Hylotelephium 'Ruby Glow'

If 'Bertram Anderson' is the refined cousin, Hylotelephium 'Ruby Glow' is the one that goes all in on the drama. Deep ruby-red stems carry rounded, glaucous blue-green leaves, and the whole plant takes on a low, trailing, spreading habit that's different from the upright Hylotelephium clan — almost seeping across rocks or wall edges with easy elegance. In late summer the flowers are a deep rose-red that matches the stems, and the whole plant glows in the quality of late-summer light that the Pacific Northwest does so well.

Hardy to Zone 4 and performing reliably in PNW gardens, 'Ruby Glow' looks better the more sun it gets — the red coloration in both stems and flowers deepens with full sun exposure, while part shade will green things up considerably. Grow it at the top of a retaining wall where it can trail over the edge, in a sunny border front, or in a raised bed where the stems catch the light from multiple angles. It pairs naturally with gray-blue foliage companions and warm golden late-season grasses. One of the best dark-toned sedums for the PNW rock garden.