''Phedimus spurius'', the Caucasian stonecrop or two-row stonecrop, is a species of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
in the family
Crassulaceae
The Crassulaceae (, from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the crassulas, the stonecrops or the orpine family, are a diverse Family (biology), family of dicotyledon angiosperms primarily characterized by succulent leaves and a form of phot ...
. It is a low-growing, spreading
succulent
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
with stems that creep along the ground and root as they grow.
''P. spurius'' occurs naturally in the rocky subalpine meadows of
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
,
northern Iran
Northern Iran (), is a geographical term that refers to a relatively large and fertile area, consisting of the southern border of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains.
It includes the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan (ancie ...
, and northeastern
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
. It has naturalized in Europe, often found along roadsides, walls, and waste areas,
escaping cultivation to form persistent
colonies
A colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule, which rules the territory and its indigenous peoples separated from the foreign rulers, the colonizer, and their '' metropole'' (or "mother country"). This separated rule was often or ...
. It is widely grown for its tolerance of drought and rocky conditions. Wild populations and cultivars vary in color from white to red; greener-leaved plants produce paler blooms and those with red or purple foliage developing deeper-colored flowers.
Taxonomy
Species of ''
Phedimus
''Phedimus'' is a genus of the succulent family Crassulaceae (stonecrop family), with about 18 species, distributed in eastern Europe and Asia. The genus is described with two subgenera, but one of these is also recognized as a separate genus, '' ...
'' have traditionally been included in the genus ''
Sedum
''Sedum'' is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species, subsequently reduced to 400–500. They are leaf succule ...
''. Within the
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
''Phedimus'', ''P. spurius'' belongs to the
subgenus
In biology, a subgenus ( subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.
In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the ge ...
''Phedimus''.
The
specific epithet
In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...
, ''spurius'', means "false", though its intended meaning in this context is uncertain.
Description
''Phedimus spurius'' is a
stonecrop
''Sedum'' is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. The genus has been described as containing up to 600 species, subsequently reduced to 400–500. They are leaf succulen ...
with numerous stems that either sprawl along the ground or creep, often taking root as they grow. These stems, which are smooth or slightly bumpy, are typically 5–15 cm long. The leaves, which are usually arranged in opposite pairs but occasionally alternate, are either attached directly to the stem or have very short stalks.
They grow in two rows along the stems, which is why the plant is sometimes called "two-row stonecrop",
and vary in shape from spoon-like to rounded or oblong, with a wedge-shaped base and small, rounded teeth along the upper edges.
Leaf size ranges from 15–35 mm in length and 10–12 mm in width.
The leaves are
succulent
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
and medium green with edges tinged in red. The older leaves (on the lower parts of the stems) are
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
, while the newer leaves (near the stem tips) are
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...
. In autumn, these upper leaves deepen to a rich burgundy color, persisting through winter.

Flowering stems, which can lie along the ground or grow at an angle, reach 10–30 cm and have a rough texture
and reddish color.
The flowers are densely clustered in flat-topped groups called
corymb
Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...
s, each containing 15–30 blooms. The
bracts
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale.
Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also loo ...
(small, leaf-like structures beneath the flowers) are narrow and elongated. The flowers themselves usually have five, but occasionally six,
petal
Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...
s and sit on very short stalks or are nearly stalkless. The
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106
Etymology
The term ''sepalum'' ...
s are triangular and pointed, sometimes with a slightly rough texture near the tip, growing up to 10 mm long. The petals are upright at the base but spread out towards the top, often with slightly curled tips and a central ridge. They measure 7–12 mm and come in shades from pure white to deep crimson. The flower's stamens are 5–9 mm long, with red pollen-producing structures.
The species flowers from late spring to mid-summer, attracting butterflies.
The small, four-sided nectar glands are about 0.5 × 1 mm. The fruit consists of five upright, smooth
seed capsule
In botany, a capsule is a type of simple, dry, though rarely fleshy dehiscent fruit produced by many species of angiosperms (flowering plants).
Origins and structure
The capsule (Latin: ''capsula'', small box) is derived from a compound (mult ...
s, each 5–9 mm long and joined at the base.
''Phedimus spurius'' shows considerable
variation in leaf shape and size, as well as flower color. In the northeastern part of its range, white-flowered forms (once described as ''Sedum involucratum'' and ''S. oppositifolium'') are more common, while in the west, red-flowered forms dominate. Despite these differences, genetic studies suggest that all forms belong to a single, uniform species.
In early growth stages, ''P. spurius'' can resemble ''
P. hybridus'' or ''
P. ellacombianum'', but their differences become apparent upon flowering—while the latter two bear yellow blossoms, ''P. spurius'' does not. White-flowered varieties of ''P. spurius'' are generally less floriferous, yet all forms spread vigorously, with tangled stems extending beyond 30 cm over time—behavior uncommon in related species.
Distribution and habitat

The type specimen of ''Phedimus spurius'' was collected in
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
. The species is distributed in Georgia,
northern Iran
Northern Iran (), is a geographical term that refers to a relatively large and fertile area, consisting of the southern border of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains.
It includes the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan (ancie ...
, and northeastern
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, where it inhabits cool, rocky sites and
subalpine meadows at elevations ranging from 1,250 to 3,000 meters.
