Sedum telephium Dark Magic - Autumn Stonecrop

Sedum telephium 'Dark Magic', also known as Orpine reprise, is a recent creation with many qualities. It bears large dark pink inflorescences towering over shiny dark purple foliage. From August to October, its dark charm will enchant borders, rockeries, and patios. This compact variety is very easy to grow. It will show exceptional resistance to diseases if planted in sunny, well-drained soil. In favourable conditions, it will establish itself permanently in your garden.

Orpines are proof that poor soil can provide a home to beautiful specimens with generous flowering. If your soil is not rich, rather dry, even rocky, or even slightly chalky, you can still benefit from hardy perennials (they withstand temperatures below -15°C (5°F)), which require no maintenance and promise to enliven the garden with visits from butterflies. These succulents are easy to live with and have flowers and foliage in various shades that can create multiple palettes, whether in flower beds or containers. However, you can still grow them in rich, moist, and heavy substrate. They will acclimatise without any problems if you take care to add gravel. They should not be subjected to excess moisture in winter.

The 'Dark Magic' variety was obtained in the United States by the Terra Nova nursery in 2015. It has a compact upright clump, measuring about 40cm (16in) in height and spread. Its sturdy purple stems bear oval, thick, and flat leaves, which are arranged alternately and are sessile (without petioles). This deciduous foliage is dark purple, almost black, and very shiny. Its long-lasting flowering provides blooms for both fresh and dried bouquets. Its beautiful, large inflorescences in dense, bulging, almost flattened corymbs are made up of multiple small dark pink star-shaped flowers, which are extremely popular with visiting insects.

The unique colours of Sedum 'Dark Magic' create interesting compositions that incorporate plays of light and contrast. Dense and dark, it enhances neighbouring plants with light reflections or completes the palette of pinks and reds. It pairs well with straw-coloured grasses, achillea, and purple lysimachia. With its intermediate size, it will thrive at the front of scenes along with its cousins of all sizes, but will also blend in among smaller summer plants. Plant it along a dry path, in a rockery, as ground cover around perennial flower beds, or even in a pot on a patio.