When it arrives
Your plug tray
Plugs are small and tender. Pot into 4-inch pots and grow on 3–5 weeks in bright light, or plant out after frost. Keep evenly moist, harden off a week, and set the plug top level with the soil.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Back in Black grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 24.0 in
- Mature spread
- 30.0 in
- Bloom
- Early-September – peak Mid-September
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Moderately resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Back in Black
Autumn Stonecrop (Sedum) · Hylotelephium
Give upright and mounding stonecrops full sun and lean, well-drained soil. They're drought tough and bloom late summer into fall, a big draw for bees and butterflies.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Low waterFast drainage
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pH 6.0–7.5Soil
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Zones 3a–9bHardiness
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24″ tall30″ wide
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Some resistanceDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Back in Black will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b
Spring through early fall.
Your year with Back in Black
JFMAMJJASOND
When to plant
Spring through early fall.
How deep
Set the crown level with the soil surface.
Spacing
Upright types 18–24 inches; low mounding types 12–18 inches.
Soil
Sandy, gravelly or average loam · pH 6.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Don't enrich the soil. In clay, add grit and plant slightly high. Rich soil and water make stems split open.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
In shade, stems stretch and flop open.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Tight, cabbage-like rosettes of fleshy buds appear at the base in early spring. Stems grow through spring and early summer, with flowers coloring up from late summer into fall.
Spring
Cut back old stems; pinch tall types in late spring.
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Summer
No care needed.
Fall
Peak bloom and pollinator visits.
Winter
Leave seed heads standing.
Watering
First season: Water weekly for the first month.
After that: Very drought tolerant; rarely needs water.
Feeding
Not needed. Fertilizer causes weak, floppy stems.
Pruning & deadheading
Leave seed heads standing for winter interest. Cut to the ground in early spring. To prevent flopping, pinch upright types back by half in late May or early June.
Dividing
Every 3–4 years when the center opens up; divide in spring.
Winter
Hardy to about zone 3–4. No protection needed.
Summer heat
Excellent in heat and drought.
Stems flop open in the middle
Likely cause: Rich soil, extra water or shade
What to do: Pinch back by half in late spring; skip fertilizer; give more sun.
Mushy, black stems
Likely cause: Rot from wet soil
What to do: Cut out rotted parts and improve drainage.
Clump has a bare center
Likely cause: Old clump
What to do: Divide in spring.
Too wet or too dry?
Soft, black stem bases and yellowing leaves mean too wet.
Watch for
- Stem rot in wet soil
- Aphids
- Sedum root weevil
- Slugs on young shoots
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 1 gallon+
Thrives in pots with gritty, fast-draining mix.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
No chill needed
Young plants usually bloom their first fall.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 1 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
A perfect match for lavender's sunny, dry bed. Stonecrop's flowers color up as lavender finishes, extending the season for pollinators.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
Community Grower Report
How does Back in Black Stonecrop grow for you?
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