Sedum spathulifolium
Broadleaf Stonecrop
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Genus
- Sedum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 0.05 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
Although not poisonous, if large quantities of this plant are eaten it can cause a stomach upset[9][10].
Edible uses
Leaves - raw or cooked. They are best used before the plant flowers[1].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The leaves are antihaemorrhoidal, galactogogue and haemostatic[7]. The leaves can be eaten, or a poultice of the warmed leaves applied to the breasts, in order to stimulate the milk flow of a nursing mother[7]. The juice of the leaves and stems has been rubbed over bleeding wounds to stop the bleeding[7]. A decoction of the stems has been drunk by a woman in the ninth month of her pregnancy in order to ease childbirth[7]. A decoction of the whole plant has been given to children as a treatment for constipation and has been used as a wash to soothe nervous and irritable babies[7]. The plant is used as a treatment for sore gums[7].
- Product or use
- Antihaemorrhoidal
- Product or use
- Birthing aid
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Salve
- Product or use
- Sedative
Material uses
Can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[3]. It requires weeding for the first year or so[3]. Plants are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[5].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
- Habitat
- Coastal cliffs and ledges, or in the gravelly soil of the foothills[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth is made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise keep them in a cold-frame or greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year[K]. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the growing season, though is probably best done in spring or early summer. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cultivation
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[2] but prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[4]. Tolerates some shade[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4]. Succeeds in poor soils and on walls[4]. Hardy to at least -15°c[4]. All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species, such as this one, that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity[9][10]. Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[6].
References
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9