Glade Stonecrop - Sedum pulchellum
Unfortunately, not quite in bloom here. A native low winter annual, 2-12 inches tall, usually branching at the base, grows usually on exposed limestone. The leaves are alternate, linear, round in cross-section, to 1.5 inch long, and sessile. The flowers are sessile, pink to white, usually with 4 spreading petals, 0.12-0.25 inch long, anthers often red. The flowers are crowded on 3-7 short, divergent branches, each 1-3 inches long, seen April-May.
Found on limestone ledges (also on chert and sandstone), roadsides, and openings, from Kentucky and Georgia west to Oklahoma and Texas. A characteristic plant of the cedar glades of middle Tennessee though also occurs on cliffs and is currently spreading along Tennessee roads in limestone gravel. This plant is fond of full sun and well drained soil.
The similar Stringy Stonecrop – Sedum sarmentosum – is a perennial with creeping stems that form mats, has thick leaves that are flattened, usually in whorls of 3, yellow flowers that are mostly with 5 petals, about 0.5 inch wide, introduced from China, now escaped from cultivation in much of the eastern U.S. (it blooms May-July).
Also called Widow’s Cross due to the shape of the 4-petaled flower. Other names include Pink Stonecrop and Widowscross. Sedum comes from the latin word ‘sedeo’ which means “to sit”, most likely in reference to the recumbent nature of most sedums. The latin meaning of ‘pulchellum’ is pretty or beautiful.
Glade Stonecrop - Sedum pulchellum
Unfortunately, not quite in bloom here. A native low winter annual, 2-12 inches tall, usually branching at the base, grows usually on exposed limestone. The leaves are alternate, linear, round in cross-section, to 1.5 inch long, and sessile. The flowers are sessile, pink to white, usually with 4 spreading petals, 0.12-0.25 inch long, anthers often red. The flowers are crowded on 3-7 short, divergent branches, each 1-3 inches long, seen April-May.
Found on limestone ledges (also on chert and sandstone), roadsides, and openings, from Kentucky and Georgia west to Oklahoma and Texas. A characteristic plant of the cedar glades of middle Tennessee though also occurs on cliffs and is currently spreading along Tennessee roads in limestone gravel. This plant is fond of full sun and well drained soil.
The similar Stringy Stonecrop – Sedum sarmentosum – is a perennial with creeping stems that form mats, has thick leaves that are flattened, usually in whorls of 3, yellow flowers that are mostly with 5 petals, about 0.5 inch wide, introduced from China, now escaped from cultivation in much of the eastern U.S. (it blooms May-July).
Also called Widow’s Cross due to the shape of the 4-petaled flower. Other names include Pink Stonecrop and Widowscross. Sedum comes from the latin word ‘sedeo’ which means “to sit”, most likely in reference to the recumbent nature of most sedums. The latin meaning of ‘pulchellum’ is pretty or beautiful.