Sedum of North America: Sedum ternatum vs. Sedum pulchellum vs. Sedum nevii and Sedum glaucophyllum

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

Posted on 18 de maio de 2023, 06:05 PM by picklejar