'Dragon's Blood' Sedum

I've worked with 'Dragon's Blood' Sedum a lot in IL, because this particular creeping sedum has an excellent red color and is hardy beyond some of the others I have worked with. Even when it looks mostly dead, just keep it in it's place, and the following spring it may surprise you with an unexpected shoot of new life. I've used it in rock gardens, in full hot sun, but I've also had it do well in a partial shade garden with hosta and hydrangeas, I just made sure to plant it on the edge so that it was not shaded by other plants.
Only draw back I could find in the part shade was that it did not spread as quickly and it was not as deep of a red, and I don't remember it flowering either. So I guess that is a few draw backs, but it still grew and was pretty.
In addition to loving the color, hardiness, and versatility of this sedum, I also like that it's new, long shoots easily root themselves around, so that if I decide to move some of it, it has it's own root system. Love it!
Now, if you have never worked with any of the ground cover sedums, be warned, they can be addicting. They are tough, beautiful and add amazing texture to your garden, especially rock gardens. Some of my other favorites include 'Blue Spruce', 'Angelina' (like a blue spruce but yellow/green), 'Fulda's Glow' a very pretty golden one with rosy blush, and 'Voodoo' another nice red one. Oh, I also like a variety that goes by just the species, Sedum platycladus.
If you are at all interested in these, www.bluestoneperennials.com carries most of these varieties and I've found their selection, service and prices to be exceptional as far as online sights for ordering from. I've never had a problem with any of the plants I've ordered thru them.
You can also find a number of varieties, even more than I've mentioned at your local garden centers. Got a rocky spot in your yard you don't know what to do with, make it into a rock garden with some fantastic sedums! Happy Gardening!!!