Plant Names
Penthorum sedoides
Ditch Stonecrop
Penthorum faux-orpin
Synonyms
Virginia penthorum
Virginia stonecrop
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Green
Bloom Period: Jun - Sep
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 1.5 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates wet soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for wetland garden
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is a GRASP candidate
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
Ditch Stonecrop thrives in wet soils and despite its common name, it is not a true stonecrop (Sedum). Small greenish-yellow flowers are produced in branched clusters during summer, followed by distinctive reddish seed capsules. It naturally grows along ditches, pond edges, marshes, wet meadows, and other poorly drained areas. It is an excellent choice for pond edges, and wet areas. You might want to give it room if planting in a small garden. It tolerates seasonal flooding.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Plains
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Penthorum sedoides
No butterfly data available for this plant.
Specialized Bees Supported by Penthorum sedoides
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Graptoveria (Echeveria)
- Pachysandra terminalis).1 (Japanese Pachysandra)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: August
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown and crisp and starting to open
- Seeds are dark and tiny stem attaching to the main stem is brown
- Seeds easily fall off pod when shaken
- Little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.
GRASP Candidate
Rare/endangered native plants within 50km radius of Ottawa approximately. Burton is anchor study, plus iNaturalist observations to corroborate if any recent spotting.
Canadensis