Sedum japonicum var. senanese

Not all great sedums come from Europe or North America, and Sedum japonicum var. senanese is a reminder of how much interesting material comes out of East Asia's rocky mountain flora. This Japanese stonecrop variety forms a fine-textured, bright green mat of small, succulent leaves that have a fresh, vivid quality — more intensely green than many sedums, which tend toward blue-gray or muted tones. The green contrasts well with the fire engine highlights.Tiny yellow flowers appear in summer, proportionally small and delicate, scattered across the mat like stars. It has a lightness and freshness to it that stands out in a collection.

Hardy to Zone 6, it's suited to the mild west-side Pacific Northwest climate without much trouble, and it offers the added bonus of tolerating some shade — unusual in the sedum world and useful for spots that aren't in full sun all day. Morning sun and afternoon shade, dappled woodland edges, or the north side of a rock garden are all possibilities that most other sedums would struggle with. Well-drained soil is still the basic requirement. In troughs, rock garden pockets, or shaded gravel beds, it brings a bright, fresh green note that contrasts beautifully with darker or blue-toned companions. If your rock garden needs a little lightness and you've got a spot with less than full sun, this is the sedum to reach for.