How to identify Carpet sedum (Sedum lineare)

How to identify Carpet sedum (Sedum lineare)

Carpet sedum, also known as Sea urchin

Carpet sedum is an evergreen succulent marked by its dense, mat-like growth of narrow, linear leaves. These leaves give it a textured appearance, typically forming a continuous low-lying carpet that gracefully covers the ground. It is hardy, sporting fleshy foliage that can have a vibrant green hue, often with delicate, uniform margination. The plant tends to exhibit a compact form, spreading outwards rather than upwards, with individual plants reaching a height of approximately 6 inches (15 cm) and a spread of up to 2 feet (60 cm). The growth is more robust in full sun, resulting in a tight, neat habit, while shadier conditions may lead to a sparser, leggier spread.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Succulent, Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen, Semi-evergreen

Quickly Identify Carpet sedum

Low-lying mat growth

Bright yellow flowers in lax cyme

Linear, succulent leaves in whorls of three

Detailed Traits of Carpet sedum

Leaf Features

The leaves of carpet sedum are narrow, linear, and succulent, typically measuring between 0.25-1.25 inches (0.64-3.18 cm) in length. They display a light green hue and are arranged in whorls of three along the stem without a stalk or peduncle. The leaf base is characterized by a short spur, and the apex ranges from obtuse to subacute. These specific traits make the leaves uniquely identifiable.

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Flower Features

The flowers of carpet sedum are bright yellow and appear from late spring to early summer. The short flowering shoots, measuring 4-12 inches (10-30 cm), are either ascending or weeping. Each inflorescence forms a lax cyme with 10-60 flowers. Individual flowers are small, tight blooms nestled closely to the foliage without pedicels. They exhibit yellow-green sepals, with yellow filaments, dark yellow anthers, and yellow nectar scales. These distinctive features make the flowers of carpet sedum easily identifiable.

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Carpet sedum and Their Similar Plants

Coppertone sedum vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

The coppertone sedum is a small, succulent plant with a light green or orange appearance. It grows best in sunny environments. Originally native to Mexico, the coppertone sedum has spread around the world as a windowsill plant, and is especially popular in the Canary Islands and Italy.

Burro's tail vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

The stems of burro's tail grow upright at first, then bend when they reach a certain height and creep to the ground. This makes them perfect for planting in large hanging pots. Plant a hanging pot full of burro's tail seedlings and over time they will slowly form a "waterfall" shape.

White stonecrop vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

White stonecrop (Sedum album) is a flowering plant species that often grows in crevices or free-draining rocky soil. White stonecrop grows in temperate regions all over the world. It is adapted to grow in dry, thin soils and is often found growing on walls, dry banks, seashore rocks and in rocky meadows. This species grows low to the ground and cannot compete when there are other, fast-growing species in the same area.

Jellybeans vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

Jellybeans (Sedum pachyphyllum) is a succulent plant native to Mexico and popularized as a houseplant. Jellybeans is an easy plant to care for and good for beginners in houseplants and gardening. It can survive in both moist and dry soil and survives without watering for longer periods of time than most plants.

Stringy stonecrop vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

Stringy stonecrop is a perennial plant with stems that can be up to 25 cm length. It has star-shaped flowers that are yellow-green. This plant is extremely easy to propagate, simply pushing one of the stems into the ground in your desired location is enough to usually cause stringy stonecrop to take root.

Goldmoss stonecrop vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

The goldmoss stonecrop is a flowering perennial with star-shaped flowers. It is commonly used in hanging baskets and other container gardens as groundcover and trailing accents. Because of its spicy and peppery flavor, the leaves and stems of this plant are used as flavor enhancers in some recipes.

Tree stonecrop vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

Tree stonecrop (Sedum dendroideum) is a perennial shrub native to Mexico. It grows best in warm, arid environments, but it can survive in cooler climates. Tree stonecrop is naturalized in California within the United States and is often cultivated in gardens.

Tiscalatengo gorge sedum vs. Carpet sedum: What's The Difference?

Tiscalatengo gorge sedum tends to develop lateral buds and grow cespitose, therefore the plant can often be seen in large clusters. With sufficient light and broad temperature variation, its leaves turn a jelly-like light green or yellowish-green with red tips. When exposed to sunlight, it emits a light fruity aroma. Propagation by leaf-cutting is rarely successful, so it's generally propagated by cutting and division.

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Key Facts About Carpet sedum

Attributes of Carpet sedum

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Succulent, Herb

Plant Height

10 cm to 20 cm

Spread

60 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

4 cm to 8 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Stem Color

Green

Leaf type

Evergreen, Semi-evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Carpet sedum

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Saxifrages, stonecrops and allies

Family

Stonecrop

Genus

Stonecrops

Species

Carpet sedum (Sedum lineare)

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Distribution Map of Carpet sedum

Carpet sedum is native to China, Iran and Japan, growing in rocky outcrops. It has been introduced in Vietnam, parts of Europe, and the US state of Georgia. It is cultivated in the US as an ornamental or houseplant succulent.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Carpet sedum

A Comprehensive Guide to Carpet sedum How to Grow and Care for Carpet sedum