Scientific Name
Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor'
Synonym(s)
Hylotelephium telephium 'Purple Emperor', Hylotelephium 'Washfield Purple', Hylotelephium 'Washfield Ruby', Sedum telephium 'Purple Emperor', Sedum telephium 'Washfield Purple', Sedum telephium 'Washfield Ruby', Sedum 'Purple Emperor', Sedum 'Washfield Purple', Sedum 'Washfield Ruby'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Telephieae
Genus: Hylotelephium
Origin
Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor' is a cultivar or hybrid of Hylotelephium telephium raised by Graham GoughIt and introduced by the former Washfield Nursery in the United Kingdom. This cultivar is one of the most popular members of the Atropurpureum Group, which has received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). In RHS nomenclature, the Atropurpureum Group refers to a group of cultivars within different plant genera that share deep purple or dark red characteristics, typically in their foliage or stems.
Description
Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor', formerly known as Sedum 'Purple Emperor', is a dramatic succulent with erect, ascending stems and fleshy, deep bronze-purple leaves. It typically forms upright to slightly spreading clumps that can reach up to 15 inches (37.5 cm) in height.
From mid-summer to early fall, the stems are topped with large flattened heads of tiny, star-shaped, dusky pinkish-purple flowers. The flower heads can reach a diameter of 6 inches (15 cm).
How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 4a to 9b: from -30°F (-34.4°C) to 30°F (-1.1°C).
These popular garden plants are easy to grow. Hylotelephiums are ideal for that part of your garden that gets too much sun or too little water to grow anything else. They also grow well in containers.
Hylotelephiums prefer full sun. They tolerate light to partial shade in hot summer climates but produce weak, floppy growth when grown in too much shade or overly rich soils.
These succulents do not need rich soil, but they do need excellent drainage. Use a commercial potting mix for succulents, or make your own.
Hylotelephiums are drought-tolerant once established. The best way to water a Hylotelephium is to use the "soak and dry" method. First, get the soil completely wet, then wait until it is dry before watering again.
Feed annually with a balanced fertilizer. According to package directions, apply the fertilizer to the soil in spring as new growth appears.
Hylotelephiums can be grown from seeds, division, or stem cuttings.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hylotelephium.
Links
- Back to genus Hylotelephium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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