Biting stonecrop
Sedum acre · Crassulaceae
📷 Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0
⚠️ Chiens et chats : plante entière âcre, ingestion cause irritation digestive. Humains : contact avec sève irritant, ingestion provoque troubles gastro-intestinaux.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around biting stonecrop and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Sedum acre
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Type
- Perennial succulent plant
- Foliage
- Persistent, fleshy and glaucous
- Flowering
- May to June, bright yellow flowers
- Adult height
- 10 to 15 cm
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -15°C)
- Growth
- Fast and ground-covering
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Stonecrop tolerates drought and neglect extremely well. No watering needed after establishment.
The common mistake
Overloading with compost or watering regularly: the plant rots or becomes too soft and loses its characteristic compact structure.
The pro's trick
Grow it in poor sandy or gravelly soil: the harsher the environment, the denser and glossier the plant stays.
Care
Light exposure
Acrid stonecrop demands full sun exposure for optimal growth and intense leaf coloration. It tolerates partial shade as well, but its compactness and flowering will be reduced. Place it in an open spot, sheltered from dense shade.
Watering
This succulent accumulates water in its fleshy tissues: watering must be rare and sparing. Water lightly during the growing season (spring-summer) only if the substrate is completely dry. In autumn and winter, stop watering almost completely. Fear excessive moisture far more than drought.
Soil and drainage
Very well-drained soil is essential: prefer a light mixture based on cactus or succulent potting soil, enriched with sand or gravel. Acrid stonecrop tolerates poor, rocky, even gravelly soils. Absolutely avoid heavy and clay-based soils that would retain water.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is necessary; this plant thrives on poor soils. Excess nutrients cause soft growth and reduce its hardiness. A light application of diluted succulent fertilizer in spring may suffice if the soil is truly depleted.
Pruning and maintenance
Acrid stonecrop requires little pruning due to its small size and naturally compact habit. Simply pinch back stems that exceed the desired form to maintain a squat shape. Remove dead or diseased parts in spring. Its rapid growth allows easy regeneration.
Diseases and pests
This plant is very robust and rarely affected by diseases. The main risk is root or stem rot if there is excessive moisture or poor drainage. Watch for spider mites in very dry indoor conditions. Chemical treatment is generally unnecessary: improving drainage is sufficient.
Did you know?
Acrid stonecrop owes its scientific name 'acre' to the burning and sharp taste of its leaves, which contain organic acids. Long ago, it was used in traditional medicine for its astringent properties. This small hardy plant naturally colonizes green roofs, stone walls and rocky terrain throughout Europe, where it plays a crucial role in the arid ecosystem.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Cobweb HouseleekSempervivum arachnoideum
- Pacific stonecropSedum spathulifolium
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- Tree roofleek, Tree aeoniumAeonium arboreum
- Autumn stonecropHylotelephium spectabile
- Jade plantCrassula ovata
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.