Sedum acre
goldmoss stonecrop
Family CrassulaceaeAlso called biting stonecrop, wallpepper, mossy stonecrop
About
A mat-forming evergreen stonecrop with small fleshy leaves and bright yellow starry flowers, native to Europe, northern and western Asia and North Africa. It is widely grown as a tough groundcover for dry, thin soils.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Considered poisonous; eating it is discouraged, and the acrid leaf sap can irritate skin.
- Light
- Grows under a range of light levels.
- Soil
- Tolerates poor, sandy or rocky soil as well as rich garden soil; suited to thin, dry substrates.
- Mature size
- Mats 5–12 cm tall.
Field notes
Morphology
Tufted perennial 5–12 cm tall with short, leafy, semi-prostrate stems that lengthen and stand up at flowering in June–July. Leaves are alternate, fleshy, short and cylindrical, sometimes red-tinged. Flowers are five-petalled, bright yellow, in cymes of three to six; fruit is a cluster of five many-seeded follicles.
Distribution & habitat
Native to Europe, northern and western Asia and North Africa; naturalised in North America, southern South America, Japan and New Zealand. Grows on dry grassland, shingle, beaches, dry-stone walls, banks, seashore rocks, verges and sandy coastal meadows.
Ecology
A weak competitor that relies on thin, dry soils where more vigorous plants cannot establish.
Cultivation notes
Shallow-rooted and easily controlled, it is used as groundcover, in borders, rock gardens, hanging baskets and containers as a trailing accent. It tolerates poor soil, sand, masonry cracks and a range of light levels.
History & etymology
The name "biting stonecrop" refers to its peppery taste; it has been used in herbal medicine.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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