Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri
Heckner's stonecrop, Heckner's Stonecrop
Photo: parent species Sedum laxum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri (Heckner's stonecrop) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by subtle leaf shape differences from subsp. laxum.
Heckner's stonecrop is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern North Coast Ranges on cliffs, dry rocky slopes, and road cuts at elevations of 100 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces flowers with red to dark red anthers that age to black, set against a pale glaucous stem. Growing 9 to 29 centimeters tall with distinctive rosette leaves, its leaf structure is particularly noteworthy with obovate to broadly obovate leaves 12 to 37 millimeters long that often have notched or blunt tips. Its stem leaves are broadly shaped, typically suborbicular to broadly obovate, spreading or slightly ascending and slightly clasping at the base. The plant's petals measure 7 to 13 millimeters long, creating delicate clusters on varied rocky substrates including argillite, chert, shale, and serpentine.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; subtle leaf shape differences from subsp. laxum
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs, dry rocky slopes, road cuts, on varied substrates including argillite, chert, shale and serpentine
Elevation: 100-2200 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte
Outside California: to sw Oregon
Bloom period
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 laxum subsp. heckneri native to California?
Yes. Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri bloom?
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri grow?
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri occurs in Siskiyou, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, at elevations of 100-2200 m.
What plant family does Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri belong to?
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
Is Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri rare or endangered?
Sedum laxum subsp. heckneri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.