# Broad-leaved Stonecrop (*Sedum spathulifolium*) Broad-leaved Stonecrop is a fun, green plant that grows in rocky places. It has thick, juicy leaves that store water, making it special in dry areas! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Rocky areas ![Broad-leaved Stonecrop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Sedum_spathulifolium_-_Flowers_-_Boileau%252C_Bouloc%252C_France.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Sedum_spathulifolium_-_Flowers_-_Boileau%252C_Bouloc%252C_France.jpg) ## Appearance The Broad-leaved Stonecrop has rosettes of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves that can be gray-green, silvery-blue, or purple-tinged. It produces clusters of small, star-shaped yellow flowers on upright stalks, making it stand out against rocks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Crassulaceae - **Genus:** Sedum ## Interesting facts - Ancient cultures sometimes planted stonecrops on roofs to protect against lightning! - It's sometimes called 'Pacific Stonecrop' because it's native to North America's west coast. - Its name 'Stonecrop' comes from its amazing ability to 'crop' (grow on) stones! - This plant can form thick, colorful mats, completely blanketing rocky surfaces! ## Special abilities - **Water Wallet:** Broad-leaved Stonecrop has succulent leaves that store water, helping it survive in very dry places. - **Rock Gripper:** Broad-leaved Stonecrop can grow in tiny cracks on rocks and walls, allowing it to thrive where other plants can't. - **Color Changer:** Broad-leaved Stonecrop has leaves that change to beautiful reds or purples when stressed by sun or cold. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring - Early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Buzzes flowers, collecting nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding reproduction. ## 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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broad-leaved 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 Broad-leaved Stonecrop? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Broad-leaved Stonecrop spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Broad-leaved Stonecrop? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Broad-leaved Stonecrop bloom? Late Spring - Early Summer ### Is Broad-leaved Stonecrop edible? Yes ### Is Broad-leaved Stonecrop toxic? None ### What is Broad-leaved Stonecrop's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Aurora Colony](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aurora-colony) — Oregon, US · Neighborhood - [Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dunsmuir-botanical-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Elwha Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elwha-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Glines Canyon Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glines-canyon-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [King Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-range) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-caves-national-monument-and-preserve) — Oregon, US · National Park [View all places to see Broad-leaved Stonecrop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/broad-leaved-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: [Broad-leaved Stonecrop: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-leaved-stonecrop)