Bloomipedia
Woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum)
Photo: William J. Deml via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Woodland stonecrop

Sedum ternatum

Woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is a flowering plant in the Crassulaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Woodland stonecrop is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

26states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
16,628U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia

Quick look

Sedum ternatum is the most widespread native Sedum species in eastern North America, commonly known as woodland stonecrop. It has white flowers, blooming April to May. This shade-tolerant species is often found in the forest understory, although it can also grow in sunnier locations when sufficient moisture is present.

  • It belongs to the Crassulaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina and West Virginia. NatureServe
  • In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,685 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #29 among the 182 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,591 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #69 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,097 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #102 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,194 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
TennesseeNativeApril–May2,685
OhioNativeApril–May2,591
PennsylvaniaNativeApril–May2,097
KentuckyNativeApril–May1,965
North CarolinaNativeApril–May1,838
West VirginiaNativeApril–May1,263

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
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 5 of our 6 states.
See each state
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S2), IA (SH), MS (S1), SC (S2). (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?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The stems and leaves, when very young and tender, may be eaten raw. Later, until they flower, they may be briefly cooked. When ingested in large quantities, can cause stomach upset.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. 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 woodland stonecrop in 26 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Cannon, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fayette, Franklin, Grainger, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Hawkins, Hickman, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Lewis, Loudon, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Overton, Perry, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Butler, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Portage, Preble, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Clarion, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland, York.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Clausenellia ternata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 552 counties across 22 states; the most are in Kentucky (82), Virginia (68), Ohio (57).

Other Sedum on Bloomipedia (5): Lanceleaf stonecrop, Broad-leaved stonecrop, Widow's-cross, Elf orpine, Orpine stonecrop.

More from the Crassulaceae family (8 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Chalk dudleya, Western roseroot, Queen's crown.

More Tennessee flowers

Widow's-cross (Sedum pulchellum)

Widow's-cross

Sedum pulchellum

Native

🌼 Blooms in TN: April–May
American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in TN: June–September
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in TN: April

Sources