Sedum lanceolatum
Spearleaf stonecrop, Spearleaf Stonecrop
(c) Peter Abrahamsen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sedum lanceolatum (Spearleaf stonecrop) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by distinctive tiny dense rosettes and high elevation.
Spearleaf stonecrop is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada on rocky outcrops and dry slopes at elevations of 1,800 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with occasional red midribs, spreading in small clusters of 3 to 24 blossoms. Growing with dense rosettes 3 to 28 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters with short rhizomes and fibrous roots. Its leaves are distinctive, forming tight spirals of linear to narrowly elliptic shapes, ranging 5 to 30 millimeters long and often appearing glaucous with blunt to acute tips. The fruit consists of (3)5(7) mature follicles 4 to 9 millimeters long, fused at the base with slightly outcurved beak tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinctive tiny dense rosettes and high elevation
Habitat and range
Habitat: Outcrops, dry rocky slopes, on varied substrates including granite, marble and serpentine
Elevation: 1800-2800 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Fresno, Tuolumne, Alpine, Modoc, Inyo, Tulare, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Mono, Lassen, Madera, Trinity, Plumas, Mariposa, Calaveras
Outside California: to Alaska, South Dakota, New Mexico
Bloom period
Sedum lanceolatum blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Crassula: Sedum has flowers over 4mm wide; Crassula has tiny flowers typically under 3mm.; vs Aeonium: Sedum leaves have completely smooth edges; Aeonium has tiny hairs along leaf margins.; vs Dudleya: Sedum flowers cluster at stem tips; Dudleya flower stalks emerge from leaf axils on the side.; vs Echeveria: Sedum doesn't form tight rosettes; Echeveria grows in compact, symmetrical rosettes.; vs Sedella: Sedum is perennial with leaves over 1cm; Sedella is annual with tiny leaves under 1cm.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sedum lanceolatum native to California?
Yes. Sedum lanceolatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum lanceolatum bloom?
Sedum lanceolatum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Sedum lanceolatum grow?
Sedum lanceolatum occurs in Siskiyou, Fresno, Tuolumne, Alpine, Modoc, Inyo, Tulare, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1800-2800 m.
What plant family does Sedum lanceolatum belong to?
Sedum lanceolatum is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
What habitat does Sedum lanceolatum grow in?
Sedum lanceolatum grows in Outcrops, dry rocky slopes, on varied substrates including granite, marble and serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.