• Photo of Sedum ternatum (Sedum ternatums)

Plant Profile: Sedum ternatum

Taxonomy: Sedum ternatum

Names

Mountain Stonecrop, Stonecrop, Three-leaved Stonecrop, Wild Stonecrop

  • Photo of Sedum ternatum (Sedum ternatums)

Phonetic Spelling:SEE-dum ter-NAY-tum

Genus:Sedum

Species:ternatum

Family:Crassulaceae

Plant space should be between 6 to 12 inches. The stems spread across the ground or climb over rocks, creating thick mats.

While this plant is deemed toxic, the young and tender stems and leaves can be consumed raw. Before flowering, they can also be lightly cooked.

Preferred habitats include damp forests, sheltered coves, low-lying areas, and shaded rocky outcrops.

Sedum ternatum Feature Summary

Sedum ternatum Image Gallery

Tags

#fall color
#semi-evergreen
#succulent
#playground
#herb garden
#cpp
#NC native
#children's garden
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#food source summer
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#FACU Piedmont Mountains
#FACU Coastal
#audubon

Similar Plants

Sedum ternatum Feature Summary

Attributes
South East Canada to North Central & EasternU.S.A
Perennial
Attracts Pollinators
Textural
Attractive Flowers
Fruit
Displays from May to July
Flowers
Flower stalk branches into three curved or horizontal branches of white flowers, 4-5 petals with sharp points and 5 green sepals. Blooms from April to June.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Green
Orange
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Flat or rounded leaves. Lower leaves are spatulate. Non-flowering stems have .5-1" flat, oval, medium green leaves arranged in whorls of three. Flower stems have smaller leaves.
Ovate
Spatulate
< 1 inch
Smooth
Fleshy
Poisonous to Humans
Unknown, but possibly gastrointestinal symptoms
Alkaloids sedine, sedamine and others
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Ground Cover
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Recreational Play Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds

Sedum ternatum Attributes

Sedum ternatum: Country Or Region Of Origin

South East Canada to North Central & EasternU.S.A

Sedum ternatum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sedum ternatum: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Sedum ternatum Fruit

Sedum ternatum: Fruit Description

Displays from May to July

Sedum ternatum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Sedum ternatum: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Sedum ternatum Flowers

Sedum ternatum: Flower Description

Flower stalk branches into three curved or horizontal branches of white flowers, 4-5 petals with sharp points and 5 green sepals. Blooms from April to June.

Sedum ternatum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Sedum ternatum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Sedum ternatum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sedum ternatum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Sedum ternatum Leaves

Sedum ternatum: Leaf Description

Flat or rounded leaves. Lower leaves are spatulate. Non-flowering stems have .5-1" flat, oval, medium green leaves arranged in whorls of three. Flower stems have smaller leaves.

Sedum ternatum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Sedum ternatum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Sedum ternatum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sedum ternatum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Sedum ternatum: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Sedum ternatum Stem

Sedum ternatum: Stem Description

Arching stem

Sedum ternatum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sedum ternatum Poisonous to Humans

Sedum ternatum: Poison Symptoms

Unknown, but possibly gastrointestinal symptoms

Sedum ternatum: Poison Toxic Principle

Alkaloids sedine, sedamine and others

Sedum ternatum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Sedum ternatum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Sedum ternatum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Sedum ternatum Whole Plant Traits

Sedum ternatum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sedum ternatum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Sedum ternatum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Sedum ternatum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Sedum ternatum Cultural Conditions

Sedum ternatum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sedum ternatum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sedum ternatum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Sedum ternatum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Sedum ternatum Landscape

Sedum ternatum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Sedum ternatum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Sedum ternatum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees