How to identify Palmer's sedum (Sedum palmeri)

How to identify Palmer's sedum (Sedum palmeri)

Palmer's sedum, also known as Stonecrop

Palmer's sedum is characterized by small clumps reaching up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with slender stems supporting dusty green rosettes of rounded leaves, each rosette approximately 1-2 inches wide (2.5-5 cm). The plant's brilliant yellow, star-shaped flowers bloom in winter, forming lateral inflorescences that arch out and then downward. Leaves may exhibit a pink blush when exposed to bright light. Palmer's sedum tolerates a wide range of light conditions from full sun to dense shade. Optimal growth occurs in well-drained soil with regular to occasional watering. It is hardy to temperatures around 20°F (-6.7°C).

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb, Shrub

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Palmer's sedum

Tiny clumps up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall with dusty green rosettes.

Yellow, star-shaped winter flowers on arching inflorescences.

Rounded leaves exhibit 1-2 inch wide (2.5-5 cm) rosettes.

Tolerates wide light range, from full sun to dense shade.

Leaves may show pink blush in bright light; hardy to 20°F (-6.7°C).

Palmer's sedum and Their Similar Plants

Coppertone sedum vs. Palmer's 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.

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

Carpet sedum (Sedum lineare) is also known as variegated stonecrop and needle stonecrop. It’s an exceedingly low-maintenance plant. In fact, one of the reasons it’s called stonecrop is that farmers have joked that “only stones need less care than sedum.” Another reason is the plant is often found growing over stones and rocks.

Burro's tail vs. Palmer's 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. Palmer's 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. Palmer's 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. Palmer's 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. Palmer's 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. Palmer's 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.

Identify Palmer's sedum easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Palmer's sedum

Attributes of Palmer's sedum

Plant Height

30 cm

Spread

40 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Blue

Flower Color

Yellow

Leaf type

Evergreen

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Palmer's sedum

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Saxifrages, stonecrops and allies

Family

Stonecrop

Genus

Stonecrops

Species

Palmer's sedum (Sedum palmeri)

Learn More About the Palmer's sedum

Distribution Map of Palmer's sedum

Palmer's sedum is native to the temperate regions of North America and thrives primarily in its central highlands. It has been introduced and naturalized in parts of southern Europe. Widely cultivated, this plant has adapted to various environments beyond its native range, due to its resilience and ornamental appeal.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Palmer's sedum

A Comprehensive Guide to Palmer's sedum How to Grow and Care for Palmer's sedum