Tantalizing tiny tuff plant ID?

16 years ago

Last fall, I traveled I-65 to Minnesota with my daughter. We stopped just north of the Alabama/Tennessee line at a gas station. Beside it, there was a sloped area that might have been 18 wheeler parking at one time. Growing along the grass/weed line, there was a sedum-looking plant. I pulled a couple, but they did not survive the 6 day trip. They were about 4-6" tall with wiry red stems. The flowers were pink, and covered 5 "fingers" (like a star-fish) that branched out at the top of the stem. The few leaves were tear drop shaped and sized. The area recieved full morning and afternoon sun, but would have been shaded later in the day. The "soil" was sandy clay with a lot of blacktop and gravel mixed in. I have tried several times to research it with no success. Does anyone have an ideal what that very tuff small plant is?

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Comments (11)

GAAlan
16 years ago
Google Portulaca pilosa and see if that looks familiar.
daffodillady
Original Author
16 years ago
No, that is not my mystery plant. There was no hair, the stem was upright and thin like a wire, there were only a few tear drop shaped leaves- much smaller and sparcer than the PPs. The tiny flowers were more star shaped and they covered the 5 "fingers" at the top of the stem- reminded me of a star fish. Each root system had a single stem. The habitat is the same though. My camera was broken, and it is about 150 miles from here...but that little plant has sure enthralled me- LOL!!
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daffodillady
Original Author
16 years ago
Whoohoowee....I found my plant!! And its a native!! It is Sedum pulchellum. The pictures do not do it justice. I love a solved plant mystery....and I think sedums could be addictive-LOL!!

Here is a link that might be useful: solved sedum story
catbird
16 years ago
What a delightful little plant. I can see why you were intrigued by it. Let us know if you find a source for it.
lsmcw
16 years ago
Oh, what a CUTIE!! It does look just like a starfish. By all means, let us know if you find a source. Linda
irisaddict
16 years ago
Up here, 40 miles north of the AL border, I occasionally find this plant in the most inhospitable places possible. I've seen it growing in the gravel on the edge of a concrete bridge. I have also found it in concrete cracks in the Big Lots parking lot in Columbia.

Did you notice that it is an annual?
daffodillady
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, almost two years after having first seen my intriguing little starfish sedum, I was finally able to order some seeds. I feel like a kid at Christmas (': Is it time to start wintersowing yet-LOL?!
catbird
16 years ago
Well . . . . give us the rest of the story!! Where did you order them from?
daffodillady
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, I ordered from a Wisconsin company via the internet on 7/19 and had them in my happy hands on 7/23. My first time to be brave enough to order seeds online.
Good experience, ready to do it again. I plan to bring a trade or two of the seeds to the fall plant swap (-:

Here is a link that might be useful: my sedum site
catbird
16 years ago
I couldn't get the link to work, but went to Everwilde.com and found it. Try this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sedum pulchellum seeds
daffodillady
Original Author
16 years ago
Humm, don't know what happened with my link, but that is where I ordered them. I hope they grow as pretty in my pots as they were in that field (-: