Nowadays it has been almost forgotten that the sedum plant found in many gardens was used both as a salad spice and as a medicinal plant in earlier times. This is where the term "stonecrop" comes from, because the fleshy leaves of the succulent plant are said to taste quite hot and spicy. However, the easy-to-care-for plant is also considered to be slightly poisonous.
The pungent stonecrop (Sedum acre) is edible in moderation
Sedum is slightly poisonous
All parts of the sedum plant, but especially its thick leaves, contain toxic alkaloids as well as tannins, flavonoids, glycosides and tannic acids. However, the concentration of toxins is very low, so the plant can still be consumed. However, it is not recommended if you have a sensitive stomach or are currently pregnant, as consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting and headaches. Incidentally, this also applies if you eat too many sedum leaves. For this reason, it is generally only recommended to use it externally.
Edible parts of the sedum
The thick, fleshy leaves of the sedum are mainly used. With some species (e.g. Sedum telephium) the root nodules can also be cooked and used like vegetables. The leaves, on the other hand, can be used fresh or preserved in oil. Add the fresh leaves to colorful salads as a condiment or cook them up as a vegetable.
Edible Sedum Species
In principle, all Sedum species are edible, but especially the following species:
- Hot Stonecrop (Sedum acre)
- Mild Stonecrop (Sedum sexangulare)
- Caucasian stonecrop (Sedum spurium)
- Reddish stonecrop (Sedum rubens)
- Great Stonecrop or Purple Stonecrop (Sedum telephium)
Sedum as a medicinal plant
In folk medicine, both the leaves and the press juice obtained from them were used both internally and externally. The juice is supposed to stop bleeding (e.g. in wounds) and support wound healing. In addition, because of its laxative effect, sedum sap was also used as an anthelmintic. Because of the slightly toxic ingredients, the juice also irritates the skin and can therefore be used against warts, corns or calluses. To do this, simply cut open the thick leaves and place them on the area to be treated.
tips
As a precaution, refrain from eating the sedum or swallowing the pressed juice. However, nothing stands in the way of external use (e.g. as a wart remedy).