Back in Black is an upright sedum with near-black leaves that stay dark all summer, a bold accent in the middle of a sunny border. In late summer and early fall it opens flowers with cream petals and deep garnet-red centers that stand out against the dark foliage.
The sturdy clump can stand in for a small shrub, and the seed heads add winter interest and food for birds. It has performed well in trials across several regions, including Michigan. Drought tolerant, and rabbits leave it alone.
What it looks like
Thick, fleshy, oval to rounded leaves 2 to 3 inches long in near-black purple with a slightly glossy finish, arranged densely along sturdy upright stems. In late summer, domed clusters 3 to 5 inches wide of small star-shaped flowers open with creamy white petals and deep garnet-red centers, giving the heads a speckled cream-and-red look. The plant is an upright clump 20 to 24 inches tall and 26 to 30 inches wide. At peak it looks like a black-leaved mound topped with pale cream and 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: Cream petals with garnet red centers
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Foliage: Near-black
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Growth habit: Upright clump
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Mature size: 20–24 in tall × 26–30 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 3–9
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Light: full sun
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Bloom start: Early-September
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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.