# woodland stonecrop (*Sedum ternatum*) Woodland stonecrop is a small, green plant that loves to grow in shady spots. It has pretty, star-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and summer, making it a lovely addition to gardens and woodlands. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Forests ![woodland stonecrop](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sedum_ternatum_%288685462617%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fritz Flohr Reynolds from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sedum_ternatum_%288685462617%29.jpg) ## Appearance The woodland stonecrop is a low-growing succulent plant with bright green, fleshy leaves arranged in whorls of three. It produces delicate clusters of star-shaped white flowers, often tinged with pink, on upright stems, creating a charming carpet. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Crassulaceae - **Genus:** Sedum ## Interesting facts - In very sunny or cold conditions, its green leaves can turn a beautiful reddish-bronze color! - Its scientific name, 'ternatum', means 'in threes' because its leaves grow in groups of three! - Tiny ants sometimes carry its seeds to new spots, helping the plant spread its offspring around. - You might find it growing on mossy rocks or fallen logs, adding green life to shaded forests. ## Special abilities - **Water Storage Master:** Woodland stonecrop has thick, fleshy leaves that store water, helping it survive dry spells and rocky habitats. - **Soil Superpower:** This plant can thrive in poor, shallow soils where other plants struggle, using minimal nutrients to grow. - **Creeping Colonizer:** Woodland stonecrop can root from its spreading stems, allowing it to quickly form a dense groundcover. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** [common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects pollen and nectar - **Pollinates:** [sweat bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweat-bee) (*Lasioglossum vierecki*) — Tiny bees visit small flowers ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [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. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify woodland 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 woodland stonecrop? 5-15 cm ### How wide does woodland stonecrop spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on woodland stonecrop? 0.5-1 cm ### When does woodland stonecrop bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is woodland stonecrop edible? Yes ### Is woodland stonecrop toxic? Mild ### What is woodland stonecrop's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Great Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-falls-park) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Hungry Mother State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hungry-mother-state-park) — Virginia, US · State Park - [New River Gorge National Park and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-river-gorge-national-park-and-preserve) — West Virginia, US · National Park - [Red River Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-gorge) — Kentucky, US · Natural Landmark - [Shepherdstown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shepherdstown-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bat-cave-and-cascade-caverns-state-nature-preserves) — Kentucky, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see woodland stonecrop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/woodland-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: [Woodland Stonecrop: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woodland-stonecrop)