Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Popstar Stonecrop: A Salmon-Pink Finale at the Lavender's Feet
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Popstar stonecrop makes a dense, foot-tall dome of small, fleshy, powdery blue-green leaves on gray-purple stems. In late summer, creamy gray buds cover the whole mound and pop open into cheerful salmon-pink stars, and darker pink seed pods follow to keep the color going into fall.
It wants hot sun, lean soil and very little water, which is exactly the life a lavender bed offers. The rounded succulent mounds make a neat, contrasting edge along the front.
Popstar at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Popstar' |
| Flowers | Salmon pink stars from creamy gray buds, followed by darker pink seed pods |
| Foliage | Small, rounded, powdery blue-green on gray-purple stems |
| Size | 10 to 12 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late August, peaks mid-September, holds into fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; rabbits avoid it; moderately deer resistant |
Why the front of the lavender bed
Lavender's leaves are narrow and silvery. Popstar's are round, fleshy and blue. Side by side, the two foliage textures make the bed interesting even when nothing is in flower. Then the timing does the rest: lavender peaks in early summer, and Popstar waits until late August to bloom, giving bees and butterflies a reason to keep visiting long after the lavender harvest.
At about a foot tall, it will not block the lavender behind it. Plant a row along a path edge or tuck single plants between lavender mounds, keeping a little space so air moves freely. The Companion Plant Planner helps with layout.
The less-is-more care plan
- Soil: average to poor and fast draining. Rich or overwatered sites make the stems stretch and flop.
- Water: very drought tolerant once established. Soggy ground causes rot.
- Feeding: none needed.
- Pests: watch for aphids and sedum weevil now and then.
- Every few years: divide the clump if the center opens up.
Leave it standing for winter
Popstar is fully hardy in Michigan. Leave the stems and seed heads in place for winter interest, then cut them back in early spring before new growth starts. Good drainage matters far more than mulch, since wet, cold soil is what causes crown rot.
Cutting and drying
It is good as a cut flower and dries well. The salmon-pink heads and dried lavender stems make a warm, late-season bundle.
Plug tray or bare root
Popstar is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for edging and mass planting, and as a bare root plant for direct planting. It also suits containers and rock gardens. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will Popstar flop open in the middle?
Its flower clusters tend to stay closed in the center rather than flopping open, as long as the soil is lean and not overwatered.
When should I plant it with lavender?
Plant both after your last frost so they have a full season to root in. The Frost Date Estimator can help with timing.
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