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| Photo Credit: Denver Botanic Garden |
| Succulents make great container plants – as long as they’ve got good drainage and plenty of sun. |
Succulents are the camels of the plant world. They take in water and store it in their fleshy interiors, allowing them to go long periods of time without additional life-giving liquid. Some of our favorite plants are succulents – jade plants, hens and chicks, agave, yuccas, aloes, sedums and more. (And, of course, most cacti are succulents, too.) Add it all up and there are several hundred different species of succulents in the world. (Plant geeks take note: There are more than 60 plant families divided into about 300 genera that have evolved succulent species.)
As you might think, most succulents evolved in desert and semi-arid regions. Many adore poor, sandy, gravelly soil and like being tucked into tight spaces in baked areas (think between pavers or rocks). No matter where you live, there are at least a few succulents that will work for you. Some are so adaptable, they can even thrive in decidedly non-desert conditions. Take sedums, for example. Many, including the wildly popular ‘Autumn Joy’, do well in very moist conditions and are cold-hardy even in northern Minnesota – hardly reminiscent of the desert! | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman | | Succulents, like this tree aeonium, come in all kinds of interesting colors, shapes, sizes and textures! |
There are literally hundreds of succulents that grow well outside. But many, like jade plants, mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria) and kalanchoe have become favorite houseplants. Indoors, they’re grown in tiny pots. But just head South to climates like Southern California and Florida, and you’ll find these beauties growing several feet high outdoors!
Don’t know where to start with succulents? Take a look at some of the most popular outdoor (and indoor) selections: | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Denver Botanic Garden | | Underplant your New Mexico agave with low-growing succulents for a water wise taste of the desert. |
Agaves: The North and Central American native Agave americana is commonly called century plant. (Another type of agave is a key ingredient in tequila.) The varieties used in landscapes tend to grow large, long, tapering leaves up to 6 feet long with wicked little spines at the tip. Many send up flower stalks – and some of those get quite large. In fact, a mature century plant can send up a flower stalk you can enjoy from a second- or third-story window!
Aloes: Renowned for the sap’s healing properties on burns, aloes are lovely garden additions, too. Like agaves, they tend to have long, tapering leaves radiating out from a central crown with flower clusters in orange, yellow, cream or red. They range in size from 6-inch miniatures to the tree aloe, which can hit 18 feet high!
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| Facts |
- The Latin root of the word “succulent” says it all: Succos means “juice” or “sap.”
- Because they’re so drought-tolerant – in fact, they may die if kept too wet – succulents are some of the best container plants around. They’re so tough, some people even plant them in the niches of concrete blocks or ceramic drainage pipes! Succulents are also great for clay strawberry pots, which are difficult to keep well-watered. Even in traditional pots, succulents can thrive the most baked conditions with far less watering than other container plants need.
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| Faqs |
- Q: How do I care for succulents?
A: All succulents need full sun – preferably 6-8 hours of direct, unfiltered light each day. They also need outstanding drainage. (They’re likely to rot if it gets soggy.) Many selections flower but don’t care much about deadheading (and some, like sedums, look wonderful with their dried flower heads left on all winter). Fertilizer needs are minimal: Simply work in a good, all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer (or plenty of compost) into the soil around the plant each spring. - Q: What’s the difference between a cactus and a succulent?
A: A succulent is simply a type of plant that has a thick, often waxy (or hairy or thorny) “skin” over a juicy, fleshy interior. Virtually all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.
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| Resources |
- You can find more information about the plants mentioned in this article in our Learn2Grow Plant Database.
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