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Biting stonecrop (aka, mossy stonecrop) is an exotic succulent that is native to Greenland and western Europe but naturalized across most of the U.S. and the lower Canadian provinces. It is a mat-forming plant with creeping stems that roots at nodes; the stems produce short, erect vegetative and flowering stems. The leaves are alternate, sessile, and densely imbricated on the erect stems; they are green or yellowish-green, with old, white leaves persisting. The succulent-like leaves are 4-5 mm long, 2.5-3 mm across, and 1.5 mm thick, convex on both the upper and underside and blunt-tipped. The inflorescence arises from the tip of one of the erect stems; it is about 5/8" (1.5 cm) long, 1/4-1.25" (5-30 mm) across, with 1-3 branches, each with 1-4 sessile (or on 1 mm long pedicels) flowers with a basal bract. The sepals closely resemble the leaves. The flowers have five bright yellow petals, typically 10 stamens with yellow anthers, and 4-5 yellow pistils, each with a single style and a pinhead-shaped stigma. The fruit is a five-pointed yellowish star of united, inflated follicles filled with numerous seeds. Biting stonecrop is not a good competitor; it grows best in thin, dry soils like cliffs, shingle, and beaches. However, it is tough — it stores water in its leaves and reportedly can go six months without external water.

Sedum

Sedum acre

biting stonecrop [Blooms: Jun]