The dark purple, nearly black leaves and purple stems of 'Purple Emperor' Sedum make it a striking presence in the garden all season. In the summer it shows heads of pink-purple flowers and in July-September the flowers are showy red. Also known as Stonecrop, the plant is a hardy perennial, grows to 15 inches tall and 12-24-inches wide, thrives in most soils, and is drought tolerant. A winner in every sense,'Purple Emperor' was honored as the Outstanding Perennial Plant for 2002 by the International Hardy Plant Union.