Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Frosted Fire Autumn Stonecrop: Cream-Edged Color After Harvest
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Frosted Fire autumn stonecrop is a variegated form of the familiar Autumn Fire sedum. Its fleshy, toothed leaves are light green in the center with irregular creamy yellow edges, and in cool weather those edges can blush pink. In late summer, dome-shaped heads of tiny rose pink stars open on sturdy stems and darken as fall goes on.
It is one of the best plants we know for picking up where lavender leaves off. When the lavender has been harvested and sheared, Frosted Fire is just getting started.
Frosted Fire at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Frosted Fire' |
| Foliage | Light green with creamy yellow margins, can flush pink in cool weather |
| Flowers | Bright rose pink domes, 3 to 5 inches across |
| Size | 12 to 15 inches tall, about 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late August, peaks late September |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; moderately deer resistant |
Why it works beside lavender
Upright sedum and lavender share a philosophy: lots of sun, lean soil and not much fuss. Rich ground and extra water make both of them floppy, and wet winter soil is the main risk for each. That shared taste makes them easy to plant together without compromising either one.
The look is complementary too. Lavender is fine and silvery; Frosted Fire is broad, fleshy and cream-edged, so the two contrast in texture all season. Its short height suits the front of a bed, where it will not hide your lavender, and its bloom carries pink color and late bee traffic into fall. Try spacing in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. It rots in wet, heavy ground.
- Water: regularly the first season, then very drought tolerant.
- Feeding: none. Rich soil makes stems stretch and flop.
- Green shoots: if an all-green shoot appears, cut it out at the base so the variegated growth stays in charge.
- Winter: leave stems and seed heads for winter interest and cut back in early spring as new growth appears. Drainage matters more than mulch.
It is generally trouble-free. Keep an eye out for aphids and sedum weevil, and pull any plant that develops twisted, greenish flowers.
Cutting and drying
The flower heads are good for cutting and dry well, holding their dome shape in fall arrangements. Cut a few when the color deepens and bundle them with dried lavender for a late-season vase that looks planned on purpose.
Plug tray or bare root
Frosted Fire is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray of young starters, suited to growers and mass plantings, and as a bare root plant for direct planting in a home garden. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Autumn Fire?
It is a variegated form with cream-edged leaves, and it grows shorter than its parent, which makes it a better fit at the front of a bed.
Do bees really visit it in fall?
Yes. It is rated excellent for pollinators and blooms when many other flowers have finished.
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