picklejar's Journal

I've decided to start writing a few identification guides for those who might be interested in ID'ing Sedum.

Sedum ternatum and Sedum pulchellum are both common native Sedum found in North America. Sedum ternatum is pretty distributed across Eastern and Central America, where as Sedum pulchellum is mostly found in Central America, though there are populations along the east coast as well. Sedum ternatum is a perennial, and Sedum pulchellum is an annual, though Sedum pulchellum can sometimes live longer than a single year.

Sedum nevii and Sedum glaucophyllum are almost identical, and both native to North America, though their ranges are much more restricted.

Below is a general guide on differentiating the four species.

Sedum ternatum:

• Rosettes in whorls of 3
• Most rosettes not branching off, mostly solitary (Underground rhizomes)
• All basal rosette leaves and new growth are wide, round, flat, and in whorls of 3
• If the new growth splits, new growth still has flat leaves (may be dagger shaped)
• Leaves on scapes are still flat.

• Blooms are white/cream only
  Emerging from basal rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161721051
  Flowers and full plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/75935355

Sedum pulchellum

• Mostly do not grow in whorls of 3
• Many rosettes (Usually 3-10) rosettes branching off from one point
• New growth is tubular/rod shaped, not flat
• Leaves on scapes are long and tubular, not flat
• Flowers can be pink or white

• Flowers can be large, starfish-like
  Basal rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/20235207
  Branching structure: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161506601
  Leaves on scapes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161306599
  Flowers, note the color variation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119102653
  Note that other species such as S. sexangulares or S. acre may resembles this species, but this species is much larger, and the flowers are a different color (white/pink).

Sedum nevii

• Mostly do not grow in whorls of 3
• Glaucous growth
• New growth is flat, usually not round, and not in whorls of 3
• Leaves on scapes are flat but diamond-shaped
• Flowers are white only

• Only found in Alabama (Though there have been reports of populations in west Georgia, and southeastern Tennessee)
  Rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26838596
  New growth and scapes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161597039
  Flowers: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161930587

Sedum glaucophyllum

• Mostly do not grow in whorls of 3
• Glaucous growth
• New growth is flat, usually not round, and not in whorls of 3
• Leaves on scapes are flat but diamond-shaped
• Flowers are white only

• Found north of North Carolina
  Basal rosettes that resemble S. ternatum: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157281840
  New growth and scapes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161681768
  Flowers: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/138278549

For more information about Sedum ternatum vs. Sedum sarmentosum: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/picklejar/80068-sedum-of-north-america-sedum-ternatum-vs-sedum-sarmentosum

Hope this helps
Picklejar

I've decided to start writing a few identification guides for those who might be interested in ID'ing Sedum.

Both Sedum smallii and pusillum are native to North America, almost only found from North Carolina to Alabama. Both species are known to grow together in the same areas, though it appears that S. pusillum may be rarer (But this may be the fact that many believe it is simply a slightly odd S. smallii).

Both species are tiny annuals, both have small usually-4-petal flowers, small juicy leaves, and grow in similar conditions. Below is a general guide on differentiating the two.

Sedum pusilllum:

• Glaucous. Sometimes it may be red, though new growth will be glaucous.
• Stems usually branch at the base.
• Leaves more elongated on scapes
• Fruits/seeds split open on upper surface.

• Seed pods more elongated, more like a "+" than a "✦"
  Young plants: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108340121
  Scapes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73739000
  Flowers & Fruits/seeds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110098644
  Very good picture of seeds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164842838
  Occasionally, S. pusillum may create small basal rosettes... A rare find
  Basal rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70274972

Sedum smallii:

• Bright red, not glaucous. The point is, it should not be glaucous.
• Usually unbranched (at base)
• Leaves more rounded/bead-like on scapes
• Fruits/seeds split open on lower surface

• Seed pods more wide and less long, more like a "✦" than a "+"
  Young plants: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152971443
  Flowering plants: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/154031630
  Flowers & Fruits/seeds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/158839243
  Very good picture of seeds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164842644
  Occasionally, S. smalli may create small basal rosettes... An uncommon find
  Basal rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149453904
  Another pic: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149838419

Note that because both species are annuals, none of the plants should have woody/corky stems. For example, a look-alike to S. smallii, S. album (introduced), can get woody stems with age. In addition to this, S. smallii and S. pusillum generally will not grow in a connected stem-y network (other than branching in individual plants). So, if the colony is a mess of stem-y spaghetti, it is not likely to be either of these two species. Sedum album also has a slightly different leaf shape. Due to S. smallii and S. pusillum's life cycle as an annual, generally, stems and scapes will not trail around like the other perennial lookalikes.

Sedum album:
Picture of stems: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162088812
Growth pattern: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162015586
Flowers: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162268586
A particularly juicy clone that looks similar to S. smallii (Noticed the interconnected corky stems): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162294591

Another look-alike, Sedum dasyphyllum, can sometimes resemble S. pusillum. This is also an introduced species. Though, S. dasyphyllum has a different leaf-to-stem ratio, and the flowers are quite different.
Flowers: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161702877
Plant in bloom (Notice the leaves on the scapes!): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161930214
Large colony (Notice how they are interconnected): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161081198
Young plants: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161627799

Hope this helps,
Picklejar

I've decided to start writing a few identification guides for those who might be interested in ID'ing Sedum.

Sedum ternatum is a common native Sedum that is primarily found in the east coast of North America. It is most common in rocky outcrops or forest floors. In forested areas, it tends to grow in moister areas. It can spread through underground rhizome.

Sedum sarmentosum, on the other hand, is native to East Asia and Southeast Asia. It has been introduced to much of America, and due to its vigorous growth, is becoming more and more common.

Both species grow leaves in whorls of 3, and both have basal rosettes/buds.

Below is a general guide on differentiating the two.
Sedum ternatum:

• Leaves are rounded and wide, almost like a circle or teardrop
• Dark/medium green
• Blooms are white
• Generally blooms in spring
• Grows in upright rosettes

• Basal rosettes can stress red/pink from cold stress
  Emerging from basal rosettes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161721051
  Flowers and full plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/75935355

Please do note -- there is a species of Sedum that looks quite similar in dormant stages (Sedum pulchellum). Maybe I'll write a guide for differentiating these two in the future.

Sedum sarmentosum:

• Leaves are skinny and pointed at one end... like a skinny diamond
• Light lime green (Sometimes yellow, or light green)
• Blooms are yellow
• Generally blooms in the summer
• If not in dormant buds, S. sarmentosum can grow in elongated, trailing stems.

• Dormant buds rarely fully turn red when cold stressed
  Emerging from dormant buds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/158605614
  Blooms: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161577501

Lastly, note that there is a look-alike plant to S. sarmentosum: Nuttallanthus canadensis
It can be diffrentiated from S. sarmentosum through the growth pattern. One feature may be how numerous stems sprout out of a compact center. Another feature may be the difference in which the growths look compared to the shape of s. sarmentosum emerging from dormant buds. The best way would be to get photos of the flowers, as the floweres of N. canadensis are very different than that of any Sedum.
Emerging growth: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152078185

Hope this helps
Picklejar