It is a biennial herb growing in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia.

In the second year, a solitary, leafy stem, 5 to 60 cm in length, arises from the center of the rosette and forms flowers.

The five predominantly yellow, rarely white, yellow-green, or pinkish to reddish petals are almost free.

Within family Crassulaceae, Orostachys is placed in tribe Telephieae of subfamily Sempervivoideae.

Molecular phylogenetics shows that the genus is not monophyletic, but polyphyletic with respect to Hylotelephium.

[6] Orostachys section Orostachys, in turn has been treated as two subsections, differing by either flat or fleshy leaf shape, and the presence or absence of appendages on the leaves, which include spines or cartilaginous protrusions:[5] On the basis of molecular data, it has been proposed that Orostachys subsection Appendiculatae be considered a separate genus.