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Biting Stonecrop

©Philip Precey

Biting stonecrop

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Scientific name: Sedum acre
Also known as 'Goldmoss' due to its dense, low-growing nature and yellow flowers, Biting stonecrop can be seen on well-drained ground like sand dunes, shingle, grasslands, walls and pavements.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 10cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

January to December

About

Biting stonecrop is a mat-forming plant that is common on well-drained ground, such as sand dunes, shingle, grasslands, walls and pavements. It has yellow, star-shaped flowers that appear from May to July, and fleshy leaves that have a biting-hot taste. It attracts many bees in search of nectar.

What to look for

Biting stonecrop displays dense clusters of small, star-shaped, yellow flowers with long stamens. The succulent leaves are egg-shaped and crowded together.

Where to find

Found throughout the UK, but most common in England and Wales.

Habitats

Did you know?

Sedums, such as Biting stonecrop, are popular garden plants and can be planted in the barest of soils, along walls, in rockeries or in containers. They attract lots of nectar-loving insects.