Sedum patens
Smith river stonecrop
(c) Mike Butler, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Sedum patens (Smith river stonecrop) is a native California perennial in the Crassulaceae family.
Smith river stonecrop is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in rocky serpentine habitats at elevations of 90 to 200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to greenish-white flowers in flat-topped clusters with 15 to 31 delicate blossoms. Growing with slender stems 7 to 29 centimeters tall, it forms dense rosettes up to 48 millimeters in diameter with distinctive obovate leaves. Its leaves vary from green to gray-green or reddish, with rosette leaves larger than stem leaves, often featuring a shallowly notched tip. The plant produces small white follicles 5 to 6 millimeters long, with seeds that are finely lanceolate and striate.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated at low elevation near Smith River
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocky slopes, talus, sunny cliffs, on serpentine
Elevation: 90-200 m
Bloom period
Sedum patens blooms May-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 patens native to California?
Yes. Sedum patens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sedum patens bloom?
Sedum patens blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Sedum patens belong to?
Sedum patens is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Sedum.
Is Sedum patens rare or endangered?
Sedum patens carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Sedum patens grow in?
Sedum patens grows in dry rocky slopes, talus, sunny cliffs, on serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.