Turquoise Tails blue sedum
Sedum sediforme
Turquoise Tails blue sedum (Sedum sediforme) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 4 to 8 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Distinctive blue-green needle-like foliage; arching habit; pale yellow flowers in summer.
Plant Select®low water4 to 8 in tall and 12 to 18 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 10/10Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Marios Thoma, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Marios Thoma, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: Petr1888, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 4: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 5: Ziegler175, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 6: no rights reserved
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 9
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- loam, sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hot south- or west-facing walls, Hellstrips / parking strips
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 4 to 8 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Planting spacing
- ~13 to 18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid summer
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom length
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Foliage
- Evergreen
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- Light foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 10/10
Using Turquoise Tails blue sedum as a groundcover
Turquoise Tails blue sedum forms a low mat. It fills in densely, crowding out most weeds. It takes light foot traffic, fine to step across occasionally, but not a play-lawn.
Planting & establishment
Sharp drainage; very drought tolerant once established.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Turquoise Tails blue sedum good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Turquoise Tails blue sedum is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Turquoise Tails blue sedum get?
- It matures to about 4 to 8 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Turquoise Tails blue sedum?
- Space Turquoise Tails blue sedum about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Turquoise Tails blue sedum hardy on the Front Range?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum is hardy in USDA 3 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Turquoise Tails blue sedum need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Turquoise Tails blue sedum native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Turquoise Tails blue sedum deer-resistant?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Turquoise Tails blue sedum a good firewise plant near the house?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum is rated 10 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on Turquoise Tails blue sedum?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum takes light foot traffic. You can step across it occasionally, but it won't hold up as a play-lawn.
- Will Turquoise Tails blue sedum spread or stay put?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- How long does Turquoise Tails blue sedum bloom?
- Turquoise Tails blue sedum blooms for about two to three weeks on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
