Sedum SunSparkler Plum Dazzled - Stonecrop

Sedum 'Plum Dazzled' is a compact stonecrop with delightful purple foliage on purple-red stems. Its dark pink flowers at the end of summer are appreciated by pollinators. It forms a dense cushion that is just as suitable for rock gardens as it is for growing in pots, and prefers dry to moist, well-drained soil in the sun.

'Plum Dazzled' belongs to the SunSparkler series of hybrid sedums, which are recent American varieties with amazing foliage. Sedums, or stonecrops, belong to the Crassulaceae family, which includes many species of succulents that are highly resistant to drought. They consist of many allies for the dry garden, in various shapes and colours.

This variety is distinguished by its dark foliage, of a rare purplish colour reminiscent of the skin of plums. A bluish-grey shadow enhances this colour at the base of the leaves. The contrast with the purple-red of the stems is incredibly decorative. Between August and October, 'Plum Dazzled' is covered with short stalks of dark pink flowers, bringing a beautiful harmony to the whole plant. They are extremely popular with pollinators. The whole forms a compact, dense, and round cushion, about 20cm (8in) high and 30cm (1in) in diameter. The clump does not hollow out, unlike other varieties.

Place Sedum 'Plum Dazzled' in full sun, or very light shade (otherwise its stems will droop), in any well-drained, rocky, not too acidic soil, where it will form a nice little ground cover. It is also very easy to grow in containers, taking care not to overwater it and to select a substrate that does not retain too much moisture. At the end of autumn, the stems and leaves die down completely, and you can cut off the dry parts at the end of winter.

In a rock garden or dry border, you can combine it with Sedum 'Angelina', as a ground cover, for a refreshing contrast with its golden foliage. You can also play with colours by pairing it with other compact sedum varieties, such as S. 'Firecracker' and S. 'Dazzleberry', or taller varieties such as S. 'José Aubergine' or S. 'Purple Emperor'. It will also make a good companion for other rock garden plants such as alpine Aster 'Dunkle Schöne', Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina', perennial flax, and Acaena inermis 'Purpurea'.