# Biting Stonecrop (*Sedum acre*) Biting Stonecrop is a small, cheerful plant with bright yellow flowers. It grows in rocky places and can be found in gardens and on walls. This plant is tough and can survive in many conditions! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Goldmoss Stonecrop, Wall Pepper ![Biting Stonecrop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sedum_acre_single_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sedum_acre_single_-_Niitv%C3%A4lja.jpg) ## Appearance The Biting Stonecrop is a low-growing plant with numerous small, fleshy, bead-like green leaves that form a dense mat. It produces clusters of bright, star-shaped yellow flowers, making it visually distinct from most other ground covers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Crassulaceae - **Genus:** Sedum ## Interesting facts - Even its name, 'Biting Stonecrop,' hints at a peppery taste! - Its leaves are so juicy, they often look like tiny green beads! - This tough plant can live on rooftops and stone walls without much soil! - When it blooms, it covers dry spots with a carpet of bright yellow stars! ## Special abilities - **Desert Drink Locker:** Biting Stonecrop can store water in its thick, succulent leaves, allowing it to survive long dry periods. - **Spicy Shield:** Biting Stonecrop has a peppery, acrid taste that helps it deter hungry animals from taking a bite. - **Rock Gripper:** Biting Stonecrop can grow in very shallow soil on rocks and walls, where few other plants can take root. - **Ground Hugger:** Biting Stonecrop has a creeping growth habit that helps it spread quickly and cover bare ground efficiently. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees are attracted to its bright yellow flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees visit its flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Slugs may occasionally feed on its succulent leaves. - **Pollinates:** Small white butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Butterflies are drawn to the nectar of its flowers. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Biting Stonecrop? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Biting Stonecrop? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Biting Stonecrop spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Biting Stonecrop? 1-2 cm ### When does Biting Stonecrop bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Biting Stonecrop edible? No ### Is Biting Stonecrop toxic? Mild ### What is Biting Stonecrop's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Allentown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allentown-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Erie Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/erie-zoo-pennsylvania) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo - [High Point](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-point) — New Jersey, US · Park - [New York State Agricultural Experiment Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-york-state-agricultural-experiment-station) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Lakeview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakeview-park) — Michigan, US · Park - [Erie Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/erie-zoo) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo [View all places to see Biting Stonecrop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/biting-stonecrop) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Biting Stonecrop: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/biting-stonecrop)