1 named cultivar

‘Sea Urchin’Sea Urchin Stonecrop

cactus succulent

Needle Stonecrop

Sedum lineare

The Story

Plant Bio

Sedum lineare, needle stonecrop, is a low evergreen succulent ground cover from southeastern China and Japan, three to nine inches high and spreading horizontally to about a foot. Narrow light green leaves sit in whorls of three along trailing stems, and star-shaped yellow flowers open through spring and summer.

It roots wherever a stem touches soil, so it knits quickly over rock walls, gravel and the rims of containers, and broken pieces restart on their own. Bees and butterflies work the flowers. The leaves can be cooked and eaten, though only in small amounts, and it holds up through drought and shallow rocky ground.

Uses & Benefits:

Fine light green whorled foliage with star-shaped yellow flowers in spring and summer.

Covers dry rocky ground, wall tops and container edges where little else will root.

Flowers draw bees and butterflies over a long early-season period.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Cactus Succulent

Height

5 inches

Width

12 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southeastern China and Japan

Toxicity

Leaves edible cooked, in small amounts only

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun, six or more hours a day.
Give it sharp drainage in sandy, rocky or shallow soil.
Space plants six to twelve inches apart to knit together.
Water while establishing, then only in prolonged drought.
Trim stems back in spring where they outgrow their space.
Take stem cuttings or divide clumps to spread it further.

Pro Tip

Press a handful of broken stems into gravel where you want more of it; they root where they lie, faster than dividing.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun for dense, compact growth ☀️
Plant into free-draining gritty or rocky soil 🪨
Let it spill over walls and container rims 🪴
Patch worn areas with stem cuttings ✂️

Don't

Plant it in heavy ground that stays wet ❌
Water on a schedule once it is established ❌
Expect it to take regular foot traffic ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Plant
Tidy

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Rock gardens and dry stone wallsTrailing over container and basket edgesGround cover on slopes and banks

Companion Plants

Hens and Chicks Creeping Thyme Ice Plant Blue Fescue Sea Thrift

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Needle Stonecrop questions

What zones can Needle Stonecrop grow in?

Needle Stonecrop is hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Needle Stonecrop deer resistant?

Yes — Needle Stonecrop is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Needle Stonecrop bloom?

Needle Stonecrop typically blooms in spring to summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Needle Stonecrop need full sun?

Needle Stonecrop does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Needle Stonecrop drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Needle Stonecrop handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.