In the Garden: For low-water performers, give succulents a try
Are you a sucker for succulents? I’ve had a love affair with them for years, and I don’t intend to give up on them any time soon.
After all, these plants are bombproof. If you’ve got a spot in your garden that’s sunny and on the dry side, just tuck in a succulent or two and they’ll thrive.
So what is a succulent anyway? These plants are known for their thick, fleshy leaves, which are an adaptation for storing water. That’s why they do so well in dry areas. Succulents grow just about everywhere on this planet and are the darlings of the garden these days.
As author Tawni Daigle says in “DIY Succulents” (Adams Media, 203 pp., $18.99), “From your local coffee shop to department store windows, succulents seem to be making an appearance everywhere lately. Their stunning colors, geometric shapes, and resilience make them appealing to everyone, including those who don’t consider themselves as having a ‘green thumb.’ ”
The succulents most gardeners are familiar with are sempervivums, or “hens and chicks.” They earned that name because you’ll typically see a mother plant and a flock of baby plants surrounding it. This type of succulent is very hardy for this region, typically down to USDA zone 4.
Another wonderful type is the sedum. Perhaps you’ve heard them commonly referred to as stonecrop. These are even hardier than sempervivums, down to zone 3. One popular example is sedum Autumn Joy, much loved for its pink, bee-attracting flower heads that light up gardens in the fall.
Three types of popular succulents that aren’t hardy to our region are echeveria, aeonium and crassula. Each one grows in zones 8 to 11, which means we either have to grow them as annuals or move them indoors when the temperatures drop. I’ve seen so many amazing cultivars of these succulents that I am frustrated we can’t grow them outdoors year-round.
Let’s focus on the types of succulents we can grow here, and how to care for them:
Most succulents prefer a sunny location but do well with afternoon shade or a bit of protection from intense sunlight.
In addition to growing beautifully in dry, sunny garden beds, succulents are ideal for pots. When you think about how easily flower pots dry out, you can see why they are such a good choice for containers. The plants’ only requirement is that the soil must drain well. I’ve heard you can’t kill a succulent, but if you keep the plant in soggy soil, you just might. Succulents do require watering when the soil is dry, so be sure to give them a drink regularly, especially during our hot summers.
It’s great fun decorating a patio, deck or balcony with containers of succulents. I’ve seen them planted in clay pots, ceramic dish gardens, metal toolboxes, decorative tins, concrete blocks, in driftwood, split logs and even in rotted tree trunks.
Hens and chicks work well in fairy gardens and in decorative baskets hung on garden gates. Then there are the jaw-dropping vertical succulent gardens made from picture frames attached to shallow planting boxes. The ideas are endless.
If you are searching for inspiration for succulent projects, take a look at “DIY Succulents” or visit my succulents page on Pinterest (pinterest.com/inthegarden 0059/succulents). You will want to dive right in and decorate your home and garden with these amazing plants.
Susan Mulvihill is co-author, with Pat Munts, of “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Contact her at susan@ susansinthegarden.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/ susansinthegarden.