updates: I really fell in love with the simple sedum reflexum, -- the Blue spruce, and Angelina. last year I found only one Angelina, and put it in. It is very vigorous now. I bought 3 from Walmart.com, early early like at the start of March, and was a little underwhelmed. It was very weak looking. I see now that it was from seeds, and was a "baby" plant. I just planted them in their "gallon" containers. They fell over and spread and now are starting little plants that are more like the strong ones of the first planting. Next. I was so sedum-enchanted, that I was willing to get it all over with the blue spruce. I understand that every year you do not get the same plants at garden centers, so I wanted to fill up a major spot as soon as possible. I bought 8 "half gallons" and put those in about 1 foot away from each other. This year I was surprised to see that they also had sedum blue spruce. I walked away from it, about 2 weeks ago, but then this week, got a paycheck and said, lets see-- got 8 more.
#1 poor looking sedum is actually immature sedum
#2 This is what it is going to look like-- very thick and short. This was the first Angelina.
#3 last years Blue Spruce (upper) next to the new flat of 8 new Blue Spruce (which is leggier, more etiolated). It just goes to show that the first year, it will not look as good as the next year.