Sedum ternatum is a native woodland stonecrop prized for its adaptability and charming white star shaped flowers. With trailing stems and succulent leaves arranged in whorls of three, it forms dense mats in moist to dry shaded areas.
Height & Spread: 3 - 6 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Well drained to slightly moist soils; tolerates rocky and poor substrates
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Rarely browsed by deer due to succulent foliage
Native Status
This species is native to eastern North America, commonly found in wooded bluffs, rocky slopes, and streambanks.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts small native butterflies such as Spring Azure and Eastern Tailed Blue, which visit its early blooms for nectar.
Bees
- Visited by sweat bees and small solitary bees seeking nectar and pollen in shaded woodland settings.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to create a dense, interlocking mat of foliage across shaded ground.
Landscape Placement
- Ideal for use in woodland edges, shaded rock gardens, between stepping stones, and as a native alternative to nonnative ground covers in shaded areas.
Companion Plants
- Heuchera richardsonii (Prairie Alumroot) - Adds vertical texture and shade tolerance with early blooming spikes.
- Carex pennsylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge) - Blends seamlessly in woodland settings and shares similar soil preferences.
- Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox) - Provides spring blooms in blue and lavender tones that complement Sedum’s white flowers.
- Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger) - Offers bold heart shaped leaves for a lush ground layer mix in rich woodland soils.
- Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) - Produces frothy bloom spikes and patterned foliage that pairs well with Sedum in partial shade.