Cauticola Sedum

Sedum cauticola

Nature Hills Nursery

Powdery Blue-Grey Foliage with Purple Undersides Stays Compact and Drought-Tolerant Year-Round
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 1 ft Tall and Wide
Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Great Choice for Mass Planting in Asian Gardens

$32⁹⁶

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Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This succulent thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily to maintain its tight, mounded shape and deep blue-grey foliage color. In partial shade, the stems tend to stretch and become "leggy" as they reach for the light, which can lead to sparse flowering.
Soil: Cauticola Sedum requires excellent drainage to prevent root rot; it loves gritty or rocky soil that mimics a mountain crevice. If you have heavy clay, mix in a generous amount of pea gravel or coarse sand to create air pockets and ensure water moves away from the crown quickly.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water your Sedum once a week or whenever the top inch of soil feels bone dry to help the roots anchor. Once established, this plant is exceptionally drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water unless you experience a prolonged heatwave. Overwatering or inconsistent moisture often results in mushy leaves and a loss of the characteristic powdery bloom on the foliage.

Pruning Tips

Since this variety blooms on new wood and dies back to the ground in winter, the best time to prune is in early spring just as new growth emerges. Simply snip away the dead, dried stems from the previous year to about an inch above the soil line. This annual "spring cleaning" makes room for fresh stems and ensures the plant remains a tidy, vibrant mound rather than a tangled mess of old debris.

Fertilizer Needs

Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a thin layer of compost in early spring to give the plant a gentle boost. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, succulent growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. This tender growth is much more susceptible to winter kill and pest damage compared to naturally toughened stems.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Compact/Dwarf, Evergreen, Groundcover, Flowering, Slopes/Erosion Control, Deer-resistant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Attracts pollinators, Container Friendly, Non-invasive, Disease resistant, Fast-growing
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	1 ft
Width	1 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Preferred Soil	Loamy, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Spreading, Trailing
Blooms In	Summer, Fall
Flower Color	Pink
Foliage Color	Blue green, Green
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Sedum cauticola
Class	Saxifragales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT

Blue-grey foliage brings a cool, calm, and collected feel to the hot and dry landscape! The Cauticola Sedum (Sedum cauticola), also known as Stonecrop, is one hardy perennial you will not want to miss out on! This Sedum stays short and compact and boasts loads of unexpected color and hardiness!

The foliage is a powdery blue with purplish undersides and purplish stems. Sedum cauticoa nestles itself into the edges of your landscape quietly from early spring when its small rounded leaves emerge, until later in September! Butterflies and bees will get their fill most of the growing season from these star-shaped blossoms held in dense flat-topped clusters!

Then, watch out for the amazing transformation of the most incredible display of raspberry-colored flowers that completely cover the plant you can imagine! Cauticola is a real keeper! The flowers fade as they age, and even when done, the seed heads remain an attribute until the snows cover them providing winter interest.

This little perennial Sedum dies back to the same point, then each spring, it does it all over again year after year! Deer and rabbits seldom bother these hardy perennials throughout USDA growing zones 4 to 9, nor does drought, heat, chill, humidity, or pests give this low-growing ornamental flowering perennial a reason to balk!

Planting and Application:

Cauticola does not spread aggressively. Instead, it remains a neat and more individual plant that works incredibly well as an edging plant, or in any other hot and dry area. Stonecrop creates a dense mat that is perfect for keeping weeds at bay. This fast-growing cover performs beautifully in the most difficult of growing conditions. Plus Sedum are on many Firewise lists for use in defensible spaces around your home!

You can't keep the bees or butterflies away from this Rock Garden and Xeriscaping gem! These perennials politely spread and hold the ground in place making them suitable for erosion control on hot, sunny hillsides and transforming a hard-to-mow slope into a cheerful spectacle!

Create en masse plantings, using 3 or 4 plants at the widest point of the drift or in a zigzagged pattern. Space these special plants 8 - 12 inches apart on center. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next. You'll get them to create a solid fill faster if you space them closer together.

