Carl is an autumn stonecrop with a more compact, dense habit than the familiar Autumn Joy and much brighter flowers. Large clusters of vivid magenta-pink bloom on reddish stems from late summer into fall.
The gray-green, rounded leaves form a solid, upright clump about 18 inches tall that holds together well. It is a strong color for late-season borders and a reliable magnet for bees and butterflies.
What it looks like
Large, domed flower heads 4 to 5 inches across made of many tiny star-shaped florets in brilliant magenta pink, held on reddish stems. Leaves are fleshy, rounded and slightly toothed, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, in gray-green, set closely along the stems. The plant is a densely mounded, upright clump about 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. At peak it looks like a compact gray-green mound topped with vivid magenta domes.
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: Brilliant magenta pink
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Foliage: Gray-green
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Growth habit: Compact, densely mounded upright clump
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Mature size: 18 in tall × 18–24 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: Late-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.