it from freezing temperatures below 40°F. If growing in a pot, bring it indoors during severe cold.
• Q: When does it bloom? A: This sedum typically produces small, red, star-shaped flowers during the summer months, adding to its ornamental appeal.
• Q: Is it pet-safe? A: Sedum spurium is generally considered non-toxic to pets, but it’s always best to prevent pets from ingesting plants.