Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Night Light Autumn Stonecrop: Pale Yellow Domes on Olive Leaves
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Night Light autumn stonecrop pairs thick, toothed, deep olive-green leaves and dark purple stems with domed heads of light yellow flowers in late summer. As the flowers mature they take on a soft pink blush, so the plant changes color slowly through the end of the season.
Yellow is an unusual color for a tall sedum, and against lavender's purple it is a happy one. Stocky stems also keep the dome intact late in the season, when many tall sedums flop open.
Night Light at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Night Light' |
| Flowers | Light yellow domes 4 to 5 inches across, aging to a pink blush |
| Foliage | Deep olive green, toothed, on stocky dark purple stems |
| Size | 22 to 26 inches tall, 30 to 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late summer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Pollinators visit; rabbits leave it alone; birds use the seed heads |
Yellow, olive and purple
Night Light brings three colors to a lavender planting. The pale yellow flowers sit opposite purple on the color wheel and make the lavender look richer. The olive leaves are darker and warmer than lavender's silver, so the two foliage tones contrast all summer. And the dark purple stems quietly tie the sedum back to the lavender itself.
It is wider than many upright sedums, up to about 3 feet, so plant it at the ends of rows or as a mid-bed anchor between groups of lavender, with space for air around each plant. Plan it in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun for sturdy stems and good color.
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. It rots in wet, heavy ground, same as lavender.
- Water: regular watering the first season; very drought tolerant after that.
- Feeding: skip it. Rich soil makes even stocky stems flop.
- Spring: cut the old stems down as new growth appears at the base.
Leave it up for winter
After bloom, the heads dry in place and hold their dome shape into winter. They catch snow, add structure to a dormant lavender bed and give birds something to pick at. Resist the fall cleanup and cut them back in early spring instead.
The plug tray format
Night Light is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, which suits growers and anyone planting long rows or drifts. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Do the flowers stay yellow?
They open light yellow and develop a pink blush as they mature, so expect a gradual shift toward blush by late season.
Why do some tall sedums flop and this one does not?
Night Light has stocky stems that hold the dome late into the season. Lean soil and full sun help any sedum stay upright.
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