Night Embers grows strictly upright with dark black-purple, semi-glossy leaves, a sleek vase shape that fits into tight spaces. In late summer to early fall, small clusters of light mauve-pink flowers open on deep red stems, a soft accent against the dark foliage.
The flowers form on the upper half of the stems, and the plant stays upright without flopping. Its narrow base leaves room for shorter companions at its feet. Very drought tolerant and avoided by rabbits.
What it looks like
Thick, fleshy, oval leaves 2 to 3 inches long in dark black-purple with a semi-glossy finish, arranged along stiff, deep red stems. Small, loose clusters of tiny star-shaped flowers in light mauve pink open at the tops of the stems and along the upper half. The plant is strictly upright and vase-shaped, narrow at the base and wider at the top, 24 to 26 inches tall and wide. At peak it looks like a dark vase of stems topped with pale pink flowers.
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: Light mauve pink
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Foliage: Black-purple, semi-glossy
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Growth habit: Strictly upright, vase-shaped
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Mature size: 24–26 in tall × 24–26 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
