Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
After Dark Stonecrop: Near-Black Leaves and Garnet Fall Flowers
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After Dark stonecrop is an upright sedum with thick, glossy leaves in a purple so deep it reads as black in strong summer sun. In late summer, flat clusters of black buds open to garnet-red flowers, and the dark red seed heads stand through fall and winter. It is a dramatic plant that asks for very little.
After Dark at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'After Dark' |
| Foliage | Deep purple to near-black, glossy and fleshy |
| Flowers | Garnet red from black buds, in clusters 3 to 4 inches wide |
| Size | 18 to 20 inches tall, 24 to 28 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late August, peaks mid-September |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; moderately deer resistant; rabbits avoid it |
Dark leaves next to silver lavender
Lavender foliage is silver-gray and fine. After Dark is nearly black and broad. Put them side by side and each makes the other look sharper. The sedum also solves a common lavender-bed problem: by late August the lavender has been harvested or sheared and the bed can look a little flat. That is exactly when After Dark starts to bloom, carrying color into fall and feeding late-season bees and butterflies.
Set it in the middle of a sunny border, in groups between lavender mounds or in a rock garden. It also looks great beside gold or chartreuse plants if you want even more contrast. Try placements in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting a bare root sedum
After Dark is sold as a bare root plant. Plant it in spring once the soil can be worked, with the crown just at soil level, and water it in well. Water through the first few weeks while roots establish, then back off; it is very drought tolerant once settled.
Care through the year
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. Rich soil and extra water make the stems stretch and flop.
- Summer: full sun gives the darkest leaf color.
- Fall and winter: leave the stems and seed heads standing for winter interest.
- Early spring: cut old stems back as new growth appears.
- Watch for: crown rot in wet soil, plus occasional aphids or sedum weevil.
Cutting and drying
After Dark rates well as both a cut and a dried flower. Cut stems once the garnet clusters are open, or let them mature on the plant and cut the deep red seed heads for dried arrangements. They make a moody, handsome partner for dried lavender bundles in fall wreaths. The Cut Flower Planner can help you plan a cutting bed.
Frequently asked questions
Will the leaves stay black all summer?
They are darkest in strong sun. In part shade they lean more toward deep purple.
Does it spread?
It forms a substantial upright clump rather than running. Divide it in spring if it outgrows its spot.
Is it hardy in Michigan?
Yes, it is rated for zones 3 to 9. Good drainage matters more than mulch, since wet, cold soil is what causes crown rot.
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