Woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is an herbaceous flowering plant species native to the eastern and central United States. Woodland stonecrop grows natively in the forest understory and tolerates shade. This species adapts well to growing in gardens and retains moisture when planted in shallow soil.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Sedum ternatum is the most widespread native Sedum species in eastern North America, commonly known as woodland stonecrop. This shade-tolerant species is often found in the forest understory, although it can also grow in sunnier locations when sufficient moisture is present. Its common name of “stonecrop” evokes its ability to thrive atop boulders, where its succulent leaves help it to retain moisture in shallow soil. It adapts well to garden use.
Sedum ternatum is native to much of the eastern United States, as far west as Arkansas and Iowa, south down the Appalachian Mountains, and north to near the Canada–United States border.
Ternatum features small, fleshy leaves about ¾” inch long. The rounded succulent-like bright green leaves appear in whorls of three.
Growing under the best condition, these plants may grow 3” – 6” inches high.
But the main attraction besides the flowers is the spread, which is approximately 10” inches wide.
The stems creep and root rapidly during the growing season, dying back in the winter. New plants are left behind for the next season.
The showy star-shaped white flowers add to the beautiful foliage. The bloom time lasts from April to May or from late spring to early summer.
During this time, Sedum Ternatum produces clusters of small white star-like flowers. They appear on erect stems, rising above the foliage.
Each flower is about half an inch wide with four petals and purplish stamens. The blooms attract butterflies for pollination.
Sedum ternatum can be distinguished from other sedums, native and cultivated, which are commonly found in the United States by the white flowers with four (not five) petals, and by the leaves in whorls of three, whence the species name. The plant flowers for about a month in late spring to early summer.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Sedum ternatum will tolerate partial shade (not full shade), but do best in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun per day). The higher the better in most cases, a minimum of 50000 lux. The plant requires high light to develop strong leaf coloration and will stretch badly under low light conditions. Low light levels can be offset with dry soil conditions, but only for a short period of time.
Temperature
Woodland stonecrop can grow in USDA zone 4-8. The plant prefers the night temperatures of above 13 °C and day time temperature must be at least 18-21 °C. However, the hot days of summer will not be a problem and the temperature of 38 °C can still produce good quality plants. High temperatures and high humidity can create a lot of disease issues, so stay on the lookout.
The plant can tolerate freezing temperatures. When the temperature drops below 10 °C the plant start to go dormant. If you experiment with plants that are borderline resistant to freezing temperatures, or if you live in an area where the temperature frequently drops below freezing, then consider growing the plant in containers so you can move them indoors for protection from cold conditions.
Watering
Woodland stonecrop are drought-tolerant but do need some water. They do their best with regular watering from spring through fall. Water thoroughly and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Young plant will need supplemental water for the first couple of weeks to establish roots. Established plants, as long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, shouldn’t need any extra watering. Avoid wetting the leaves, stems, and flowers when watering. In winter, water just enough to keep your plants from shriveling.
Soil
Sedum ternatum can grow in a pot, container or in a garden with loose loamy, sandy, or gravelly soil with sharp drainage. Unglazed clay or terra cotta containers dry out more quickly than glazed pottery or plastic pots. When the soil retains too much water, as is often the case with a heavy wet clay soil, this can easily lead to root rot for the plant.
The plants in containers do require little more care than those in gardens. Repot your plants when they outgrow their current pot by moving them out to a larger container to hold the plant better. Spring is the best time to repot.
Fertilizing
Sedum ternatum typically needs no supplemental fertilization and can tolerate nutrient-poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich, this can cause weak, leggy growth. If you have very poor soil, mixing some compost into it will generally be enough to give your plant a boost. Chemical fertilizer can lead to stretching and flopping.
Planting Instructions
When planting, add the hydrophobic layer to the flowerpot first, and then a small amount of soil of the planting layer. Then spread out the roots and put them in. Cover the root with planting soil slowly. Add the top decorative layer, and finally, water once. To plant in the garden, dig a pit 1.5-2 times the size of the root system first, and then follow the above steps.
In order to make it grow better and faster, or if the roots are too dense or unhealthy, it needs to be repotted. Repot in spring and fall. Before repotting, stop watering a few days in advance. Once the soil is dried, you can gently knock the pot outside. Or you can use a knife to separate the soil from the pot. Gently pull the plant up slightly to ease it out of the pot, and then follow the steps described above.
Though you can plant different colors of succulent plants together, avoid planting succulent plants with different growth habits together. Some succulents need water in the summer, while others don’t. If they are planted together, one will become sick due to excessive watering, while the other may wither due to insufficient water.
Pruning
Woodland stonecrop don’t need deadheading (removing spent blooms), and they often look good even into winter. However, extreme heat and a lack of sunlight both can cause sedum plants to get a bit leggy. Cutting back the plants after they are done flowering can help to maintain their shape and encourage bushier, sturdier growth.
Propagation
Sedum ternatum is very easy to propagate either by stem cuttings or division. For a stem cutting, take cuttings in spring when the plants are in the period of active growth, simply trim off a portion of stem from a healthy plant that’s roughly 3 to 6 inches long, and remove the leaves on the lower half. Then, plant the cut end in soil wherever you wish. These prolific stems often will send out roots even if they’re just lying on top of soil, but planting them will give them a better shot at healthy growth.
Each leaf could potentially become a new plant. Choose healthy leaves, remove them from the plant, and allow them to callus for several days. Place the leaves on a well-draining soil mix and keep the soil slightly moist. They should be well rooted after about 2 to 3 weeks, with new plantlets forming at the base.
To propagate by division, gently dig up a mature plant, and carefully pull apart the roots to separate it into sections. Then, simply replant the sections, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil line. Like the stem cuttings, divided sections also will typically be quick to take root.
Propagation with seeds is the slowest method. Spring or summer is the best time to sow the seeds. Use a well-draining soil mix. Sow the seeds on the soil surface and gently press them down. Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate. Provide a consistent temperature between 15-21 °C. The seeds usually start to germinate after 2 to 4 weeks.
Overwintering
Care needs to be taken to avoid overwatering and over-fertilizing any of these plants especially during the short days, lower light levels, and cooler conditions of winter.
Covering the plant with a layer of straw or placing a tent made from plastic or bed sheets over the plants can protect them from sudden freezing temperatures; don’t allow plastic to touch the plants, however. Remove any kind of covering as soon as the temperature warms.
Pests and Diseases
If over watered or overcrowded, the plant may be subject to infestation by scale insects and/or mealybugs. Slugs and snails may also be problematic outdoors. As with all succulents, overwatering, overcrowding and lack of good air circulation can lead to root and stem rot. To avoid these problems, be sure to give your plants plenty of space to grow and spread. Use an appropriate pesticide to deal with mealybugs and scale insects indoors. Outdoors, encourage natural predators, such as ladybugs and lacewings. Pickoff slugs and snails by hand. Thin plants to reduce hiding places and improve air circulation. Reduce watering to make the environment less welcoming to slugs and snails. Crushed eggshells and/or diatomaceous earth sprinkled on the ground around affected plants may discourage these gastropods.
III. Uses and Benefits
Woodland stonecrop is a low-growing plant species that is popularly planted as groundcover. It forms dense mats along the ground and attracts pollinators like bees and wasps. Woodland stonecrop is popular in ornamental settings like sheltered rock gardens and rock walls.
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