Gold Moss Stonecrop (Misidentified as grass in image)
Sedum acre · Perennial succulent groundcover; CAM photosynthesis (not C3/C4 grass type).
Grass Family
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) - Note: This is an angiosperm, not a true grass (Poaceae).
Grass Category
Ornamental Groundcover / Rock Garden Plant / Lawn Weed
Variety / Cultivar
Common species (wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9; extremely cold hardy and heat tolerant; evergreen in many climates.
About This Grass
A low-growing, evergreen succulent that forms a carpet-like mat. It features upright, fertile stems and shorter sterile stems. It turns bright green to yellow-green and produces tiny, star-shaped yellow flowers in early summer.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are small (3-6mm), fleshy, ovate, and lack traditional grass features like ligules or auricles; they are arranged spirally around the stems.
Root System
Shallow, fibrous root system that easily establishes from broken stem fragments; low thatch, high drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; naturalized throughout North America.
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and creeping; forms a dense, moss-like mat by rooting at nodes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to very light shade; extremely low water needs; prefers well-drained, sandy, or gravelly soils with neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Mowing & Maintenance
Not intended for mowing; maintaining as a lawn alternative requires no mowing, occasional hand-weeding, and zero to low fertilization.
Special Characteristics
Excellent drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and fire resistance; poor traffic tolerance (easily crushed); highly invasive in rocky outcrops.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides nectar for small pollinators; can be invasive in thin-soiled habitats; often used for green roofs.