# Sedum

Sedum plants are succulents known for their thick, fleshy leaves that store water. They come in various shapes and colors, adding beauty to gardens and rockeries.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens, Rockeries
- **Also known as:** Stonecrop

![Sedum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Biting_stonecrop_close_800.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Sannse, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biting_stonecrop_close_800.jpg)

## Appearance

The Sedum has thick, fleshy leaves that store water, often forming rosettes or trailing mats. Its small, star-shaped flowers typically appear in dense clusters, displaying vibrant shades of pink, red, yellow, or white, creating a striking contrast against its succulent foliage.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its common name, stonecrop, means it can grow right on top of rocks!
- Many Sedum flowers smell sweet, which attracts lots of tiny beneficial insects.
- Sedum plants are popular for making 'green roofs' on buildings.
- Some Sedum species can change their leaf color to bright red in chilly weather!

## Special abilities

- **Water Storage Genius:** Sedum has succulent leaves that store water, helping it survive long periods of drought in dry places.
- **Sun Power Specialist:** Sedum uses a special photosynthesis (CAM) to absorb CO2 at night, saving water during hot, sunny days.
- **Rooting Resilience:** Sedum can sprout new plants from a single leaf or stem piece, helping it spread easily in new spots.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-75 cm
- **Spread:** 10-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar from flowers
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Eats tender leaves and stems
- **Pollinates:** Hoverfly (*Eupeodes corollae*) — Visits flowers for nectar

## Traits

- [Groundcover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/groundcover): Groundcover plants are low-growing vegetation that spreads horizontally to cover the ground, often suppressing weeds and preventing soil erosion.
- [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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Sedum plants are safe to touch and handle, but avoid ingesting any part of the plant.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Sedum?

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 Sedum?

5-75 cm

### How wide does Sedum spread?

10-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Sedum?

0.5-2 cm

### When does Sedum bloom?

Late summer to fall

### Is Sedum edible?

Yes

### Is Sedum toxic?

None

### What is Sedum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Findlingspark Nochten (Boxberg/O.L., Ortsteil Nochten)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/findlingspark-nochten-boxberg-o-l-ortsteil-nochten) — Sachsen, DE · Park
- [Gartenschau Kaiserslautern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gartenschau-kaiserslautern) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park

## 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: [Sedum: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sedum)