This species is often treated as being in a more loosely defined definitition of the genus Sedum as Sedum spurium M.Bieb. 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: Caucasian Stonecrop

General Information

Phedimus spurius is an evergreen perennial plant with slender, fibrous roots and a long, creeping rhizome. A mat-forming plant with prostrate to ascending stems, producing short sterile stems and longer flowering stems 3 - 6cm long[].
The plant is grown on a commercial basis for use in 'green roof' systems, and is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover[, ].

Known Hazards

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

W. Asia - Ciscaucasia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Iran

Habitat

Rocks in moist regions in the middle and upper alpine zones[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phedimus spurius is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -15°c when dormant.
Grows best in a sunny position, but tolerates partial shade[, ]. Succeeds in most soils[] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Tolerates poor soils[].
Sometimes grown as an ornamental, there are some named forms[].
A mat-forming plant, it is very invasive[].
The flowers of this species are white or pink[]. All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species 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 - raw or cooked. The leaves are thick and juicy but somewhat astringent and with a slight bitterness[].

Medicinal

We have seen no specific reports on medicinal uses for this species, but Sedum species (including Hylotelephium and Phedimus) generally contain various medicinally active compounds including alkaloids, tannins, cyanogenic compounds and, in particular, a range of flavanoids with anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties Many Sedum species are used medicinally to treat pain and inflammation – in addition a poultice made from the crushed, succulent leaves and young stems can be applied topically to cuts, wounds, burns and various skin disorders[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[, ]. They will require weeding for the first year or so[].
The plant is used on 'green roof' and 'green wall' systems. These systems are incorporated into the structure of the building, providing habitats for wildlife as well as insulating the building and helping to improve the environment. The cultivars 'Broadleaf', 'Coccineum', 'Dragon's Blood', 'Green Mental' and 'Summer Glory' have been specifically mentioned1240, ]

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.