Equio

Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper

Sedum acre

Horse

Low

Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. A large handful of the plant (rarely ingested due to its intense oral pungency).

Monitorwhat to do
Not reportedtoxic in hay

Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.

What to do now

Antidote
No specific antidote. Symptomatic treatment for digestive irritation.
Time to signs
A few minutes to 1 hour
Prognosis
Excellent. Symptoms disappear very quickly.
  1. Rinse mouth.
  2. Monitor droppings.
  3. No intensive treatment is required.

Its ID card

Height
5 cm – 15 cm
Flowering
June to August
Toxic parts
The entire fleshy plant (which retains its caustic sap for a long time).
Toxin
Piperidine alkaloids (Sedamine) and acrid mucilages.
Habitat
Rock gardens, old limestone walls, roofs, dry stone walls, rocky southern meadows.
Soil indicator
Rocks, bare limestone walls, sand, extreme dryness.
Regions
Entire Europe
In hay
Not reported
Palatability
Very low (the 'wall pepper' name is well-deserved; it is very pungent).

When the risk rises

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Summer (flowering, maximum caustic sap).

Spotting it in the field

Do not confuse with

Houseleek (much larger and harmless), other non-acrid Sedums. — smell : pronounced acrid and peppery smell when crushed.

  • Tiny, creeping succulent plant.
  • Small, water-filled leaves, overlapping like scales, yellowish-green.
  • Tiny, bright yellow star-shaped flowers covering the plant in summer.
  • Extremely peppery and burning taste.

Signs to watch for

Acute toxicity due to local irritation.

Dose : Not determined, ingestion is limited by the acrid taste.

  • Drooling (reactive hypersalivation from burning sensation)
  • Inflammation of lips (redness)
  • Watery to mucous diarrhea
  • Mild abdominal cramps
  • Temporary loss of appetite

Who is affected

Other species : Irritant (vomiting) for dogs and cats.

In pregnant mares : none.

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Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper : equine care and management documented with Equio app. Documentation équine avec Equio, l'application d'aide à la décision pour les chevaux.

Getting rid of it

Method : Manual uprooting with gloves to avoid skin irritation. Dispose of uprooted plants away from pastures. Thermal weeding can be used with caution.

  • Avoid allowing horses to graze in areas where this plant is abundant, especially on walls and roofs.
  • If thermal weeding is performed, ensure that the debris is not accessible to horses.
  • Identify and remove the plant from paddocks if possible, wearing gloves.

Frequently asked questions

Can Equio identify Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper from a photo?

It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.

Is Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper dangerous in hay?

Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.

Veterinary priority

This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Related pages

Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and foal and young horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and lactating mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and non-pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and senior horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Bitter Sedum / Wall Pepper and horse in recoveryProfile-specific horse risk page.Poisonous plants for horsesEnglish Equio plant catalogue and risk pages.Sensitive profilesFoals, pregnancy, lactation, senior horses and recovery.Photo methodHow to document a plant without relying on one image only.Equio AppScan feed, plants and care products — keep your horse's history.Equio FAQAnswers about scans, profiles, subscriptions and AI limits.
What to do? The Equio app