Sedum obtusatum
Sierra stonecrop
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sedum obtusatum (Sierra stonecrop) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family.
Sierra stonecrop is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent mountain ranges on dry outcrops, cliffs, and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,200 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright to dull yellow flowers (occasionally with reddish midribs) in compact clusters 1 to 8 centimeters long. Growing with glaucous stems 4 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms dense rosettes in sunny locations with closely packed leaf clusters. Its distinctive leaves are strongly flattened, with rosette leaves 8 to 28 millimeters long, obovate to oblanceolate, and featuring blunt or notched tips. The flowers have petals 8.5 to 11 millimeters long, with white to yellow filaments and yellow anthers that age to brown or white.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated in eastern Sierra
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry outcrops, cliffs, ridgelines, sunny rocky slopes, non-serpentine substrates, often on granitics
Elevation: 1200-3700 m
California counties: Mono, Alpine, Tuolumne, Madera, Fresno, Nevada, El Dorado, Placer, Mariposa, Tulare, Plumas, Marin, Sierra, Amador, Calaveras, Tehama, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino
Outside California: NV (last collected 1929)
Bloom period
Sedum obtusatum blooms Jun-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 obtusatum native to California?
Yes. Sedum obtusatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum obtusatum bloom?
Sedum obtusatum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Sedum obtusatum grow?
Sedum obtusatum occurs in Mono, Alpine, Tuolumne, Madera, Fresno, Nevada, El Dorado, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3700 m.
What plant family does Sedum obtusatum belong to?
Sedum obtusatum is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
What habitat does Sedum obtusatum grow in?
Sedum obtusatum grows in dry outcrops, cliffs, ridgelines, sunny rocky slopes, non-serpentine substrates, often on granitics.
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.