Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Midnight Velvet Stonecrop: A Dark Dome for the Late Lavender Bed
Save
Midnight Velvet stonecrop is a tall upright sedum whose thick, oval leaves come up dark purple in spring and get close to black in strong sun. In late summer mauve buds cover the dome, and in early fall they open into broad heads of rose-red flowers.
For a lavender grower, the appeal is timing. Midnight Velvet saves its show for the weeks after the lavender harvest, and it asks for the same sun and the same lean, dry soil to do it.
Midnight Velvet at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Midnight Velvet' |
| Foliage | Dark purple to near-black, thick and fleshy, 2 to 3 inches long |
| Flowers | Rose-red domed heads 4 to 5 inches wide, from mauve buds |
| Size | 22 to 26 inches tall, 30 to 32 inches wide |
| Bloom | Buds in late summer, flowers in early fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun for the darkest color |
| Wildlife | Pollinator plant; rabbits avoid it; seed heads feed birds |
Why it belongs next to lavender
Lavender is fine-textured and silver. Midnight Velvet is broad, fleshy and dark. Set side by side, each makes the other look sharper. In June and July the dark dome is a backdrop for purple spikes; by September, when the lavender has been cut and is resting, the sedum takes over with rose-red flowers and keeps the bed from looking finished for the year.
Place it at the ends of lavender rows or in groups of three between lavender mounds, keeping a little air between the plants. Both appreciate that breathing room in a humid Michigan August. Map out spacing in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Sun: the more the better. In too much shade the leaves fade toward green and the stems stretch.
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. It rots in wet, heavy ground, which is the same thing that kills lavender.
- Water: regular watering the first season, then very little. It is very drought tolerant once established.
- Feeding: none. Rich soil makes the stems flop open.
- Spring cleanup: cut last year's stems down as the new rosettes appear at the base.
Winter interest and birds
After bloom the flower heads age to dark red seed heads that hold through winter. Snow caps them nicely, and birds pick at the seeds. If you like a tidy garden, resist the urge to cut them in fall; you will get more out of the plant by waiting until spring.
Plug tray or bare root
Midnight Velvet is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray for growers and anyone potting up in quantity, and as a bare root plant for direct planting in the garden. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my Midnight Velvet leaves turning green?
Usually not enough sun. The dark color develops best in full, direct light, the same exposure your lavender wants.
Will it flop open like some tall sedums?
It stays domed in lean soil and full sun. Flopping is most often a sign of rich soil, extra fertilizer or shade.
Is it a good cut flower?
The heads last well in a vase and pair nicely with dried lavender stems for a late-season arrangement.
Share how it went in your field