Dig into Plants: Woodland Stonecrop


Woodland Stonecrop

Other Common Names: Wild Stonecrop, Three-leaved Stonecrop, Mountain Stonecrop, Stonecrop, Whorled Stonecrop

Scientific Name: Sedum ternatum

Native to Alabama: Yes

 

Click on image to enlarge it



















Learn more about...
 
Basic Information
Classification Button
Maintenance
Adaptations Button
Plant ID
Life Cycle
 


 
Basic Plant Information

Click on image to enlarge it
  • I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
  • I keep my leaves year-round, so I am evergreen.
  • I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
  • I can grow up to 0.5 feet high and up to 0.75 feet wide.
 













 

  
Ecological Benefits
 
This plant provides food for:
Butterflies Other Pollinators Other Birds
  

 

   
Maintenance Notes
  • Dormant in winter.
  • Cut back after flowering to maintain the bushy shape and thick stems.
  • When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds.  Water should reach all roots.
  • Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
  • Requires average amount of water.
Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.
 
 

  
Habitat Requirements
 
This plant prefers:
Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)
   
Average Watering
 Well-drained, Sandy, or Clay,
or Moist Soil
 
 

   
  
Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification
 
LEAF DESCRIPTION
Wikimedia 
David J Stang
Click on image to enlarge it
Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)
       
Shape:
Ovate		 Margin:
Entire		 Arrangement:
Alternate/Whorled		 Form:
Simple
   
Description:
Light green leaves up to 1-inch long are fleshy and flat; grow in whorls of three; lower leaves are spatula-shaped, non-flowering stems are oval-shaped; flower stems have smaller leaves than non-flowering stems 

   
 
 
FLOWER DESCRIPTION
Wikimedia
David J Stang
Click on image to enlarge it
Flower Shape Chart (JPG)
       
Color:
White
Shape:
Stellate (star-shaped)
 Bloom Months:
Mar - Jun
 
Description:
Flower is radially symmetrical with 4-5 petals with sharp points and 5 green sepals and purple stamens, ½ inch wide; occur in clusters on ends of three curved branches per flower stalk
       
       
SEED DESCRIPTION
 
     
Type:
Fruit -
Dry Seed Pod		 Description:
Small capsule (a chamber within the fruit) and splits open when ripe; small dark brown seeds		 Months in Seed:
Summer
     
Plant spreads by:
Seeds
Can self-seed; detached leaves can be rooted in soil to form new plants

  

   
Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:
  • All plants start life as a seed.
  • The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
  • The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
  • After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
  • After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
  • When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
  • Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.
General Plant Life Cycle - Dreamstime
Click on image to enlarge it


 
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
 
Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)		 Plant ID Sign:
Ready as-is PDF		 Plant ID Sign:
Editable Word Doc		 QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)



 


INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS PLANT
 
 
 
 
 
    



 

 
.