This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definitition of the genus Sedum as Sedum aizoon L. We are following the treatment in the Flora of China[] and the Flora of N. America[] which treat the genus Sedum in a stricter sense and move various species from there into a number of other species, including Phedimus[].

Common Name:

General Information

Phedimus aizoon is an evergreen perennial plant growing from a carrot-shaped, tuberous rootstock; it produces 1 - 3 erect, unbranched stems 20 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

Phedimus aizoon is a commonly used medicinal herb in China. Research has shown that the plant contains pyrrolidine (sic) alkaloids (we assume this means pyrrolizidine alkaloids[]). Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[]. There have been reported cases in China of kidney disease in a small minority of people using this plant for medicinal purposes - the total dose taken ranged from 300 - 900g taken over a period of around 13 days and symptoms ranged from mild to very severe[].
All species in the genus Sedum (including the closely allied genera such as Hylotelephium and Phedimus) have more or less edible leaves and young flowering stems, though they are not always totally desireable with several species having bitter, acrid or peppery flavours!
However, the plants contain various alkaloids including sedine and sedamine. These can sometimes cause gastric upsets, usually of a mild nature[]. This is most likely to happen with species that have yellow flowers, though eating large quantities of any species could be problematic[, ].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Asia - eastern and western Siberia, Mongolia, Russian Far East. China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Dry grassy slopes and shrub thickets, dry meadows, rock streams, scrub, ravine edges in valleys, sandy, sunny, and grassy places on mountains, shady places on slopes, field banks, rock crevices; at elevations from 1,000 - 3,100 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phedimus aizoon is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -15°c when dormant[]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -25°c[].
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[], tolerating those on the poor side[], though it prefers a fertile well-drained soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[] although it prefers a soil that stays moist in the summer[]. Requires a sunny position[].
A polymorphic species[].
Butterflies are attracted to the flowers of this plant[].
All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species, such as this one, that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity[, ].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young stems - raw or cooked[, ]. There is a definite bitterness in the flavour, few people would want to eat them as a regular part of their diet[].

Medicinal

This herb has been used in folk medicine to stop bleeding without stasis, tranquilize and detoxify patients, and treat pain or trauma, particularly due to haemorrhage[].
Some caution is advised - see the notes above on toxicity[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise keep them in a cold-frame or greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year[].
Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though is probably best done in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.