Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
The native sedum for shade: a low succulent mat with white star flowers in April and May. Deer-proof and semi-evergreen.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
The perfect native alternative to invasive groundcovers in moist shade. spreads reliably, deer-proof, semi-evergreen, and unlike anything else in the shade garden.
Woodland Stonecrop is the native sedum for shade, a low, spreading groundcover that carpets rocky, moist woodland floors with its three-parted succulent leaves and cheerful white spring flowers. Unlike the sun-loving sedums most gardeners know, this one is completely at home in the shade of a woodland garden, rooting as it spreads and forming dense low mats that are semi-evergreen through mild winters. The white star-shaped flowers cover the foliage in April and May, making the whole plant glow briefly in the filtered light under trees. Plant it between rocks, at the base of a stone wall, in the joints of stepping stones, or as a groundcover on a moist shaded slope. It spreads steadily but gently, never invasive, easily edited if it reaches somewhere unwanted. The succulent leaves are an unusual texture for a shade plant, and the semi-evergreen habit means the garden has something green at ground level through the winter months. Deer leave it completely alone, and it's essentially pest and disease free.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown woodland stonecrop propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant woodland stonecrop instead of Vinca (Vinca minor) and English ivy (Hedera helix) as a shade groundcover. Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 2–6 in · 12–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 4–9
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from New York south to Georgia; moist, rocky woodland floors and stream banks
Care notes for woodland stonecrop.
Part to full shade, moist to average soil. Tolerates rocky and thin soils as long as some moisture is present. More drought tolerant than most shade groundcovers. Spreads by rooting stems. trim back edges annually to control spread. Semi-evergreen; remove winter-damaged growth in early spring. No fertilizing needed. Divide in spring to propagate or fill gaps.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside woodland stonecrop.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.

Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.

Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.

Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.