Synonym: Sedum rosea.
English: Golden root; Rose root; Roseroot; Aaron's rod; Arctic root; King's crown; Lignum rhodium; Orpin rose; Kidneywort.
Region: Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, North America, Labrador, Alaska, Maine.
Habitat: arctic; mountainous; moist, rocky ledges and talus of coastal cliffs in the north and of north-facing cliffs; elevations up to 1900 metres; crevices of mountain rocks and on sea cliffs; very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -45°c; prefers fertile, well drained open loam; prefers sunny position; tolerates fairly damp conditions; drought resistant; on sea cliffs and on mountains; moist, rocky ledges and talus of coastal cliffs in the north and of north-facing cliffs; at elevations up to 1900 metres; crevices of mountain rocks and on sea cliffs; very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures to -45°c; prefers a fertile well drained open loam in a sunny position; tolerates fairly damp conditions, prefers a raised well-drained spot; drought resistant.
Content: phenols; rosavin, rosin, rosin, rosarin; salidroside = rhodioloside; organic acids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, tyrosol; geraniol, myrtenol; octanol; phenethyl alcohol; cinnamyl alcohol; p-tyrosol, rhodioniside, rhodiolin, rosiridin; polyphenols; proanthocyanidins, quercetin, kaempferol; phenylpropanoids; tyrosol; flavonoids: rhodiolin, rhodionin, rhodiosin, acetylrhodalgin, tricine; monoterpenes: daucosterol, beta-sitosterol; phenolic acids: chlorogenic acid, hydoxycinnamic acid, gallic acid.
Culture: threatened, due to rapidly growing demand.
Use: ornamental, groundcover; medicinal; food, leaves and shoots, bitter, raw or cooked, in mixed salads, sauerkraut; stems, cooked, eaten like asparagus; root, raw or cooked; extract is sometimes added as a flavoring in vodkas; cosmetic preparations; ornamental, ground cover.
BotanyHerb; perennial; evergreen; succulent; 30 cm tall; extremely polymorphic.
Root: short, scaly rootstock, erect or spreading; rose scent.
Stem: cluster of blooming stems 5 to 40 cm tall.
Flowers: 4 sepals; 4 petals; yellow to greenish yellow, tipped with red; 1 to 4 mm long; blooming in summer; dioecious.
Pollination: by bees, flies.
TaxonomyRhodiola rosea was first described by Pedanius Dioscorides in De Materia Medica. Many of North American plants formerly included in
Rhodiola rosea are now treated separate as Rhodiola integrifolia and Rhodiola rhodantha. Rhodiola is included in Sedum by some authors.