Scintillating Succulents

We’ve all been guilty of letting our gardens fall by the wayside, present company included. As many frustrated gardeners may know however, it doesn’t take much—a few simple counts of negligence, and beds once pulsating with animation and life are left teeming with legions of nut sedge, Bermuda grass, and clover, while perhaps being overrun by relentless armies of whiteflies and aphids. Just earlier this summer, the butterfly garden Ron and I had designed was bursting with golden coreopsis, black cherry rudbeckias, milkweed, butterfly bushes, and snow white Shasta daisies. Likewise, our culinary beds boasted ripe tomatoes—from the smallest cherry to the largest ‘Beefsteak’—along with magnificent clumps of fennel, basil, rosemary, and chives, to name a few. Still new to our home and landscape, we foolishly thought we could preserve all of our beds this summer, keeping them pest free and well manicured, despite Mother Nature’s opinion. In all fairness, I like to think we could have pulled this off, had we not had a newborn thrust into the mix as well.

Anyone who has had a baby (again, I’m new at this) knows wholeheartedly where their new priorities lie. While I never thought an infant would be dictating my days’ agendas, Adriana has certainly made it clear that our beloved flowerbeds no longer come first. From hospital trips and doctor’s visits, to hourly feedings and diaper changes, in the spare moments I have to myself, I can only glare wearily outside our windows to watch our prize tomato plants cower under the wrath of leafminers, spider mites, and hornworms, and witness beautifully ripened tomatoes hang until they perish. While most of our herbs have shriveled from drought and excessive rainfall, all of our beds now stand overgrown with unsightly battalions of chamber bitter, Johnson grass, and oxalis, as well as unkempt sage, lantana, and buddleias. Though we can salvage most of our perennials, our kitchen garden will undoubtedly need reconditioning and perhaps re-planning to accommodate low maintenance, drought-friendly succulents, allowing us more focus of course, on Adriana, rather than our flowerbeds. With the right selection of succulents though, great gardening can be accomplished.

Succulent Breakdown

Succulents rank in a class all their own, and are praised mostly for their inimitable ability to store water in their leaves, stems, and roots; this admirable trait after all, is what keeps gardeners from the dreaded routine of daily watering. Virtually maintenance free and indestructible, succulents thrive in places most other plants won’t grow—an enticing feature for gardeners on the run. Although South Africa harbors more succulents than any other region, these scintillating plants can also be found growing in North American deserts, along with most other arid regions of the world. They flourish in hot, sunny conditions, sandy soils, rock gardens, and wall plantings. Their incredible ability to adapt over the years has resulted in an array of remarkable foliages and plant structures, including paddle-shape leaves, spiny stalks, tight rosettes, and finely trailing teardrops. Most succulents provide interest year-round with both their tantalizing foliage and exotic late season flowers. Grow them in bright, south-facing windows, outdoor dish gardens, or get the most out of their grandeur by clothing rock beds and footpaths. Though there is a seemingly endless compilation of succulents, a few favorites to try include Kalanchoe, Aloe vera, Echeveria, string of pearls, and sedum.

Kalanchoes, native to Madagascar, Africa, and Southeast Asia, are part of the Crassulaceae family, a sizeable group that also comprises the much-loved echeverias, aeoniums, and sedums. Kalanchoes boast a variety of appealing leaf structures, hues, and textures, and look phenomenal when brimming from dish gardens or when mixed in rock borders. From shimmering silver, lime green, and jade, to burnt copper, chestnut, and cinnamon, these one-of-a-kind beauties can be found with fuzzy, tubular leaves, smooth scallops, and tightly ruffled rosettes. A robust group of succulents, kalanchoes, perform well in full to partial sunlight, and prefer fast draining, sandy soils. Though almost any variety is worth trying, consider planting Kalanchoe pumila or ‘Frosty Pink’ kalanchoe. This silvery grey cultivar has downy scalloped leaves that send forth puffs of lilac pink flowers in the spring. Accentuate your planting of ‘Frosty Pink’ by integrating it with the rosy Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, jade, and ‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum.

Another genus of succulents, the aloes, comprise nearly 450 species, many of which have been used medicinally since ancient times. Most aloes originated from Africa, Arabia, and Madagascar, and like the kalanchoes, they range in size and shape as well, showing off either slender, supple leaves like those seen on ‘Lace’ aloes, or broader stems with menacing toothy spines, like those found on ‘Gold Tooth’ aloes. Although their serrated leaves feel unpleasantly sharp to the touch, these spikes, along with the bitter tasting sap, effectively ward off damage from insects and animals. Aloe vera, one of the most popular of all the aloes, has long upright lime green leaves, ornately speckled with creamy white, and delicately edged with smooth white teeth. Glowing orange yellow flowers burn prominently in the spring. Plant Aloe vera as a single specimen for use on minor burns and scrapes, or mix it with succulents like ‘Tiger’ aloe, ‘Black Prince’ echeveria, and ‘Tricolor’ sedum.

Echeverias, undoubtedly some of the most attractive succulents, are treasured for their remarkable hues and captivating leaf forms. Native to the Americas, echeverias are prized by plant collectors and gardeners alike. Their tightly bound rosettes vary from pale green, silvery white, and blush to burgundy, scarlet, and dark chocolate. Offering year-round allure, echeverias bloom in late spring and summer with elegant white, coral pink, scarlet, and orange blossoms, while they reveal more dramatic leaf colors during the winter. Plant ‘Black Prince’ echeverias for decadent chocolate black rosettes and clusters of brilliant red flowers. To further heighten the display, include also cultivars like ‘Afterglow’, ‘Blue Curl’, ‘Topsy Turvy’, and ‘Firelight’.

Make sure to incorporate string of pearls (Senecio rawleyanus) with your collection of succulents as well. As the name suggests, string of pearls produces long, cascading strands of pea green leaves, closely reminiscent to beads or pearls in appearance. These South African natives perform best in partially sunlit areas and are perfect for hanging baskets and mixed planters. Excellent companions include the bluish grey Senecio serpens, ‘Flap Jacks’ kalanchoe (Kalanchoe thyrsifolia), and ‘Firelight’ echeveria.

Other must haves for succulent gardens are sedums. Derived from the Latin term sedo, meaning “to sit,” sedums are groundcovers by nature, often found carpeting rocks, walkways, and brick walls. With over 400 different species and a vast assortment of cultivars, there’s no doubt you’ll find a few varieties worth planting. Sedums perform best in dry sunny spots, and work well in hanging baskets, mixed planters, and rock gardens. Consider planting ‘Tricolor’ sedum (Sedum spurium) for magnificent color the entire growing season. This variegated groundcover sports forest green leaves, rimmed with white. A tinge of carmine pink radiantly blushes the mat, further heightening the rosy pink blossoms that open in late summer. Create a captivating display by integrating ‘Tricolor’ sedum with the Merlot tinted ‘Dragon’s Blood’ sedum, the frosty green Sedum clavatum, and ‘Gold Mound’ sedum, a chartreuse cultivar with supple, needle-shaped leaves. ✦