Sedum is a large family of more than 400 species of plants. All of them have succulent leaves, but they otherwise vary in hardiness and size. The wide variety means there is a sedum suited for all aspects of your landscape, whether you need a ground cover, a burst of color for your rock garden, a filler for a container or a long-lasting, hardy perennial.

Rock Gardens Sedum are desirable in part for their ability to thrive in poor soils, according to the Colorado State University Extension. This includes dry, rocky soil, which makes sedum the perfect choice for a rock garden. Many will creep and cascade over rocks. Try Sedum kamtschaticum, which has a trailing habit and blooms in the spring with tiny yellow flowers. Sedum album also has a trailing habit and features white flowers and leaves that change from green to red as cooler weather arrives.

Container Gardens Smaller, more compact sedum species are perfect for container gardens. "Xenox" is a variety of S. telephium, a particularly hardy species that will grow in just about any conditions, including high heat. Choose this striking plant -- it features bluish-purple leaves and pink flowers -- for your containers that sit in full sunlight. Sedum spurium blooms in the summer with delicate pink flowers, but it is the plant's bronze fall foliage that makes it special. Tuck this in among your fall mums for autumn-themed containers.

Ground Cover Some sedum species form lush, thick mats that are perfect for filling in the spaces between stepping stones or for other areas of the landscape that may be too harsh for other plants to thrive. A few sedum even tolerate foot traffic. Sedum rubrotinctum is a very hardy sedum commonly used as ground cover in California, according to Flowerdale Nurseries. One plant can spread up to 10 feet, forming a thick mat of bright green, orange and red foliage. Or, try Gold Moss sedum (S. acre), which grows only a few inches tall but forms a dense, springy patch covered with golden flowers.

Perennial Gardens The best sedums for a perennial garden are hybrids, according to Organic Gardening. Many grow as small shrubs and will bloom year after year with little care. They are suited to full-sun gardens and are drought-resistant. "Autumn Joy" is one of the most common. This plant grows to 2 feet and features coral, star-shaped flowers and bright red fall foliage. "Postsman's Pride" is desirable for its deeply purple leaves and large flowers that attract butterflies. Sedum dendroideum is nicknamed the "Tree" sedum because it grows almost like a small tree. This compact shrub will grow to 4 feet tall and wide and features bright green leaves. It is a particularly hardy sedum and will thrive even in coastal landscapes.