Woodland stonecrop or Wild stonecrop
Sedum ternatum

Family: Crassulaceae

What it is like

Sedum ternatum is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 6in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Wooded ravines, partially shaded banks along rivers and streams, lightly shaded cliffs, and rocky wooded slopes. Found on slopes where there is little ground vegetation normally in or near woodlands.

Native to the eastern United States from Maine to Georgia and west from Michigan to Iowa and Arkansas.

Conservation Status: Not Listed.

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves. Succulent young leaves.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Ground cover including semi-shade. A good rock gardens plant. Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects. The flower nectar and pollen of stonecrops (Sedum spp.) attract various kinds of bees, including Andrena forbesii (Krombein et al., 1979). Less often, wasps and flies visit flowers of these plants. Insects that feed on the foliage of Wild Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) include the Sedum Aphid (Aphis sedi) and the aphid Aphis acrita. The Eastern Chipmunk eats the roots of this plant (Wrazen & Svendsen, 1978).

How it is grown

The preference is partial sun to light shade, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and a loamy or rocky soil. Tolerates part shade and moist soils better than most other sedums. Bloom Time: April to May. Bloom Description: White. Flower: Showy. Attracts: Bees, Butterflies. Tolerates rabbit, deer, drought, air pollution.For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. Evergreen. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons .

Propagating it: Division, Cuttings. Easy - divide or cut stems and lay on potting soil or place shallowly into the potting soil.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Three-leaved stone crop

Synonyms

S. deficiens Donn. S. portulacoides Willd. S. ternatum var. minus Praeger