The following three perennials are my first choice to supplement this Sedum Garden. They meet the same growing requirements as Sedums. Each plant is briefly described to emphasize appearance and care. Notice that I have I picked primarily flowers in shades of purple. I feel this color blends most easily with the reds, yellows, pinks, and whites of the sedums These plant genera are deserving of their own article in the future.
Sempervivums (Hens and Chicks) make the perfect edging plant. They form low mounds of rosettes. Once the rosette blooms, it dies but has left many "chicks" in its place. Most of the hens and chicks I've grown have lovely pink flowers. Visitors are frequently surprised and say "I didn't know this plant flowered". The leaves of Sempervivums range from gray-greens, to burgundy, red, and every shade in between. Whatever you do, keep these plants in a dryish soil. They rot easily if too wet. You may have to put a light weight screen covering over them while they are getting settled if your friendly neighborhood squirrel sees them as his summer salad. Once they have grown into nice clumps, there should be plenty to go around.
English Lavender Lavandula angustifolia is a must in this garden. The silvery-gray leaves are very aromatic--you can smell the lavender in the soft summer breezes. The plants are topped with flower spikes of lavender, purple, pink or white flowers. In Michigan, it is not unusual to have these plants bloom early summer and repeat the bloom in early fall if I take the time to cut the old flowering stems back. I've found this plant tolerant of very difficult growing conditions--including being run over by a snow plow in the winter!. The one thing it won't tolerate is winter wet so it is a perfect compliment to a sedum garden. These are just tall enough to add some height behind your taller sedums. An added bonus are the butterflies it attracts to your garden.
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