Hylotelephium 'Blade Runner'

The name hints at it: Hylotelephium 'Blade Runner' has a distinctly different silhouette from the typical rounded-leaf Hylotelephium. The leaves are narrower than most — strap-like and upright — giving the plant an architectural, almost grass-like quality at a glance. The stems stand firmly upright to about 12 inches, and late summer brings clusters of pink flowers above all that fine foliage. It's a bit of a curiosity in the sedum world, and that's entirely the appeal.

Hardy to Zone 4, it grows well in the Pacific Northwest's range of conditions — adaptable enough for both the rainy west side and the more continental east side. Full sun and decent drainage are the standard requirements. It works well as a textural contrast in mixed sedum plantings, where its narrow, upright foliage interrupts the usual carpet of rounded rosettes and mat-forming groundcovers. Try it in a rock garden where the vertical emphasis adds structure, or at the front of a mixed perennial border where something a little unexpected is welcome. 'Blade Runner' is the sedum for gardeners who like their plants to have a point of view.