Biting Stonecrop

©Philip Precey

Biting Stonecrop

Scientific name: Sedum acre
Also known as 'Goldmoss' due to its dense, low-growing nature and yellow flowers, Biting Stonecrop can be seen on well-drained ground like sand dunes, shingle, grasslands, walls and pavements.

Species information


Height: up to 10cm

Conservation status


When to see

January to December


Biting Stonecrop is a mat-forming plant that is common on well-drained ground, such as sand dunes, shingle, grasslands, walls and pavements. It has yellow, star-shaped flowers that appear from May to July, and fleshy leaves that have a biting-hot taste. It attracts many bees in search of nectar.

How to identify

Biting Stonecrop displays dense clusters of small, star-shaped, yellow flowers with long stamens. The succulent leaves are egg-shaped and crowded together.



Did you know?

Sedums, such as Biting Stonecrop, are popular garden plants and can be planted in the barest of soils, along walls, in rockeries or in containers. They attract lots of nectar-loving insects.

How people can help
