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Useful Temperate Plants

Sedum sediforme

(Jacq.) Pau

Crassulaceae


The genus Sedum (sensu lato) is a large and diverse grouping of species. Various molecular studies since 1995 have indicated that many of these species would be better placed within segregate genera - a treatment that is not universally recognized. We have chosen to follow the Flora of China[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
] and Flora of N. America[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
] in recognizing these new genera. When the nomenclatural, biogeographic, and morphological data has become available for many other groupings within Sedum, it is likely that more new genera will be established - to date we have transferred a number of species to the genera Hylotelephium. Phedimus and Rhodeola[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Petrosedum sediforme (Jacq.) Grulich

Sedum altissimum Poir.

Sedum fruticulosum Brot.

Sedum jacquinii Haw.

Sedum lusitanicum Brot.

Sedum nicaeense All.

Sedum rufescens Ten.

Sempervivum sediforme Jacq.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Sedum sediforme is an evergreen perennial plant producing a cluster of more or less woody stems that branch at the base; it produces non-flowering stems around 10cm tall which in their second or third year become flowering stems that can be 15 - 60cm tall[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
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

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[
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
]. This is most likely to happen with species that have yellow flowers, though eating large quantities of any species could be problematic[
62
Title
A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P.
Publisher
Van Nostrand Reinhold
Year
1982
ISBN
0442222009
Description
Very readable.
,
85
Title
Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
Publication
 
Author
Harrington. H. D.
Publisher
University of New Mexico Press
Year
1967
ISBN
0-8623-0343-9
Description
A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
].

Botanical References

89
Title
Flowers of the Mediterranean.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A.
Publisher
Hogarth Press
Year
1987
ISBN
0-7012-0784-1
Description
A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Mediterranean - southern Europe, N. Africa from Morocco to Libya, W. Asia - Levant

Habitat

Rocks, walls and stony places, in grasslands, Maquis and open Pine forests, largely on calcareous soils and clay[
89
Title
Flowers of the Mediterranean.
Publication
 
Author
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A.
Publisher
Hogarth Press
Year
1987
ISBN
0-7012-0784-1
Description
A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.
,
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.40 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sedum sediforme is not a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating occasional temperatures down to around -8°c when dormant[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Succeeds in most soils[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. They grow well in dry soils and can be grown on a wall[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is often grown as an ornamental, there are some named forms[
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
A polymorphic plant, it is very variable in size[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
The plant has been known to live for at least 30 years in cultivation[
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The flowers of this species are straw-yellow to a greeny-white[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. 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[
62
Title
A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P.
Publisher
Van Nostrand Reinhold
Year
1982
ISBN
0442222009
Description
Very readable.
,
85
Title
Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
Publication
 
Author
Harrington. H. D.
Publisher
University of New Mexico Press
Year
1967
ISBN
0-8623-0343-9
Description
A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
].
Species in this genus are often specially targeted by slugs[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].
The buds and young stems are eaten raw or pickled in salads[
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
]

Medicinal

The plant is a traditional herbal medicine with particular efficacy against inflammatory and rheumatic diseases[
1250
Title
Anti-Haemolytic, Antioxidant and Xanthine Oxidase inhibitory Effect of Sedum Sediforme Shoot Extracts
Publication
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, Vol.47, Issue.1 pp 1502-1510 2014
Author
Hayat Trabsa; Sabah Boumarfegue; Abderrahmane Baghiani; Naou
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
2051-4263
Description
 
].
Research has shown that the plant contains a range of medicinally active compounds, particularly flavonoids and that it has strong antioxidant activity. The plant has been recommended as a potentially effective treatment for gout[
1250
Title
Anti-Haemolytic, Antioxidant and Xanthine Oxidase inhibitory Effect of Sedum Sediforme Shoot Extracts
Publication
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, Vol.47, Issue.1 pp 1502-1510 2014
Author
Hayat Trabsa; Sabah Boumarfegue; Abderrahmane Baghiani; Naou
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
2051-4263
Description
 
].

We have seen no specific reports for this species, but the crushed leaves of Sedum species can be used to make a poultice that can be applied topically to cuts, wounds, burns and various skin disorders[
1248
Title
Urban Herbs
Publication
 
Author
Adriane Fugh-Berman MD.
Website
https://sites.google.com/a/georgetown.edu/urban-herbs/
Publisher
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website with information on over 60 medicinal herb species grown at Georgetown University
].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species is very tolerant of soils contaminated with copper. In soils with extremely high concentrations of copper it is able to accumulate the copper in its roots and retain healthy above-ground growth. Because the copper is retained in its roots, it is not a very effective plant for phytoremediation projects (since these depend on being able to remove the copper by removing the top growth). However, it is an ideal species, especially in dry climates, for acting as a pioneer species on heavily polluted land, increasing humus levels in the soil and improving conditions so that other plants are able to grow there[
1251
Title
Copper in plant species in a copper gradient in Catalonia (North East Spain) and their potential for phytoremediatio
Publication
Plant and Soil 230 March 2001 pp 247-256
Author
Poschenrieder C.; Bech J.; Llugany M.; Pace A.; Fenés E.; Ba
Publisher
 
Year
2001
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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.
Most parts of the plant can produce new roots and develop into a new plant if separated from the parent plant[
1249
Title
Sedum sediforme subsp. Dianium, an endemic Mediterranean succulent with a restricted distribution
Publication
Acta Succulenta 3(1) pp 102-117 2014
Author
Ortiz D.G.; Lumbreras E.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Sedum+sediforme>

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