Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Carl Autumn Stonecrop: Magenta Color After the Lavender Harvest
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Carl autumn stonecrop is an upright sedum with a tighter, denser habit than the familiar Autumn Joy and much brighter flowers. Large domed heads of brilliant magenta pink sit on reddish stems from late summer into fall, above fleshy, gray-green leaves. It holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
In a lavender garden, Carl is the second act. Lavender peaks in early summer; Carl is just warming up when the lavender is cut and drying in the barn.
Carl at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Carl' (often sold as Sedum 'Carl') |
| Flowers | Brilliant magenta-pink domes on reddish stems, aging darker in fall |
| Foliage | Fleshy, rounded, gray-green |
| Size | About 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late August, peaks late September, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for bees and butterflies; moderately deer resistant |
Why it suits a lavender bed
Carl and lavender share a temperament. Both want full sun, lean soil and dry feet, and both sulk in rich, wet ground. That makes Carl one of the easiest plants to tuck into the front or middle of a lavender bed.
It earns its place with contrast. Lavender is fine and silvery; Carl is broad, fleshy and blue-gray. Lavender blooms in spikes; Carl blooms in flat-topped domes. And while lavender is done by late summer, Carl keeps the bed buzzing well into fall, after many other flowers have quit. Plan the late-season picture in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Planting: set the bare root plant at the same depth it grew, firm the soil and water it in.
- Soil: average to poor and fast-draining. It rots in wet, heavy ground.
- Feeding: none. Rich soil makes the stems stretch and flop.
- Water: very drought tolerant once established.
- Pests: generally trouble-free; watch for aphids and sedum weevil.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan. Leave the stems and seed heads standing for winter interest, then cut them back in early spring as new growth appears.
Cutting and drying
Carl is a good cut flower and dries well, and its compact heads hold their shape. Pair a few magenta stems with the last of your dried lavender for a fall arrangement, or simply leave the heads in the garden, where they turn darker and look handsome under frost.
About the bare root plant
Carl is offered as a bare root plant, a simple way to add it to an existing lavender bed. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is Carl different from Autumn Joy?
Carl is more compact and dense, holds its shape better and has much brighter magenta flowers. It is also among the earlier tall sedums to bloom.
Why are my sedum stems falling open?
Too much water, too much fertilizer or too little sun. Grow it like lavender: lean soil, full sun and a light hand with the hose.
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