Sedum niveum
Snowy or davidson's stonecrop
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Sedum niveum (Snowy or davidson's stonecrop) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by distinctive white flowers and southern California mountains.
Snowy stonecrop is a rare (CNPS 4.2) California native perennial found in the southern Mojave Mountains, eastern Peninsular Ranges (Santa Rosa Mountains), and Desert Mountains on steep dry rocky slopes, cliffs, ridgelines, and open conifer forests at elevations of 1,600 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to pale pink-streaked flowers in small, dense clusters with 1 to 9 blossoms. Growing in compact mats with short stems 3 to 9 centimeters tall, it forms dense rosettes about 0.6 to 1.7 centimeters in diameter. Its leaves are distinctively flattened, green or reddish, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, 5 to 9 millimeters long with blunt to acute tips. The plant produces small erect follicles 5 to 7 millimeters long, containing dark brown to reddish-brown seeds with a subtle netted surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinctive white flowers and southern California mountains
Habitat and range
Habitat: Steep dry rocky slopes, cliffs, ridgelines, open conifer forest, full sun or partial shade
Elevation: 1600-3100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Sedum niveum blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 niveum native to California?
Yes. Sedum niveum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum niveum bloom?
Sedum niveum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Sedum niveum grow?
Sedum niveum occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, at elevations of 1600-3100 m.
What plant family does Sedum niveum belong to?
Sedum niveum is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
Is Sedum niveum rare or endangered?
Sedum niveum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.