Sedum 'Touchdown Teak'

Sedum 'Touchdown Teak': Dark Teak Leaves Built for Pots

'Touchdown Teak' is the garden's star running back. Glossy red-brown leaves, rock-solid red stems, and rose-red flowers that show up for the fourth quarter. SIX POINTS, NO PENALTIES.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Sedum telephium 'Touchdown Teak' (also listed as Hylotelephium telephium)
• Common Name: Stonecrop
• Series: Touchdown™, from Terra Nova® Nurseries
• Height: Foliage 38 cm (15 in); in flower 48 cm (19 in)
• Spread: 40 cm (16 in)
• Flowers: Rose-red, star-shaped flowers in clusters at the stem tips
• Bloom Time: Late summer (August to September)
• Foliage: Glossy red-brown to purple-brown leaves on red stems, holding their colour all season
• Features: Rabbit resistant
• Plant Patent: USPP 26,078

Where to Plant: Use it at the front of a sunny border, in a rock or gravel garden, or along a walkway. It's especially good in containers, where its compact, multi-stemmed habit fills a pot neatly. The dark foliage makes a strong backdrop for brighter plants.

Companion Plants: Penstemon 'Dark Towers' stands behind at 85 to 90 cm with pink flowers from June to August, before the sedum turns red. Symphyotrichum ericoides adds clouds of tiny white flowers from August to October, a light, airy contrast with the bold red heads. Along the front, Lavandula 'SuperBlue' carries blue spikes at 25 to 30 cm from June to August. The whole group thrives in full sun and dry soil.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun, in well-drained soil. Average to lean, sandy or gravelly soil keeps the plant compact and the leaves darkest. Skip the fertilizer. In heavy clay, add grit or raise the planting so the crown stays dry in winter. Water through the first season, then only during long dry spells. Leave the flower heads for winter interest and cut the old stems to the ground in early spring. Divide in spring every few years if the clump gets crowded.

History: Terra Nova® Nurseries of Oregon introduced the Touchdown™ sedums around 2013, bred for a vigorous, multi-crown habit that fills a container and keeps its leaf colour all season. 'Touchdown Teak' later earned the top rating for container performance in Michigan State University trials.

Final Thoughts: Deer and rabbits never make it past the line of scrimmage. Bees and butterflies get box seats. SPIKE THE BALL AND PLANT IT.