The Sedum Ground Cover That Will Attract Butterflies With Its White Flowers

Sedum is a stunning workhorse of a succulent that doesn't just beautify your gardens. It can often also attract butterflies and other pollinators. While many popular sedum varieties are a bit too tall to also work for ground cover, that certainly isn't the case with all types. 'Murale' (Sedum album subsp. teretifolium), which is a type white sedum or stonecrop, is just as good at attracting pollinators as its taller relatives, but because it rarely grows past 3 inches tall and easily spreads, it also makes an excellent ground cover that provides year-round color interest.

Native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, some types of white stonecrop can be an aggressive grower in parts of North America, spreading via roots that grow out of its low-growing stems, so think carefully before deciding where to plant it. However, the same aggressive growth that can make 'Murale' a problem in some contexts also makes it a good ground cover option. For growers in USDA Hardiness zones 3 through 9 who have an appropriate space for it, 'Murale' white stonecrop can make an appropriate ground cover option for low traffic areas, and it'll bring plenty of benefits with it.

Like other succulents, 'Murale' has somewhat delicate, fleshy leaves, so it will work best as a ground cover in garden beds and other areas where it won't be trampled by people or pets. While its flowers only bloom from June through August, 'Murale' wil attract hordes of butterflies and other pollinators to your summer garden. Even after the flowers and butterflies are gone for the year, the ground cover will still light up your yard with its charming jelly bean-like leaves that will blush in cold weather and continue to provide you with beautiful winter interest. 'Murale' isn't just beautiful; it's also practical. Because it is deer and rabbit resistant, 'Murale' stonecrop can be an especially good ground cover option for spots where other plants are quickly nibbled away by hungry guests. 

While the 'Murale' cultivar of white stonecrop isn't as ubiquitous in shops and garden centers as some other sedum varieties, you may be able to find it in specialty plant shops or online, particularly from retailers that specialize in succulents. It's important to know before planting that, like most succulents, 'Murale' stonecrop thrives in full sun, though it can also grow well in part sun. One of the best succulents to enhance your drought-friendly lawn, it is relatively tolerant of a variety of soil types, including sandy, rocky, and even clay-heavy soils. It does however require the soil to be well-draining. In fact, it's far more important to avoid overwatering it, much like how you would care for other succulents in and around your home.