Succulents in the Garden
Plants for hot dry conditions.
Selenicereus undatus dragon fruit cactus
Dragon fruit cactus is a succulent that often grows on trees for physical support and occurs in its native state primarily in seasonally dry tropical areas.
Flowers in summer and nocturnal flowers only bloom for one night. Flowers are edible and are used to make tea.
Fruits in summer and into fall/autumn. The fruit is edible and has hard scales that surround the fruits, hence the name dragon fruit, but with sweet, soft, and fleshy fruit inside.
The plant requires support, such as a wire frame, to enable easier access to the fruit.
Although a cactus, it does require some watering in the spring, and summer when it is flowering.
The native range of this species is Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Crassula ovata money plant or jade plant.
A succulent small shrub, with round leaves, and pink flowers in winter.
From South Africa, the native range of this species is southeast Mozambique to southeast Cape Province.
Tradescantia pallida purple heart
Not a succulent but is drought-hardy and grows well with succulent plants.
Purple heart is a groundcover from Mexico that grows well in full sun but tolerates shade, it withstands drought but also survives frequent waterings, and as such is a very hardy plant.
It has a scrambling habit and will grow over other plants.
Purple heart is one of the easiest plants to strike from cuttings, it naturally roots from creeping stolons as they grow across the soil surface, so we do not have to encourage it much to grow roots as cuttings.
For teachers and parents reading, the purple heart may be a good teaching aid, particularly for young students when teaching nature studies and propagation because it strikes so readily from cuttings. It is always best to wear gloves when handling plants in case of any irritants present.
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora flapjacks
This Kalanchoe is from the of south Africa: Botswana, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Northern Provinces, and Swaziland.
A low-growing succulent with large attractive leaves having red edges which stand out in a garden bed.
Aloe vera
A well-known succulent evergreen perennial, from 2 to 3 feet, 0.5 to 1m high, full sun position with well-drained soil. Yellow flowers in late winter to early summer.
This cactus-like plant is often grown for its medicinal properties
The native range of this species is the Hajar Mountains in North Oman on the Arabian Peninsula but is now widespread through the warm desert and dry shrubland regions around the world. It is considered a weed in some areas.
Strelitzia alba great white strelitzia.
An evergreen plant, from 3 to 7m, 10 to 20 feet tall. Large 60mm white flowers in a large 300mm purple sheathing bract. Leaves 1m, 3 feet long, often cut by the wind.
Only for large gardens and prefers a warm sheltered position.
Not a succulent but is drought-hardy and grows well with succulent plants.
Native to Cape Province in southern Africa.
Gasteria acinacifolia cow tongue.
A succulent perennial and one of the tallest Gasterias at 0.75 to 1m high. Light red and green flowers in spring and throughout the year.
The native range of this species is south and southeast Cape Province, southern Africa.
Aeonium arboretum
A succulent shrub to just over 3 feet, 1m high. Makes glossy rosettes of leaves. Full sun, is very hardy.
The native range of this species is the Canary Islands and southwest Morocco.
Musa acuminatum x M. balbisiana banana.
A large herbaceous plant can be large in tropical areas but 10 feet, or 3m tall in dry regions.
Not a succulent but is drought-hardy and grows well with succulent plants.
Widely cultivated but originally from Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Cotyledon orbiculata silver peak or pig’s ear.
A succulent subshrub or groundcover from the warm desert and dry shrubland regions.
Silver white leaves and apricot yellow flowers in summer. Full sun or slightly shaded position.
Native to Angola, Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Northern Provinces, and Swaziland.
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