Create a succulent garden and enjoy a colorful landscape filled with a broad range of diverse plants that thrive in our dry climate! That’s right. One of the best things about succulent gardens is that they do not require too much water, time, or much maintenance to look good. Their ease of growth makes succulents one of the most popular plants for landscapes throughout the Phoenix area.
Another fantastic thing about succulents is how they resemble living works of art. For instance, Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire,’ is prized for its coral reef-like structure. Senecio serpens ‘Blue Chalk Sticks,’ is an excellent groundcover that can paint our landscape in a sea of blue. There is no doubt about it. Succulents are cool-looking plants with the bonus of being water-wise, fuss-free, colorful, and sculptural!
How to Care for Succulent Gardens
Creating a thriving succulent garden is easy. Of course, it requires more than choosing the right plants. We also need to be sure they get the right amount of light and water. Below are some tips on how to care for succulents.
How to Water: Yes, succulents do not require too much water. However, they are just like every living thing; they require water throughout the year. Deep watering is recommended. However, it is essential to keep the soil moist, but never soggy, as succulents do not like wet feet. Too much water can kill these plants. Once established, most of these plants can go for long periods without any water – water is stored in the plant!
Soil: Ensure good drainage. We can improve the soil by adding compost, sharp sand or pumice.
How Much Light is Required: Succulents love the sun and need it to grow. That said, here in Phoenix it can get very hot. We can provide some protection to our succulents with afternoon shade to shield from the blistering sun.
Fertilizer: In Phoenix, our succulents will experience the extreme heat and freezing temperatures of our desert climate. And while succulents are built to withstand these kinds of conditions, they could use a little help. The good news is that there is a Xeriscape specific formula made for our succulents, Desert Juice. This exclusive formula is infused with Calcium and Furst Liquid which can strengthen our cacti, agave, and succulents! Click here for more information on this beneficial fast acting liquid!
A Few of our Perfect Plants to Create a Succulent Garden
Agaves, Aloes, Euphorbias, Sedum – these are just a few of the unique species we can plant in our succulent garden. Where should we plant them? Arrange them like artwork! Below are a few of our favorite ways to create a succulent garden that is sure to attract all the right attention.
Sticks on Fire (Euphorbia tirucalli): It’s easy to imagine these stunning succulents growing underwater or in an aquarium. Of course, they are succulents, and they are going to be adding beauty above ground. We love these unique plants for their ability to complement a variety of other plants and landscape styles. These plants are one of the few plants that look better with stress. Through most of the year, they maintain their green and orange color. Once winter arrives, the tips turn to a fiery red color that you must see to believe!
Blue Fingers (Senecio serpens): Also called Blue Chalk Sticks, these are one of the few succulents that are blue. Plant them as an accent color and watch how they “pop” when planted next to other succulents in the garden. Mass planting them creates a colorful water-wise groundcover that is bold and beautiful. The pencil-thin leaves grow upwards, and in the intense summer heat, the tips can turn purple. We like to use these plants to cover up a bare spot in your landscape with a “carpet” of blue color!
Blue Glow Agave (Agave ‘Blue Glow’): The architectural look of this specimen can make a bold statement in any succulent garden. Blue Glow Agave features a compact form that fits in any landscape. Their dramatic blue-green foliage is edged in burgundy and form a beautifully symmetrical rosette that can transform any yard into a spectacular water-wise garden. In Phoenix, we will want to provide this beauty with some afternoon shade.
Firecracker Echeveria (Echeveria setosa): As the name suggests, this Firecracker can make your landscape “pop” with color. Dramatic spikes of red and yellow flowers appear in spring and early summer, rising above the fuzzy, gray-green foliage. This colorful show is sure to attract hummingbirds to your garden! This fuzzy succulent is a must-have in any garden!
Aeonium ‘Purple Queen’ (Aeonium manriqueorum): Add a splash of vivid purple to your garden. What makes these succulents different is the way they grow. While most succulents stay close to the ground, this ‘Purple Queen’ can grow upright and rise above the ground. We love the large purple leaves with light-green, tight rosette center. As it ages, the purple leaves become darker, creating an attractive two-tone color that adds instant curb appeal.
Ask Us How to Design with Succulents
Take advantage of our free landscape design when you visit any of our nurseries. We will be glad to help you create a succulent garden that you will love for many years to come!