Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Little Miss Sunshine Stonecrop: A Glossy Mat at Lavender's Feet
Save
Little Miss Sunshine stonecrop is a groundcover sedum grown first for its leaves: small, fleshy and spoon-shaped, in a very dark, glossy green that looks almost polished. In early to midsummer, flat clusters of tiny bright yellow star-shaped flowers cover the mat, and the yellow against near-black green is a sharp combination.
It stays 6 to 8 inches tall, handles heat and drought easily once established and is tidy enough for the most visible spots in the garden.
Little Miss Sunshine at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phedimus kamtschaticus 'Little Miss Sunshine' (sedum) |
| Foliage | Very dark green, glossy, fleshy leaves about 1 inch long |
| Flowers | Flat clusters of bright yellow stars |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall, 18 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-June, peaks early July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; rabbits leave it alone |
A succulent carpet for a lavender bed
Lavender beds can look bare at ground level, especially with young plants. Little Miss Sunshine fills that space without competing. It thrives in the same hot, sunny, well-drained ground, needs no extra water once settled and stays low enough that it never shades the lavender. Plant it along the front edge, around path stones or in the gaps between groups of lavender, keeping a few inches clear around each lavender crown so the base stays dry and airy.
The color combination works too: dark glossy green and yellow in early summer, then a plain dark green carpet that sets off silver lavender foliage the rest of the season. Plan the layout in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. Wet or heavy soil invites root and stem rot.
- Water: regularly for the first few weeks, then only in extreme drought.
- After bloom: shear lightly or snip faded flower stems to keep the mat tidy.
- Filling in: break off pieces and replant them wherever you want more coverage; sedum roots easily.
- Pests: few. Occasional aphids or slugs.
Winter
It is fully hardy in Michigan. In winter it dies back to small overwintering buds at the base, so do not be alarmed when the mat shrinks. Skip heavy mulch over the crowns; like lavender, it prefers to stay dry through winter.
Frequently asked questions
Will it work in containers?
Yes. It is a good spiller or filler in container combinations, especially with other drought-tolerant plants like lavender.
Why is the center thinning in summer?
In hot, humid summers the foliage can thin in the center if the soil stays wet. Improve drainage and cut back on watering.
Plug tray or bare root?
The 72-cell plug tray is the efficient choice for covering a lot of ground or for growers. The bare root plant suits a single spot in a home bed. See each product page for current availability.
Share how it went in your field