''Phedimus spurius'' has become
naturalized
Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...
in many parts of Europe,
especially in various
disturbed habitats, such as walls, rocky areas, roadsides, refuse sites, and waste ground. It frequently
escapes cultivation, likely through
garden waste disposal or
dispersal by birds.
Once established, it can form persistent
colonies
A colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule, which rules the territory and its indigenous peoples separated from the foreign rulers, the colonizer, and their '' metropole'' (or "mother country"). This separated rule was often or ...
.
Cultivation
The horticulturist Ray Stephenson has described ''Phedimus spurius'' as "perhaps ... the most common stonecrop in cultivation".
It thrives in well-drained, acidic to neutral soils with dry to moderate moisture levels and prefers full sun, though it can handle some light shade. It grows well in sandy or gravelly soil, adapts to nutrient-poor conditions, and requires proper drainage to stay healthy. It is highly
drought-resistant
In botany, drought tolerance is the ability by which a plant maintains its biomass production during arid or drought conditions. Some plants are naturally adapted to dry conditions'','' surviving with protection mechanisms such as desiccation tole ...
and should not be overwatered. Pests and diseases rarely attack it, but snails, slugs, and
scale insect
Scale insects are small insects of the Order (biology), order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient g ...
s may appear.
''Phedimus spurius'' is commonly planted in
rock garden
A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small ...
s, small-scale
ground cover
Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows low over an area of ground, which protects the topsoil from erosion and drought. In a terrestrial ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as the ...
, and
border
Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...
fronts, this plant also thrives in stone wall crevices, sunny slopes, and along edges.
Due to its vigorous spreading habit, it is unsuitable for small rock gardens but excels as a fast-growing ground cover. It can overtake more delicate species and requires management. The plant struggles in containers, needing ample space to expand.
It may also be used in
green roof
A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage ...
s.
It spreads easily by rooting at nodes that touch the ground and can be propagated effortlessly through cuttings or division.
Dark-leaved and variegated forms grow more slowly, making them valuable for contrast in borders.
Numerous
cultivars
A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue cult ...
of ''Phedimus spurius'' have been developed, though many lack distinguishing traits. Leaf color correlates with flower shade—plants with the greenest foliage tend to produce the palest blooms, while those with wine-red, copper, or deep purple leaves develop progressively darker flowers.
The typical form has pink-purple flowers and green foliage that acquires a reddish hue in full sun. Cultivars vary in color intensity, from pale to dark.
*'Coccineum' (syn. 'Splendens') is a cultivar with redder flowers and reddish-tinged foliage, cultivated for over a century.
*'Album' (syn. ''Sedum oppositifolium'') is a white-flowered form with consistently green foliage, but reluctant to bloom.
*'Green Mantle' (syn. 'Album Superbum') is similar to 'Album' but more floriferous, with white blooms that fade to pale pink.
*'Salmoneum' is a North American selection with slightly more salmon-toned flowers than the typical species.
*'Schorbuser Blut' ('Dragon's Blood'), a slow-growing yet highly sought-after form, begins the season with bright green, red-edged leaves but darkens by autumn.
It has received the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...
's
Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
It includes the full range of cultivated p ...
.
*'Roseum' is an older variety nearly identical to the species.
*'Erd Blut' produces purple flowers with more deeply suffused foliage.
*'Bronze Carpet' is a North American form with bronzed leaves and slightly deeper-colored flowers.
*'Fulda Glut' is notably darker than the typical species. It also has reddish leaves but produces striking scarlet flowers.
*''Sedum spurium'' 'Voodoo' has leaves heavily tinged with dark red and deep reddish-pink flowers.
*'Ruby Mantle' features deep red foliage and purple blooms.
*'Red Carpet' stands out with its bronze foliage and bright red blossoms.
*'Purpurteppich' ('Purple Carpet'), true to its name, bears purple flowers and large, springtime leaves that emerge brown-violet.
*'Tricolor' is known in North America under this name, while in Europe it is sold as ''Sedum spurium'' var. ''variegatum''. Its leaves display a striking mix of green, creamy-white, and wine-red. The leaf shape differs from the species, leading to occasional misidentification as ''S. kamtschaticum'' var. ''variegatum''. However, the latter has a more upright habit and yellow flowers, whereas 'Tricolor' produces light pink-purple blooms. Reversion to solid green is common.
*''Sedum spurium'' var. ''involucratum'' is rare in cultivation and identifiable by its exceptionally large sepals, nearly matching the petals in length. It is a small, light-petaled form with chromosome counts of 2n = 28 and 42.
File:Aristocrat butterfly on Sedum spurium.jpg, ''Aglais urticae
The small tortoiseshell (''Aglais urticae'') is a colourful Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Adults feed on nectar and may hibernate over winter; in warmer climates they may have two broods in a season. While the dorsal surface of th ...
'' on a potted ''P. spurius''. The stonecrop's flowers are attractive to butterflies.
File:Phedimus spurius JRVdH 03.jpg, 'Coccineum' has been in cultivation for over 100 years.
File:Dragon's Blood Sedum in bloom.jpg, 'Dragon's Blood' is particularly popular.
File:Sedum spurium Voodoo 1zz.jpg, The leaves of 'Voodo' are especially dark.
File:Phedimus spurius 'Tricolor' kz03.jpg, 'Tricolor' has multicolored and unusually shaped leaves.
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q780123
spurium
Flora of Georgia (country)
Flora of Turkey
Flora of Iran