Biting stonecrop

Biting stonecrop: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Mat-forming succulent about 8 cm tall and 30 cm wide, evergreen.

Foliage

Small, fleshy and scale-like, overlapping like roof tiles on the stems; sharp, peppery taste.

Flower

Bright yellow, star-shaped flowers with five petals in small clusters, from June to July.

Roots

Shallow; stem pieces root wherever they touch the soil.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: July

Why grow it?

• Evergreen carpet that covers the ground all year round.
• Bright yellow stars in June–July that attract bees.
• Drought-tolerant and content with poor, sandy or stony soil.
• Perfect for walls, gravel gardens, rock gardens and green roofs.
• Native to Belgium and very hardy (to −30 °C).

Biting stonecrop: where does it grow best?

• Full sun for the most compact growth and richest flowering; in shade it grows loosely.
• Sandy or loamy soil, acid to chalky, poor and well-drained.
• Dry; it does not tolerate wet feet, especially in winter.
• Allow 20–30 cm per plant; ideal on wall tops, in gravel, in a rock garden or on a green roof.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.08 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Houseleek: Sempervivum with colourful rosettes in the same dry sun.
• Creeping thyme: Low, fragrant ground cover for the same poor soil.
• Rock soapwort: Pink flowers that contrast with the yellow stars.
• Blue fescue: A blue ornamental grass that contrasts with the green carpet.

Biting stonecrop: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
2. Use poor, well-drained soil; mix heavy soil with coarse sand or grit.
3. Set small plants at the same depth as in their pot, or simply press pieces of stem onto the ground.
4. Leave 20–30 cm between plants; the carpet closes by itself.
5. Water occasionally for the first few weeks; after that it looks after itself.
6. Spread a thin layer of fine gravel around the plants; compost is not needed.

Care

Water

Only in the first weeks after planting. After that watering is not needed.

Feeding

Not needed. Rich soil gives floppy, loose plants.

Weeds

Weed between the plants in the first year; later the carpet closes and weeds stay away.

Light trimming

After flowering, cut off the spent flower stems if you want a neat carpet.

Limiting spread

Simply pull up pieces that run into lawn, gravel or the rock garden.

Tip: Lay loose pieces of stem on the ground: they root by themselves. Give it a dry, sunny spot and keep it away from small, delicate plants it could overrun.

Biting stonecrop: when to prune it?

Pruning months: July.

When: Rarely needed; optionally in July, after flowering.

How:

• Cut spent flower stems off with scissors for a neat carpet.
• Pull or cut out invasive pieces where they are not wanted.
• Remove dead or dried stems in spring.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Stem pieces

Between April and September, lay or press pieces of stem on moist, poor soil; they root by themselves.

Division

In March–April, lift a piece of the mat with roots and replant it elsewhere.

Biting stonecrop: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Very hardy, down to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
• The foliage stays green all year.
• In a pot or container: ensure good drainage, because winter wet is more dangerous than frost.

Diseases and pests

• Rot in wet soil: The carpet turns soft and brown. Improve drainage with grit and choose a sunny spot.
• Weeds and moss in the mat: Weeds growing between the stems are hard to remove. Weed in the first year.
• Strong spread: Stem pieces root everywhere; it can overrun lawn, gravel and small rock plants. Pull up unwanted pieces regularly.
• Loose growth in shade: Few flowers and a loose mat. Choose a spot in full sun.

Through the year

• March: Plant or divide. Clear dead stems.
• April: Plant. Lay stem pieces.
• May: Plant. Check the spread.
• June: Flowering begins.
• July: In flower. After flowering, cut off spent stems.
• August: Nothing to do; it looks after itself.
• September: Plant. Lay stem pieces.
• October: Plant.
• November: Evergreen; nothing to do.
• December: Dormant.

Edible and useful

Not edible. The little leaves of biting stonecrop taste sharp and peppery, which invites a taste, but the plant is poisonous: it contains alkaloids and an acrid sap that irritate the mouth and stomach, with vomiting and diarrhoea, and dizziness in larger amounts. So do not use it as pepper or in salads, even though it is sometimes called wall pepper. Do not let children chew it, and keep an eye on dogs and cats. The sap can irritate the skin of sensitive people: wear gloves if you handle the plant a lot. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Biting stonecrop is named for the sharp, peppery taste of its leaves; the Dutch name muurpeper (‘wall pepper’) refers to the same thing.
• Biting stonecrop is widely used on green roofs because it tolerates drought, heat and shallow soil.