Sedum marmorense
Marble mountains stonecrop
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Sedum marmorense (Marble mountains stonecrop) is a native California perennial in the Crassulaceae family.
Marble mountains stonecrop is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges on dry ledges, rocky ridgelines, and talus at elevations of 2,000 to 2,400 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces white to cream flowers that age to pale yellow or pink, with petals 5.3 to 7.5 millimeters long arranged in spheric to short-cylindrical clusters. Growing 4 to 15 centimeters tall with dense rosettes in sunny sites, it develops stout rhizomes and stems covered in a distinctive white, granular wax that leaves a residue when touched. Its rosette leaves are strongly flattened, 6 to 24 millimeters long, broadly obovate with notched or rounded tips, distinctly different from the smaller alternate stem leaves. The plant's delicate white filaments and yellow anthers, which age to red-orange, add to its subtle botanical charm.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated in Marble Mountains
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry ledges, rocky ridgelines, talus, on varied substrates, including metasediments, metavolcanics, and serpentine
Elevation: 2000-2400 m
Bloom period
Sedum marmorense blooms Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 marmorense native to California?
Yes. Sedum marmorense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum marmorense bloom?
Sedum marmorense blooms Jul.
What plant family does Sedum marmorense belong to?
Sedum marmorense is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
Is Sedum marmorense rare or endangered?
Sedum marmorense carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S1S2.
What habitat does Sedum marmorense grow in?
Sedum marmorense grows in dry ledges, rocky ridgelines, talus, on varied substrates, including metasediments, metavolcanics, and serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.