Perennial of the Crassulaceae family, widely spread in Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, naturalized in many temperate regions of the world.
In its natural habitat, it occupies rocks, old walls, roofs, sandy slopes, and dry lawns, on both calcareous and siliceous substrates, from sea level up to about 2,500 meters in the European mountain ranges.
It forms creeping and dense carpets, 5 to 15 cm high in bloom, consisting of slender and branched stems bearing small, fleshy, cylindrical leaves, from bright green to medium green under normal conditions. One of the most observable characteristics of the species is the ability of its foliage to turn distinctly red, reddish-brown, or purplish-red under the effect of water stress, cold, or very sunny exposure, contrasting sharply with the parts in full growth.
The flowers, white to slightly pinkish, are star-shaped with five petals and borne on erect and reddish flowering stems, in light and airy branched cymes that rise clearly above the carpet of foliage. The dark anthers punctuate each flower with a discreet but visible detail up close. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude; in cultivation, it generally occurs in June-July.
Excellent foraging for bees and many pollinating insects, it is regularly visited during its flowering.
In cultivation, it requires well-drained soil, poor to ordinary, in full sun. Of total sobriety, it is suitable for rock gardens, walls, green roofs, and paving joints. Like Sedum acre, it can quickly colonize an area and overflow delicate compositions if not monitored.