# Rock Stonecrop (*Petrosedum forsterianum*)

Rock Stonecrop is a cheerful little plant that grows in rocky places. It has thick, green leaves and bright yellow flowers that look like tiny stars in the summer!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Rock Stonecrop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sedum_forsterianum_Peiponmaksaruoho_C_VI05_H6167.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Anneli Salo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sedum_forsterianum_Peiponmaksaruoho_C_VI05_H6167.JPG)

## Appearance

The Rock Stonecrop is a low-growing succulent plant with fleshy, blue-green leaves often tinged with red. It forms dense mats and features clusters of star-shaped, bright yellow flowers that stand out against its foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Crassulaceae
- **Genus:** Petrosedum

## Interesting facts

- It can grow in places other plants can't, like tiny cracks in pavement!
- Its cheerful yellow flowers attract beneficial pollinators like tiny bees!
- Some varieties are used to create beautiful 'living carpets' on green roofs!
- You might find it growing wild on ancient castle walls in Europe!

## Special abilities

- **Water Warehouse:** Rock Stonecrop has thick, fleshy leaves that act like tiny water tanks, storing precious moisture for dry times.
- **Rock Climber Roots:** Its tough, fibrous roots can grip and grow in tiny cracks on rocks, helping it cling to steep, exposed places.
- **Sun Shield:** Rock Stonecrop's leaves can change color to reddish hues, which helps protect them from intense sunlight and UV rays.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-25 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — sips nectar from its yellow blooms
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — sometimes nibbles on its fleshy leaves

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [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.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Rock 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 Rock Stonecrop?

10-25 cm

### How wide does Rock Stonecrop spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Rock Stonecrop?

1-2 cm

### When does Rock Stonecrop bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Rock Stonecrop edible?

No

### Is Rock Stonecrop toxic?

None

### What is Rock Stonecrop's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Leach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leach-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden

## 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*)

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Source: [Rock Stonecrop: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rock-stonecrop)