Use Cauticola in your seasonal containers as "Spillers", and watch as they will drape over the edge of the pot. Want a low-maintenance focal point? Create an elevated planting bed along the length of your patio! Mix in other varieties of Stonecrop for an entire Sedum display! There are so many varieties that you'll have a large and varied collection before you know it!

Clusters of Star-Shaped Raspberry Blooms
Powdery Blue-Gray Foliage & Purple Undersides & Stems
Summer Til Fall Blooms For Pollinators
Low-Growing Politely Spreading Mounds
Fantastic Groundcover, En Masse, Containers & Edging

#ProPlantTips for Care:

This rugged low-growing perennial does best when grown in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. You may not see as much bold foliage coloration in anything less. Give these low-maintenance groundcovers well-drained, average to poor soil. If needed, elevate your plantings in a raised bed to give them that well-drained location they require.

Water carefully to establish your new plants during their first season. Check the soil moisture by poking your finger into the soil and using the Finger Test! Once your Cauticola is established in your soil, it'll be a low-water usage plant - tolerant of high heat and drought.

All plants appreciate a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch around their roots. Carefully trim down Cauticola to clean up any fallen leaves and last year's seedheads in spring just before the new growth begins to show.

Best Color in Full Sun
Moderate to Low Soil Moisture Once Established
Nearly Any Very Well-Drained Soil Type
Prune Back Early Spring
Disease Resistant, Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant
Drought Tolerant & Deer Resistant
Perfect Plant for Beginners!

Order the Cauticola Stonecrop for your landscape today for the easiest groundcover that stays cool, calm, and collected in spite of the hot sun and dry garden locations! Find yours at Nature Hills!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mature size or height of Cauticola Sedum?

Cauticola Sedum stays short and compact, typically reaching 4-6 inches tall with a 12-18 inch spread. This low-growing perennial forms dense mats that work perfectly as edging plants or ground cover in hot, dry areas where you need reliable, neat growth.

How often should I water Cauticola Sedum, and is it drought-tolerant?

Cauticola Sedum is extremely drought-tolerant and thrives in hot, dry conditions across zones 4-9. Water only during establishment, then let natural rainfall handle the rest. This hardy stonecrop actually performs better with less water, making it perfect for xeriscaping projects available at naturehills.com.

What type of soil does Sedum cauticola prefer—neutral, alkaline, or well-drained?

Sedum cauticola thrives in well-drained soil and tolerates poor, rocky conditions. This hardy perennial performs best when drainage is excellent, as waterlogged soil can cause root rot. Plant in sandy or gravelly soil for optimal results in zones 4-9.

What are the pruning requirements for Sedum cauticola after blooming?

Cauticola Sedum requires minimal pruning after its September raspberry flower display. The seed heads provide attractive winter interest, so leave them intact through winter. Cut back the dead foliage to ground level in early spring before new growth emerges.

Is Sedum cauticola safe for pets or is it toxic if ingested?

Sedum cauticola is generally considered mildly toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities, potentially causing mild stomach upset. While deer and rabbits avoid this hardy zones 4-9 perennial, it's best to monitor curious pets around your garden. Consider placement away from pet areas when you shop at Nature Hills.

How is Cauticola Sedum shipped—bare root, potted, or when is shipping available?

Cauticola Sedum typically ships as potted plants during the growing season from spring through fall. This hardy perennial (zones 4-9) establishes quickly in hot, dry conditions. Order early in the season for best selection and planting success.

Can Sedum cauticola be planted in rock gardens, troughs, or alpine screes?

Sedum cauticola excels in rock gardens, troughs, and alpine screes where its compact growth and drought tolerance shine. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4-9 and creates dense, weed-suppressing mats perfect for challenging locations. Plant in well-draining soil with full sun for best flowering and foliage color.

Cauticola Sedum

Sedum cauticola