woodland stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
Unlike most of its desert-dwelling succulent cousins, this unique stonecrop has adapted specifically to thrive in damp, shady forest environments.
- Scientific name
- Sedum ternatum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Saxifragales › Crassulaceae › Sedum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Damp, shaded rocky cliffs, ravines, mossy banks, and deciduous forest floors.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Appalachian Mountains, Ozark Plateau
- Size
- 3 to 8 inches (7.5 to 20 cm) tall, forming creeping mats up to several feet wide
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual mats can persist indefinitely through vegetative cloning)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, trampling by hikers, and displacement by invasive forest weeds like garlic mustard.
- Safe to approach?
- Woodland stonecrop is completely harmless and non-toxic. When encountering it, enjoy its starry spring blooms but watch your step, as its shallow roots make it highly vulnerable to trampling on rocky slopes.
Sedum ternatum is the most widespread native Sedum species in eastern North America, commonly known as woodland stonecrop . It has white flowers, blooming April to May. This shade-tolerant species is often found in the forest understory, although it can also grow in sunnier locations when sufficient moisture is present. Its common name of "stonecrop" evokes its ability to thrive atop boulders, where its succulent leaves help it to retain moisture in shallow soil. It adapts well...
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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