Sedum 'Purple Emperor'Sedum telephium, or StonecropIn 2002, Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ was awarded the Outstanding Perennial Plant Award from the International Hardy Plant Union, an achievement that is easy to believe.
This is one of the stateliest of the taller Sedum telephium varieties, with deepest purple stems, and stiff leaves arranged in steps up the stem. The blooms are the typical arrangement of broccoli like buds, opening into a cluster of dark mahogany flowers. Unfortunately, they're not long lived, but the bees and butterflies in the xeric garden will flock to the landing pad formed by the opening blooms. Sedum varieties of all kinds are amongst the best plants for bees, with constantly opening blooms in sequence for many weeks, and Sedum Purple Emperor is no exception. The nectar is ambrosia for many wild bees, bumblebees and other pollinators. Throughout late July and into September, the blooms of Purple Emperor Sedum combine with xeric garden plants such as Rudbeckia and its golden daisy flowers accented with the dark brown eye, other stonecrops such as Sedum Brilliant with its bright pink flowers and pale celadon blue foliage, Autumn Joy Sedum and the contrasting salmon pink blooms. Some of my favorite combinations are Sedum Purple Emperor with the brightly contrasting Achillea ‘Moonlight’ with its lemon blooms and grey finely cut foliage, offset by some of the spiky Sempervivum tectorum planted at their base. Purple Emperor Sedum is one of the very best red sedum, and planted at the back of smaller selections it forms a lovely dark backdrop. Somber, yet majestic, it’s a backbone plant in my garden.
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Sedum for Borders
Taller Stonecrop Varieties
As backbone plants for many xeric gardens, these taller varieties and species of Sedum are perfect for adding structure and dimension. Their rounded forms and upright stems make great backdrops for other softer textured plants in drifts.
Here are some of my favorite Sedum for Borders:
Sedum Brilliant
Sedum ussuriense Turkish Delight
Sedum Vera Jameson
Sedum Twilight
Sedum Olive
Sedum Red Leather
Looking for smaller varieties and species? Go to the main Sedum page.
Xeriscaping and xeric gardens are made for these tough and resilient plants, along with many other xeric plants. Combined in borders, containers and rock retaining walls, the flexibility and textures of these valuable plants are infinite.
Sedum for Borders plugs are available for sale online at the Garden Shop
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