6 Must-Have Succulents

Our Southwest regional reporter weighs in on the showiest and toughest species to grow—regardless of where you live

produce a sense of space has been a recurring garden topic for geezerhood now , and it lends authenticity to any background , peculiarly here in the Southwest . For me , nothing does this better than the role of succulents , both topically native ones and those that are well - adapt from far - off places . This may be one of the few centripetal garden themes that rightfully extends across our Southwest area , from the California seacoast to South Texas . Indeed , succulents seem to be everywhere these days !

Their pee - thrifty nature is a warm selling full stop in a realm with planetary precipitation , recurring droughts , and frequent hot temperatures . Do n’t have clock time to water today ? They ’ll still be there tomorrow . consider with gamy misfortunate soil ? Who cares ! blend in on holiday ? No headache . . . they are the ultimate in durable plant . If that is not enough to deal you , their outstanding diversity of form and color adds a modeled element like no other category of works , whether establish en masse shot in the soil or used in containers as focal points in cooler regions . Choosing your favorites is going to be your biggest challenge . Knowing your precondition is the first considerateness , as some tolerate hot sunlight better than others , and many do best in bright subtlety . There is endless info online to help you decide .

list my own favorites could easily surpass the one hundred Saint Mark , so I ’ll narrow it way down to just a smattering of categories . All the adopt coinage will need :

Tree houseleek

Aeoniumspp . and cvs .

Zones:9–11

Size : Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide , count on the cultivar

Aeoniumsare among the largest rosette - leaved plants in the sedum kin , originating in the main in North Africa and the Canary Islands . A. arboreumand other mintage are attractive enough on their own , but selected variations and hybrids now span a all-inclusive cooking stove of colors and sizes . A few can have full-bodied dinner home plate – sized rosette from minty green to nearly disgraceful - vino in color . clump evenly on stalwart halt up to 3 feet marvellous , they complement any other succulents with their perfect symmetry and flowerlike form . Although they ’re splendid in Dominicus on the West Coast , you ’ll take to offer dappled light in desert position like Tucson , Arizona . Some tolerate unclouded Robert Frost , but others will not , so do your research and be inclined to protect them in cold areas . unexampled colorful cross labeled as ×Semponium , were create by crossing Aeonium with the tough genusSempervivum . These fresh options have add to the color / sizing choice but demonstrate fiddling if any of their hardySempervivumheritage .

‘Arizonia Star’ Weber agave

Agaveweberi‘Arizona Star ’

Zones:8b–11

Size : Up to 5 feet marvellous and 7 feet wide

agave issue forth in all sizes , from 3 - inch minis to 8 - foot colossus . Some are formidably armed with teeth and spiny bakshis , and others are easy - leaved and gardener - favorable . A darling of mine is ‘ Arizona Star ’ Weber agave . appropriate adequate distance when institute as it can give 3 to 6 animal foot across in surprisingly brusque ordination . The gold - edged legato leafage are luminous when backlighted , allow the plant life to stand out as an elegant focal point whether in the earth or elevated in a container .

Santa Rita prickly pear

Opuntiasanta - rita

Zones:7–11

Size:4 feet tall and 5 foot wide

Prickly pears are structural image of the Southwest , and I have dozens in my garden , from the behemoth ( and less spiny)O. ficus - indicadown to some truly miniature forms . But the one that gets my attention over and over in all seasons is the Santa Rita prickly pear . Native primarily to southern Arizona , it is widely embed due to its robust form and richly gloss pads in shades of blue-blooded - green to violet - purple . The best colour develops when grown in dry conditions and during winter chill . This comes tight to a color “ not found in nature , ” as they say , yet here it is ! Handle with tutelage though . It is well armed with unforesightful bristles called glochids that detach easily and can lodge in tegument , boxing glove , and fabric . Plant this in the setting or a less - frequented expanse to be on the safe side .

Hedgehog cacti

Echinopsisspp . and cvs .

sizing : Up to 3 substructure tall and all-encompassing , bet on the cultivar

These small to medium cacti range from clustering barrelful forms to midsize columns . They are easy to get in break of the day sun or partial wraith in desert areas and are also suitable to well - drained containers in surfactant climates . They make a modeled focal point or speech pattern all year , quietly increase in sizing . After a dry winter rest , their hazy bud appear , slow flesh out until some ardent daylight in April when paw - sized blooms dead burst open in unison for a glorious one - solar day employment . episodic blooms may appear throughout the growing time of year , but most will last just one day , perhaps two . Watch the bud nearly and contrive a last - instant assemblage to share the function with friends .

Fencepost cactus

Pachycereus marginatus

Size:12 foot tall and 3 feet wide ( over time )

The noted fencepost cactus hails from Mexico and involve fiddling introduction . I include this as a deary because it is one of the larger succulents that contributes height and morphological elegance with minimum spikiness . Smooth upright lines are uninterrupted by stops and starts like some columnar cacti , and its spines are tiny and do not come off easily , clustered only along the symmetric rib , which makes for easier handling when necessary . A better focal point or backcloth flora is hard to detect , and tardily flock specimens just keep getting secure with sentence .

Echeveria

Echeveriaspp . and cvs .

Size : Up to 12 column inch tall and wide

The pastel rosettes of echeveria are the perfect complement to all the above plants , come in shades of waxy aqua - blue to rosy purple , wine cerise , and mojito green . In red-hot clime they may prefer a act of light spectre but in coastal areas can endure full sunlight . reckon on your condition , they may revalue a bit more moisture than other succulents , but safe drain is still essential , and they will tolerate dry periods without complaint . In late eld many loan-blend have been created with closely related genus . The diversity is endless , so it ’s best to see them in person and grease one’s palms the single you wish . These make colored container combinations and enliven rock and roll gardens in mild clime — there are few limits to creative use of goods and services of these stunning flora .

bowl container full of colorful succulents

discourse this and any other gardening topic in ourSouthwest gardening forum . Find more information onSouthwest gardening here .

Dan Johnson hold out and garden in Denver , Colorado , and in Tucson , Arizona . He is an associate director of horticulture for the Denver Botanic Gardens .

Photos : Dan Johnson

Tree houseleek

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