Livin' la Vida Succulenta! Olé! (some thoughts about fat-leaves)

Claret cup (Echinocereus mojavensis) and Jan

Yes, cacti can be frightening! But eventually you can get stuck on them in better ways: not many plants on earth can compare to a claret cup in full bloom for floral spectacle!

Echinocereus reichenbachii 'Albispinus'

I treasure my highly variable clumps of "lace cactus" (that comes in an unbelievable variety of spine forms, flower shades and habits). This one is taken in the garden of Rod Haenni (more about him in a bit)...

Sedum dasyphyllum (the country, not the state!)

For the spine averse, there are thousands of succulents lacking any armament: sedums are among the most Universal and variable. I grow dozens of kinds--some can be weedy--but some like this are well behaved. I love how it's nestled in a crustose lichen!

Sedum (Phedimus) littorale

Some are truly remarkable: this sedum comes from the Eurasian far East, a gift of Alexandra Bertukenko from Magadan. It is often neglected in this container--occasionally drying out completely--but ever spring it produces a fantastic show...

Sedum (Phedimus) aizoon and Echinocereus reichenbachii var. baileyi

Here in early winter, the stems of another sedum (closely allied to the last one) in another of my "low maintenance" troughs: succulents are perfect plants for troughs because they'll take neglect and extremes of weather.

Here's another vignette from Georgia-- the Euphorbia isn't technically succulent (but close) painting a bright picture in a sort of wild trough! But notice there's both a Sempervivum and Sedum growing with it!

I was busy photographing wildflowers in Georgia when this cow came to check me out. It's standing next to a bright Euphorbia which (alas) we never brought back...

This is perhaps our most problematical succulent: choice enough to be showcased at Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew's alpine house--but banned in Colorado! Here's another of my polemics about "banned plants" that's relevant here! That Euphorbia is doubly succulent--leaves and the caudex.

Sinninia leucotricha

 Okay, okay--a ROOT succulent (Caudiciform) and not very hardy (definitely wouldn't take subzero like we dish it out in Colorado.) This one's in my lower level kitchen window blooming for weeks before and now after Christmas. But what I DO want to remind you of us that the North American Rock Garden Society is staging the first ever Webinar dedicated to exploring the use of succulents in rock gardens across North America...

Click here for details about the North American Rock Garden Society's midwinter Webinar! If you're a NARGS member it costs only $25. And you can get a bargain membership if you're not NARGS!

Experts from the four corners of North America will discuss how to adapt succulents to outdoor to rockwork and outdoor gardens!