Maltese wild succulents: Stonecrops.

There are several Sedum species in the Maltese islands. Here are three of them. They can be found growing together at Dingli cliffs:


Sedum album. This is the rarest of the three species and can be seen just near the edge of Dingli cliffs. It has never been seen to flower in Malta and may be propagating by accidental detachment of leaves by animals or rain. In this picture it is growing with Sedum sediforme. Sedum album is perennial (retains the leaves throughout the year)



Sedum sediforme (Mediterranean stonecrop) is frequent. It can often be found in arid rocky places. The leaves can either be bluish-grey or redish-bronze, which according to literature, depends on the amount of sunlight reaching the plants, but cuttings taken from different plants has retained the leaf colour in cultivation. This may indicate that there are two local forms. Sedum sediforme is perennial. This picture was taken at Ta Cenc, Gozo.

It can be found throughout the Mediterranean region extending to Portugal, North Spain and central France.

Sedum caeruleum (Maltese-Bezzul il-baqra)--blue stonecrop. This is an annual species and dies out in summer after flowering in spring. It is often found in dried up shallow rocky holes in spring which may flood in winter.

It has an unmistakable reddish tinge to its fleshy leaves and is the most noticeable of the three. The flowers has seven light-violet petals

These two pictures were taken at Ta Cenc, Gozo.

Pictures and information submitted by Amante Darmanin