Succulents comprise a variety of plants that have the twin advantages of being easy to grow and needing little water in order to thrive. This is a survey of the fifteen most popular succulents with an illustration and description of each. I came across this list in an article by Linda Hagen which I found on the Garden Design Magazine website.
If you are new to succulents, here?s a primer on the 15 most popular types to get you started. These easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant plants can add a dramatic flair to your water-wise garden and are a great choice for beginning gardeners.
AGAVE
Photo by: Hans Braxmeier / Pixabay.com.
Agaves are available in a wide range of sizes, from smaller specimens that mature at 1-2 feet, perfect for containers, to larger specimens many feet tall and wide. Their fleshy and fibrous leaves grow in a rosette shape and are usually barbed along the edges and tipped with a sharp point, with the exception of Agave attenuata (shown). They come in shades of gray and green, some with hints of blue and red, as well as others that are variegated with white or yellow, such as Agave americana. Most agaves are sun-lovers, but some can survive temperatures as low as the 20s. These sculptural succulents add an impressive design element to your water-wise garden or patio container.
SNAKE PLANT
Photo by: Sai Tha / Shutterstock.com
Commonly called mother-in-law?s tongue or snake plant, there are approximately 70 species of Sansevieria. These nearly indestructible plants are often grown indoors and thrive on warmth and bright light, but some also tolerate low light & humidity. The dense, stiff leaves of some types can reach up to 3? tall. Leaves are dark green with grey-green cross banding (Sanseveiria harwoodii) with white or cream variegation on the leaf margins (Sansevieria trifasciata ?Laurentii?), or have cylindrical stems (Sansevieria cylindrica). Sansevieria are well-known for their air-purifying qualities.
ALOE
Photo by: Jo-anne Hounsom / Shutterstock.com.
Aloe plants range in size from just a few inches to tree-varieties up to 20 feet tall. Their gel-filled leaves grow in a rosette pattern, some with marginal teeth, Aloe teeth are not as sharp as the terminal barbs of Agave. Aloes will bloom each year by shooting up tall flower stalks, usually in shades of bright orange, red, or yellow, most commonly mid-winter to summer. Aloes are frost-tender, making smaller, container-size varieties more suitable for moving indoors in colder climates.
See more at Garden Design Magazine
Feature photo: Dzejni / Shutterstock.com.
