Stonecrop (Sedum telephium 'Dark Magic')

Overview

The Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’, often simply called Stonecrop, brings rich, brooding color to the late-season garden. This compact selection is prized for its strikingly dark purple-red, succulent foliage that holds up well through the heat of summer. As an herbaceous perennial, it offers reliable structure year after year in the garden border.

Unlike some lighter green sedums, Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ provides excellent contrast against brighter blooms. Its clusters of dark pink, star-like flowers emerge from August through October, providing critical late nectar sources for pollinators when many other plants have finished flowering.

Culturally, this Stonecrop variety is known for its robustness and ease of care. It thrives in conditions that often challenge other perennials, preferring lean, well-drained soils and full sun exposure, making it an indispensable choice for low-maintenance landscapes.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Crassulaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.75-1 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-1.75 ft
• Bloom Time: August to October
• Bloom Description: Dark pink
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Plant Stonecrop in the spring or fall, ensuring the location provides exceptional soil drainage. This plant thrives in average soils but truly excels in sandy or gravelly mixtures, avoiding heavy clay that retains too much moisture. While it demands full sun for the darkest foliage color, it can tolerate a little light shade in very hot summers, though too much shade will result in floppy, weak growth.

Watering requirements for Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ are minimal once established, as it is highly drought tolerant. Avoid overly rich soils and supplemental fertilizing, as these conditions encourage softer growth that is more susceptible to pests and flopping. Good drainage is the single most important cultural requirement for long-term success.

Maintenance is typically minimal. Deadheading the spent flowers is optional; however, leaving the dried flower heads on the stems provides winter structure and visual interest. In early spring, cut back the old, dead stems close to the ground before new growth emerges.

Propagation is simple. Divide established clumps in spring, or take stem cuttings in summer and root them directly in the soil. Even detached leaves placed on the soil surface can often root quickly, highlighting the “live-forever” characteristic of this effective Stonecrop.

Landscape Uses

The textural and color contrast offered by Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ makes it highly versatile. It excels when placed at the front of mixed perennial borders where its neat, upright mounds define the edge. Place it in large rock gardens where its cultural needs—drought and sharp drainage—are easily met among low-growing alpines.

This variety also serves beautifully as a specimen plant when grouped in masses, creating a tide of dark foliage floating through a mid-sized border design. Given its manageable height, it integrates well into containers, providing dark, succulent structure that contrasts wonderfully with trailing annuals or brightly colored flowering annuals.

Consider pairing the dark tones of Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ with silver-leaved plants, bright chartreuse foliage, or grasses that catch the afternoon light. Its late bloom period makes it an essential linking plant connecting summer color into the transition toward fall themes.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

The genus name Sedum refers to the plant’s tendency to “sit” upon rocks, perfectly describing the habitat of many stonecrops. ‘Dark Magic’ is specifically valued as a compact cultivar, reaching about 1 foot tall with a spread of nearly 1.75 feet. Its flowers are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators late in the season, and the mature foliage itself remains attractive long after the blooms fade.

Tolerances

• Drought
• Dry Soil
• Shallow-Rocky Soil

Potential Problems

This Stonecrop variety generally displays excellent resistance to most serious pests and diseases, making it a go-to choice for hands-off gardening. Slugs and snails may occasionally target young, tender growth early in the season.

For minor sap-sucking pests like scale, mealybugs, or aphids, targeted treatment with insecticidal soap is usually effective. Nematodes or weevils are rare issues, but ensuring excellent air circulation and avoiding overly wet conditions helps minimize overall stress and susceptibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Stonecrop suitable for?

Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9.

How large does Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ grow?

This cultivar reaches a modest height between 0.75 and 1 foot tall, spreading out to 1.5 to 1.75 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Stonecrop need?

This plant requires full sun for optimal performance, especially to maintain its desirable dark leaf color.

When does Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ bloom?

It produces its clusters of dark pink flowers between August and October, extending color well into autumn.

Conclusion

The Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ offers dependable texture, vivid dark foliage, and robust late-season color, positioning it as a low-effort, high-impact plant for any gardener. This Stonecrop variety ensures that even as summer wanes, your garden still has visual interest. Verify that your site receives ample sunlight and has soil that drains freely before planting this invaluable perennial.

Propagation Tips

Because Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ is a succulent, propagating it is straightforward and highly rewarding. The most reliable method is taking stem cuttings during the summer months once the plant is actively growing. Simply snip off sections of the stem, allow the cut end to dry and callous over for a day or two, and then insert the base into a well-draining potting mix.

The legendary persistence of this plant means that even leaves can be utilized for propagation. Carefully detach a healthy leaf from the stem and lay it flat on top of dry soil. Keep the soil lightly moist, and within several weeks, tiny plantlets will begin to emerge from the base of the leaf, eventually developing into full new Stonecrop plants.

Wildlife Benefits

The late-season flowering cycle of Sedum telephium ‘Dark Magic’ provides a significant ecological service to the garden ecosystem. When many summer-blooming perennials are already past their prime, the dense pink flower heads attract numerous beneficial insects.

Butterflies, in particular, rely heavily on these late nectar sources to fuel their migration or prepare for overwintering. Planting drifts of this vibrant Stonecrop variety ensures a reliable food source remains available during the vulnerable transition from summer to fall.