Stems 2-9 dm × 2-10 mm, from short rootstock with cluster of white, tuberous, carrotlike roots, sometimes with axillary buds that fall and take root. Leaves alternate on large stems, sometimes opposite on axillary shoots, sessile, becoming markedly smaller distally; blade dull green, often glaucous, elliptic-oblong, 4-10 × 1-4 cm, base rounded or in distal leaves cuneate, margins coarsely dentate, apex acute to obtuse. Cymes dense, 5-20 cm diam. Pedicels ca. 2 mm. Flowers often sterile, 5-11 mm diam.; sepals lanceolate, 2-3 mm; petals purple or purplish red, 5-8 mm; stamens usually 10, nearly as long as petals; pistils 5, pink, 3-5 mm; styles 1 mm; nectaries yellow, oblong, 0.6 mm, longer than wide. 2n = 36.
Flowering summer. Roadsides, old fields, clearings, waste places; 0-600 m; introduced; B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis.; n Eurasia.
For central Europe, H. ´t Hart (1985b) regarded all forms within this morphologically and cytologically variable complex as expressions of a single variable species. R. T. Clausen (1975) noted that the fertile diploid he called Sedum fabaria may be a rare introduction in North America; he used the name S. purpureum for the widely naturalized form. He found remarkably little variation, most plants looking like parts of one clone. He considered this a sterile triploid that reproduces only vegetatively, adding that it is a long-day plant and does not even flower in the southern part of its naturalized range. H. A. Allard (1940) and H. ´t Hart and J. van Arkel (1985) found that it would flower with artificially lengthened days. Clausen wrote that stems growing early in the season have alternate leaves but that those growing later or from axillary buds after injury may have opposite leaves.
According to M. L. Fernald et al. (1958), young stems and leaves are delicious in salads and older ones used as a potherb are 'of indifferent quality,' and the crisp and succulent roots, pickled in salted vinegar, make a tasty relish.
Perennial herb 20 cm - 0.8 m tall
Leaves: alternate or in whorls of three, stalkless, dull green, leaves 4 - 10 cm long, becoming smaller near tip of stem, broadly elliptic to oblong, toothed, flat, succulent, sometimes lightly covered with a waxy whitish coating (glaucous).
Flowers: borne on a compact convex inflorescence 7 - 20 cm across, sepals more than 5 mm long, petals deep pink (nearly red) and wide-spreading.
Fruit: an upright follicle, usually sterile.
Stems: many, erect and succulent.
Similar species: Sedum alboroseum, Sedum album, Sedum purpureum, Sedum spurium, and Sedum ternatum have white to pink or purple flowers. Sedum album is easily distinguished by having leaves that are circular in cross-section and creeping stems. Sedum spurium and S. ternatum also have creeping stems. Sedum alboroseum has white to pale pink petals and non-toothed leaves with an opposite arrangement.
Flowering: mid August to late September
Habitat and ecology: A garden plant introduced from Eurasia, this species escapes along roadsides and railroads.
Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native
Etymology: Sedum comes from the Latin word sedo, meaning "to sit," referring to the manner in which some species attach to walls and rocks. Purpureum means purple.
Author: The Morton Arboretum
Much like no. 2 [Sedum telephioides Michx.] ; perennial from clusters of tuberous- thickened, carrot-like white roots; lvs alternate, or opposite on the branches, sessile, elliptic-oblong, dull green or only slightly glaucous, evidently reduced upwards; sep over 5 (avg 6) mm; pet deep pink, almost red; nectaries yellow, ca 1.7 times as long as wide; ovaries pink, seldom setting seed; triploid, 3x=36. Native of Europe, escaped from cult. and well established in disturbed, moist sites in our range, especially northward. Aug. Perhaps better treated as S. telephium var. purpureum L., but in our range forming a distinctive, sharply delimited unit.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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