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

Flower profile

Woodland stonecrop

Sedum ternatum

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
6of our state lists
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 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,591 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #68 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,097 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #100 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist

Woodland stonecrop gift ideas

Handmade woodland stonecrop gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,194 records)
Bloom time in each of our 6 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
TennesseeNativeApril–May2,685
OhioNativeApril–May2,591
PennsylvaniaNativeApril–May2,097
KentuckyNativeApril–May1,965
North CarolinaNativeApril–May1,838
West VirginiaNativeApril–June1,263

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
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.

More Tennessee flowers

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Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

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Sources