6 ways to mix sedums into your garden

1 Purple and maroon-leaved sedums are gorgeous with silvergrays such as lambs’ ears ( Stachys

byzantina), Artemisia Silver Mound, other blue-leaved sedums, or white flowers such as Echinacea White Swan. They can be stunning when paired with gold flowers or leaves. 2 The softer, muted bluish-foliaged sedums enhance virtually any colour. Green companions will stand out more, pastels will be prettier, and hot colours will be toned down. 3 Blue-leaved forms also look great with short, blue grasses like Festuca ovina and blue oat grass ( Helictotrichon sempervirens). Other grasses that go well include Calamagrostis, Deschampsia, Eragrostis and Molinia (see the November issue of NZ Lifestyle Block for more great grass options). 4 The stout stems and flower clusters of Hylotelephium

spectabile, sieboldii and telephium have bold, structural appeal. You can create a richly-coloured autumn display by weaving them among other bold, late-flowering perennials such as Veronicastrum, tall verbenas,

Eupatorium maculatum, Japanese anemones, Echinacea magnus and geraniums. 5 Echinacea, with their bold, rich, pink-purple flowers, are a perfect partner, enjoying the same sunny, well-drained conditions, and flowering well into autumn. 6Finely-

textured ornamental grasses contrast with the rounded, fleshy sedum leaves, and are natural, easy-care garden companions. Sedums also go well with Carex comans, Festuca glauca, Miscanthus sinensis and Anemanthele lessoniana (NZ wind grass).