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Many sedums come under the same 'hardy' umbrella as sempervivums, but by no means all. Sedum acre, often referred to as stonecrop, and Sedum spathulifolium are both fully hardy but beware, Sedum sieboldii 'Mediovariegatum' from Japan and Sedum morganianum from Mexico should both be regarded as tender.
Echeveria is another large family of rosette-forming succulents, embracing 150 species from the dry regions of Texas, Mexico and the Andes. The flowers are very attractive, often yellow with pink tips and yellow-orange inside, and last several weeks. Echeveria secunda is the most common, with rosettes of fleshy leaves. These are soon surrounded by a clutch of babies, leading to the formation of dense clumps. It was frequently used in Victorian carpet bedding schemes. Its larger and more impressive relative is Echeveria secunda 'Gigantea'.
Aeoniums form a much smaller group of only 30 species. Neat rosettes of rounded fleshy leaves are produced, sometimes green, blue-green or even purple. The most striking example of the latter is Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' with its glossy deep purple, virtually black, leaves which appear at the end of twisting branches on this almost tree-like plant. It may eventually grow as tall as 2m, although its yellow flower spike will reach far higher.
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