Semi-glossy leaves of deep purple, close to black, line the stout stems of this upright stonecrop from spring on. Sedum 'Night Embers' grows 24 to 26 inches tall and wide in full sun, hardy from Zone 3 through Zone 9, and fills out by its second summer.
Flower clusters open in late summer and keep going until frost, a soft mauve against the dark leaves. The stems are thick and stand straight, which helps the plant keep its shape as the heavy heads develop.
Upright stonecrop comes from species native to the meadows and rocky hillsides of East Asia and Europe, and the thick, waxy leaves store enough water to carry the plant through heat and dry spells. Flower heads form in midsummer as tight green buds, then open in late summer and fall, a time when few other perennials are in bloom, and bees and butterflies come to them for nectar. The stems die back in winter and new shoots come up from the crown in spring, but left standing, the dried stems and heads keep their shape through winter. Rich soil and heavy watering make the stems soft, so the plant splays open in the middle; lean, well-drained ground keeps it tight.
Its height and dark color give weight to a sunny bed of ornamental grasses and silver-leaved plants, and it holds up well in a large container.
