No. 4 -- Sedum (Stonecrop)

Another no brainer! Wonderful ground covers, super easy to grow, nice range of colors, easily propagated (spreading nicely), are just a few reasons why this one has been in the Top 20 for the past six years. Of course, I have tons of the creeping sedums but I really think my favorite this year was the taller 'Autumn Fire' or 'Autumn Joy.' And yes, it is a real autumn joy. The bees and butterflies love these plump pink-purple blooms almost as much as I do. The taller sedums can provide a shrub-like appearance for back of the border or as I enjoyed in England a few years ago, used as hedging material. Pictured is Sedum kamtschaticum 'Variegatum' in our rock garden.