Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, wetlands. Summer.
Helmet Mountain, July 20, 2006.

Rose Crown and King’s Crown are quite similar, having short succulent leaves on a thick straight stem topped by flower clusters.  Both enjoy being in wet meadows, but King's Crown will often also be found in drier open woods and Rose Crown will commonly be found in quite wet high mountain meadows.  Rose Crown’s flower cluster is a rounded column.

King’s Crown’s flower cluster is a flattened pancake.  Color is an even more distinguishing feature: Rose Crown is deep to very light rose; King’s Crown is maroon to almost iridescent black/red.  Most often Rose Crown is found scattered in small clusters whereas King’s Crown often grows in thick patches making its flowers even more vivid and noticeable.  Rose Crown is less common in the Four Corners area than King's Crown.

Click for more Rose Crown.

Rhodiola rhodantha flower stalks dry to a cinnamon brown.

"Rhodantha" is Greek for "rose flower".  "Clementsia" is for 20th century ecologist Frederick Clements who was, according to William A. Weber, the "originator of [the] plant succession concept".  The plant was first collected for science by Charles Parry in Colorado in 1861 and was named Sedum rhodanthum by Asa Gray in 1862.  Joseph Rose renamed the plant Clementsia rhodantha in 1903.  Linnaeus named the Sedum genus in 1753. (More biographical information.) 

Rhodiola integrifolia.  Synonym: Sedum rosea.  (King’s Crown)
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 18, 2005.
Owens Basin Trail, June 13, 2004.

The photograph above of Rhodiola integrifolia was taken in a moist meadow; the one at left was taken on a dry, rocky ledge.

"Rhodiola" is Greek for "rose-like".  "Integrifolia" is Greek for "complete foliage".  This species was first named Rhodiola rosea by Linnaeus in 1753, was changed in 1772 to Sedum rosea, and has gone through a number of other name changes.  William Weber accepts Constantine Rafinesque's Rhodiola integrifolia, but most authorities place the two species in the same genus, Rhodiola.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra. Summer.
El Diente Trail, August 29, 2005.

Both King’s Crown and Rose Crown turn lovely shades of orange/red/yellow/green in the fall.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Rhodiola rhodantha

Range map for Rhodiola integrifolia