Succulents Great and Small
Agave americana century plant.
A large succulent, 3 to 6 feet, 1 to 2m tall, tolerant of salt spray, high temperatures, and long drought.
Common name century plant comes from the long time it takes to flower but each large rosette of leaves lives from 10 to 30 years.
The native range is from the southern U.S.A. to Mexico.
Very variable plant and golden variegated forms have been popular.
A. americana is considered a serious environmental weed in many countries.
Agave attenuata foxtail agave
Similar to A. americana but smaller. Attenuate means to reduce, hence the specific name meaning smaller than A. americana. The common name refers to the shape of the flower.
A popular garden plant for dry gardens, 3 to 4 feet, 1 to 1.5m high, tolerates drought and full sun but does like a little shade during the day.
The native range is Mexico, México State, Central Jalisco, Michoacán.
Aloe lateritia has succulent glossy green leaves, grows to about 1 foot, 30cm high, orange-red flowers.
It is widespread in open grassland and rocky bushland of East Africa.
The native range is from southern Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and north Malawi.
Curio repens syn. Senecio serpens dwarf blue chalk sticks.
A dwarf semi-trailing succulent, attractive cylindrical blue-green leaves.
Grows to about 8 inches, 200mm high. Large corymbs of small cream to white flowers in summer.
The native range is in Cape Province, South Africa.
Mesembryanthemum species pigface.
A genus with many species that have been propagated in England for over 200 years but without close study to the different species, making it difficult to determine the original species of the many colourful varieties available now.
This plant is a succulent, spreading low groundcover, with elongated tubular leaves and bright flowers, white, pink, and red in summer. Flowers best in full sun.
The native range of this species is probably west and south Cape Province, South Africa.
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium syn. Aptenia cordifolia. Heartleaf, Baby Sunrose.
Succulent, spreading low groundcover, with bright green leaves and red flowers frequently throughout the year.
A vigorous plant that can invade other areas when planted in the garden.
The native range of this species is from eastern Cape Province to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mammillaria vetula syn. Mammillaria gracilis cultivar Arizona Snowcap.
A miniature clustering succulent. Should be kept out of the rain. In summer water when almost dry, in winter water seldom. Flowers in the cooler months. Can be kept in a small pot for many years.
The native range of this species is Mexico, Guanajuato to Veracruz.
Euphorbia nivulia syn.Euphorbia neriifolia Common Milk Hedge, Indian Spurge Tree.
A cactus-like tree or shrub, erect, branched, prickly, and succulent. Can grow up to 20 feet, 6m. Flowers in spring.
The native range of this species is the Indian Subcontinent and across to Myanmar. It is a succulent shrub or tree in seasonally dry tropical zones.
Beaucarnea recurvata syn. Nolina recurvata Pony tail palm.
A desert succulent widely used in garden landscapes, requires good drainage. It can grow up to 30 feet, 9m tall.
The native range of this species is Mexico, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.
Pachycereus pringlei Mexican giant cactus,.
A tall cactus up to 50 feet, 15m, white flowers.
The native range of this species is northwest Mexico to Durango.
Pachycereus pringlei Mexican giant cactus with pony tail palm back left in flower summer. Image by the author.
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