goldmoss stonecrop
Sedum acre L.
Goldmoss stonecrop forms a low carpet whose individual shoots are covered in tiny, overlapping leaves. The compact foliage can resemble scales, while flowering transforms the surface into a scatter of yellow stars. Its succulent leaves help it tolerate dry conditions and give the plant a persistent presence in rocky places. NC State Extension: Sedum acre
Botanical name
Sedum acre L. is accepted by Kew, matching the catalog’s species and authorship. Kew POWO: Sedum acre
Recognizing the plant
Plants typically rise only a few centimetres above the ground, spreading much farther sideways. The pale green leaves are fleshy, blunt and conical, generally less than a centimetre long. Small clusters of five-petalled flowers sit just above the foliage. Detached leaves can produce new plants, and established mats may expand vigorously enough to crowd neighbouring plants of similar height. NC State Extension: Sedum acre
Bloom window
North Carolina horticultural account
The extension account lists flowering in June–August. NC State Extension: Sedum acre
Native range
Kew records a native range including Greenland, Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Caucasus. It has also been introduced widely elsewhere, including North America. In nature, regional accounts describe sunny limestone hills, rocks and walls, sometimes close to the sea. Kew POWO: Sedum acreNC State Extension: Sedum acre
Ecological relationships
Its flowering mats attract butterflies, as recorded by NC State Extension. NC State Extension: Sedum acre
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.