Sedum sarmentosum 'Lijima'

Sedum sarmentosum is a spreading, stoloniferous East Asian stonecrop that's been in cultivation in Japan for centuries as a traditional ornamental and medicinal plant. Sedum sarmentosum 'Lijima' is a selected form with particularly good garden character — the trailing, spreading stems carry bright green, whorled leaves that give the plant a fresh, lively appearance, and pale yellow flowers appear in late spring to early summer in a delicate, pleasing flush. It spreads efficiently to cover ground without being aggressive, and handles a range of conditions with easy adaptability.

Suited to PNW conditions with moderate drainage requirements — it's more tolerant of moist soils than many sedums, which gives it some flexibility in the wetter west-side gardens. Full to part sun works well; it can handle the dappled conditions at the edge of a tree canopy better than most its family members. Groundcover applications, rock garden edges, and low-maintenance slope plantings are all appropriate. It has a quiet, traditional quality — the kind of plant that's been grown in East Asian gardens for generations because it simply works — and that history adds a dimension of meaning to growing it here on the other side of the Pacific.