Sedum Hab Grey

Ecology

There is more to this showy plant than meets the eye.

Petroleum hydrocarbon (PHCs) pollution is a global soil ecological problem and multiple studies have shown that the S. spectabile remediation system is effective for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil, especially when assisted by two nanomaterials (nano SiO2, nano CeO2).

More importantly still is the ability to transfer the PAHs to easily harvested aboveground parts, thus facilitating the actual removal of the pollutants from the soil.

A real diamond in the rough.

What is a Sedum though?

Sedums, or stonecrops, are hardy succulent plants that are highly drought-tolerant, robust, easy to grow, and require very little maintenance. They are especially valued for their attractive summer and often late-season flowers, which appear when few other plants are in bloom. Their flowers may be white, pink, red, purple, or yellow. Depending on the species, the fleshy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous and is often ornamental because of its shape or color. The plants themselves are highly architectural, with neat, regular leaf arrangements and forms.

Depending on the species, sedums may form dense ground-covering carpets with stems that root where they touch the ground, compact cushions, medium-sized upright perennials, or even small woody-based shrubs.

Compact varieties are ideal for rock gardens, between paving stones, along the edges of terraces and steps, on walls, green roofs, and gravel gardens. Taller forms are excellent in borders, wildflower meadows, and English-style mixed plantings.