How to Grow Touchdown Football Sedum
Touchdown Football Sedum
Sedum × 'Touchdown Football'
succulentTouchdown Football is a compact succulent groundcover with distinctive football-shaped, plump leaves that display rich red, orange, and burgundy colors, especially in cooler seasons. This hybrid sedum is a low-maintenance ornamental perfect for rock gardens, containers, and xeriscaping. It produces small clusters of pink flowers in late summer and attracts pollinators.
When should you plant Touchdown Football Sedum in your zone?
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Example Touchdown Football Sedum timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Touchdown Football Sedum
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Touchdown Football Sedum
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Touchdown Football Sedum dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; very cold and heat tolerant
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Establishment
2-4 weeksYoung rosette with tight clusters of small, green-tinged football-shaped leaves
Water lightly after planting to settle soil. Avoid overwatering. Protect from extreme heat if newly planted in hot climates.
Vegetative Growth
Spring through early summerMat-forming groundcover expands with leaves becoming plumper and showing red-orange coloration, especially with cooler temperatures and bright light
Minimal watering needed. No fertilizer required; excess nitrogen reduces color intensity. Deadhead spent flowers if desired.
Flowering
Late summer to early fall (4-6 weeks)Small, star-shaped pink flowers appear in terminal clusters above the foliage
Continue minimal watering. Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Leave flowers for pollinator benefit or deadhead for neater appearance.
Winter Dormancy
Late fall through early springLeaves intensify to deep burgundy and red tones; growth slows dramatically. Plant remains evergreen.
No watering needed in most climates unless extreme drought occurs. Plant is fully winter hardy. Do not fertilize.
Mature Specimen
Year 2 onwardDense, spreading mat with multiple crowns; full color range visible across the planting
Remove any dead leaves. Thin if becoming too dense or congested. Propagate by division or leaf cuttings if desired.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; improve air circulation to reduce conditions favoring infestation
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Prevention through well-draining soil and minimal watering is key; remove affected plants; improve drainage
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Increase humidity slightly; spray with water or insecticidal soap if severe
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and
Remove by hand; copper tape or barriers around containers; diatomaceous earth
Uses
Xeriscape and low-maintenance gardens
HouseholdPerfect for drought-tolerant landscapes and water-wise gardens. Requires minimal fertilizer, pesticides, and supplemental watering once established, making it ideal for sustainable landscaping. [source]
Container and rock garden cultivation
HouseholdExcellent choice for alpine troughs, decorative pots, living walls, and rock gardens. Its compact habit and colorful foliage make it visually striking in confined spaces. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifePink flowers bloom in late summer and early fall, providing nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects when many other flowers are fading. [source]
Succulent arrangement and propagation
CraftLeaves root easily and can be propagated for gifting or expanding plantings. Popular for creative succulent arrangements and living art projects. [source]
Groundcover and erosion control
HouseholdSpreads to form a dense, attractive mat that stabilizes soil on slopes and prevents erosion while requiring minimal maintenance. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not harvested for food. Propagate for sharing: remove individual leaves and lay on dry soil to develop roots and plantlets (2-3 weeks), or divide established clumps in spring.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Touchdown Football Sedum gets its name from the football-shaped leaves that resemble the shape of an American football—a distinctive characteristic among sedum varieties.
- 🌱 This sedum exhibits dramatic color-shifting: leaves are greenish in warm weather but intensify to brilliant shades of red, burgundy, and orange during cooler fall and winter months due to anthocyanin pigment production.
- 🌱 Sedums are among the few true succulents that are cold-hardy to zone 3, making them rare among fleshy-leaved plants for northern climates.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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