Flower profile
Widow's-cross
Sedum pulchellum
Widow's-cross is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Tennessee it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Tennessee
Quick look
Sedum pulchellum is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae known by the common names widowscross and widow's cross. It is native to calcareous areas of the South-Central and Southeastern United States, where it is found on flat rock outcrops, particularly cedar glades. Most populations are in the Interior Low Plateau, and Ozark and Ouachita Mountains.
- It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 12 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Tennessee. NatureServe
- In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,281 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #92 among the 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
Widow's-cross gift ideas
Handmade widow's-cross gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Widow's-cross art print
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Widow's-cross greeting card
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Widow's-cross mug
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Widow's-cross earrings
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Widow's-cross embroidery pattern
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Widow's-cross sticker
When does it bloom?
In Tennessee, most flowering sightings come in April–May.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Tennessee
- Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MS (S1), VA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Sedum album (“Hardy Baby Tears”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records widow's-cross in 12 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.
Tennessee counties with USDA records: Bedford, Bledsoe, Bradley, Cannon, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Decatur, Dickson, Franklin, Giles, Hamilton, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Putnam, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, White, Williamson, Wilson.
More Tennessee flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SEPU.
- iNaturalist, Sedum pulchellum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Sedum pulchellum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
- Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Sedum pulchellum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Stosh Morency via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.