Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Steel the Show Stonecrop: A Silver Carpet at the Lavender's Feet
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Steel the Show stonecrop is a low, groundcover sedum with some of the most silvery blue-green foliage you will find in the group. Its tiny, fleshy leaves crowd along short trailing stems and knit into a soft, airy mat that sits only 6 to 8 inches tall.
It is also one of the last low sedums to flower, opening rich rosy pink stars in early fall, long after the lavender harvest is in.
Steel the Show at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hylotelephium 'Steel the Show' |
| Foliage | Silvery blue-green, leaves under half an inch |
| Flowers | Rosy pink star clusters just above the mat |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall, 14 to 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early September, peaks mid-September |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; moderately deer resistant |
Why it belongs in a lavender bed
Few companions match lavender's needs this closely. Both want full sun, lean soil and fast drainage, and both get floppy and unhappy when pampered. Steel the Show also echoes lavender's silver foliage at ground level, so the bed reads as one cool, gray-blue planting from the path to the tallest spikes.
Timing is the other bonus. Lavender peaks in early to midsummer; this sedum flowers in September, giving bees a late meal and the bed a second moment of color. Use it to edge the front of a lavender row, fill gaps between stepping stones or cover a sunny slope where a hose rarely reaches. Map out the edging in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to poor and well drained. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal; heavy, wet clay invites crown rot.
- Water: water until it roots in, then only in a long drought. It is extremely drought tolerant.
- Feeding: skip it. Rich or overwatered sites make the stems stretch and flop.
- Tidying: trim faded flower stems after bloom if you like a neater mat, or leave the seed heads for winter interest and cut back in early spring.
- Watch for: aphids and sedum weevil now and then. Drainage matters far more than mulch in winter.
Broken pieces root easily. Tuck them in anywhere you want the mat to fill, which is about the most generous thing a plant can do for a gardener on a budget.
Cutting and drying
The flower clusters rate good for both cutting and drying. Short stems of pink sedum tuck nicely into a small jar beside the last of the dried lavender bundles.
Ordering format
Steel the Show is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to plant a long edge or a slope in one go. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Will it crowd out my lavender?
No. It stays low and spreads to about 16 inches across. Keep it a few inches back from the lavender crowns so air keeps moving around their bases.
Does the center open up late in the season?
It is known for staying short and tight, resisting the open center some sedums develop late in the year.
Can I grow it in a container?
Yes. Containers are one of its best uses. Use a gritty, fast-draining mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
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