What Is The Best Soil For Stonecrop? (Ideal Sedum Soil)

Stonecrop isn’t picky – it can withstand drought conditions and also extreme heat or cold. However, sedum does have a preference for the soil it grows in.

So, what is the best soil for stonecrop? The best soil for stonecrop is a sandy, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Stonecrop is a succulent, so it doesn’t need (or want) much water. Shallow soil is also suitable for stonecrop, due to its lack of deep roots. Stonecrop can even grow in rocky soil (gravel) without much trouble.

Poor soil isn’t a problem for stonecrop, but rich soil might be. Too much nitrogen can cause stonecrop to get “floppy” and fall over.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best soil for stonecrop and what might happen in the wrong soil. We’ll also talk about some ways you can improve soil that is not ideal to begin with.

Let’s get started.

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What Is The Best Soil For Stonecrop?

The best soil for stonecrop is any well-draining soil. Stonecrop is a succulent, so it doesn’t need much moisture in the soil (and soil that is too wet for too long will cause trouble, in the form of root rot).

sedum stonecrop — Stonecrop is a succulent, so it doesn’t need much water. As such, well-draining soil is a must, meaning sandy soil is great for sedum.

Sandy soil is great for stonecrop because it drains well. Gravelly soil (with stones) is also fine, since stonecrop tolerates poor soil. Shallow soil isn’t a problem either, since stonecrop has shallow roots.

(Check out this article to learn about other plants that grow well in poor soil).

Stonecrop prefers a soil pH that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline (basic). A soil pH of 6.0 to 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline) is ideal for stonecrop.

Soil that is too heavy in nitrogen may cause stonecrop to fall over. This can also happen due to a lack of sunlight (sedum needs full sun or partial shade – it cannot tolerate full shade).

sunlight through trees — Stonecrop may fall over due to a lack of sunlight or too much nitrogen in the soil.

Will Sedum Grow In Sandy Soil?

Sedum will grow in sandy soil without much trouble. Sedum likes good drainage, which sandy soil offers readily.

Sandy soil is generally better than clay soil for growing sedum. That doesn’t mean that you should give up on stonecrop if you have clay soil.

stonecrop sedum — Stonecrop likes sandy soil, since it drains well.

Will Sedum Grow In Clay Soil?

Stonecrop will not grow as well in clay soil as it would in sandy soil. Clay soil has small particles, so it retains moisture for a long time.

If your soil drains poorly, one option is to add organic material (compost) to improve drainage. (You can learn more about how to make soil drain better here).

Another option is to grow sedum in a pot. The soil in a container above ground will dry out faster after watering.

A third option is to create your own sandy soil mix and put it in a container to grow your stonecrop. That way, it will have the well-draining soil it needs to thrive.

No matter what, be careful about over watering. Stonecrop does not need much moisture to survive.

stonecrop yellow flowers — Be careful to avoid over watering with stonecrop, especially if your soil drains poorly.

Getting clay soil too wet will probably lead to root rot. If that happens, you might be able to propagate stonecrop from a leaf or stem cutting (but only do it for a variety that is not patented – the label should tell you).

Will Sedum Grow In Gravel?

Sedum will grow in gravel – in fact, stonecrop might even like the challenge! A layer of gravel makes for good drainage, and sedum tolerates poor and rocky soil.

So, if you want a drought-tolerant landscaping solution that will exclude some annoying weeds, try sedum planted in gravel (or in a rock garden). Speaking of growing on rocks…

Will Sedum Grow On Rocks?

True to its name, some sedum varieties will grow on rocks. The “creeping” stonecrop varieties tend to do this, spreading out in all directions across rocks in search of a little bit of shallow soil (which is really all they need to grow!)

How Deep To Plant Sedum

Sedum planting depth depends on plant maturity and on type. Both have fairly shallow roots, but the “creeping” stonecrop varieties (the “short” ones) don’t need much soil depth at all.

Sedum hispanicum — Stonecrop has shallow roots, and creeping stonecrop varieties don’t need to be buried deep.

If you are planting a whole sedum plant or a grown division from another plant, bury it deep enough so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Avoid burying the stems of clumping stonecrop varieties (the “tall” ones), since this will lead to stem rot.

If you are planting a new cutting, just stick the cut end into the soil. Stonecrop is not too hard to propagate, so it will likely take root soon enough.