Botanical name: Sedum "Carl"

Botanical name: Sedum "Carl"
Attributes: A very hardy, late-blooming perennial with lovely gray-green foliage all season and a dense, mounded form. Its late summer and fall flowers are unscathed by frost and attract myriads of the season's last butterflies. The flat clusters of rich, rusty brown seed heads reach about 18 inches in height and are beautiful through the winter.
Bloom color: Bright, true pink.
Bloom time: September through October.
Culture: Plant this hardy perennial in any well-drained soil. It thrives in full sun or part shade and is very drought-tolerant. It can be planted any time the soil is workable from spring through fall. Do not cut it off until early spring as its seed heads are very ornamental through the winter. It spreads slowly into a large mass and can easily be propagated from cuttings or divisions.
Landscaping tips: Use in masses in sunny, dry locations or incorporate it into the perennial border. This is one of the finest of late-season perennials and a brighter color than the typical Autumn Joy sedum. Good companion plants include ornamental grasses; Pink Ice and Silver and Gold chrysanthemums; ornamental asters; Fireworks goldenrod; Pitcher's sage; colchicums; and hardy plumbago.
Cost: One-gallon container plants usually cost about $8. Available at local nurseries and garden centers.
Source: Powell Gardens (www.powellgardens.org)