After Dark is a compact upright sedum grown for its deep purple foliage, which turns nearly black in strong summer sun. In fall, clusters of black buds open to garnet-red flowers, a rich color pairing on one plant.
The dark red seed heads stay attractive through fall and winter. Use it in the middle of a sunny border or a rock garden as a dark accent next to silver, gold or chartreuse plants. It is very drought tolerant and rabbits leave it alone.
What it looks like
Thick, fleshy, rounded to oval leaves 1.5 to 2.5 inches long in deep purple so dark they look nearly black, with a slightly glossy surface, set along sturdy upright stems. In fall, flat-topped clusters 3 to 4 inches wide of tiny star-shaped flowers open from black buds to garnet red. The plant forms a substantial upright clump 18 to 20 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide. At peak it looks like a dark, almost black mound crowned with deep red flower heads.
Growing it with lavender
Upright sedum loves the same full sun and lean, well-drained soil as lavender, and its broad, fleshy leaves and late summer flower heads add contrast in texture and carry color after the lavender harvest.
Care
Plant in full sun in average to poor, well-drained soil; it is very drought tolerant once established and rots in wet, heavy ground. Hardy in zones 3-9; leave the stems standing for winter interest and cut them back in early spring as new growth appears. Avoid rich soil, which makes stems flop.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Hylotelephium
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Flower color: Garnet red from black buds
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Foliage: Deep purple to near-black
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Growth habit: Upright, substantial clump
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Mature size: 18–20 in tall × 24–28 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 3–9
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Light: full sun
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Bloom start: Late-August
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Peak bloom: Mid-September
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Bloom pattern: Long Blooming
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Deer resistance: Moderately resistant
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Pollinator value: Excellent
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.
Lavender companion · grow guide
Community Grower Report
