July 10 column: Succulents

Oh how I love succulents! They are the coolest and toughest plants around. They are incredibly popular these days because lots of folks have come up with creative containers to plant them in.

My column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review is about this very topic: For low-water performers, give succulents a try. In it, I discuss the main types of succulents and which ones are hardy enough to grow in northern climates like mine. You can also read my column below.

I also cover how to care for them and the conditions they like to grow in.

Column:

by Susan Mulvihill

Are you a sucker for succulents? I’ve had a love affair with them for years and I don’t intend to give up on them anytime soon.

After all, these plants are bombproof. Got a spot in your garden that’s sunny and on the dry side? Just tuck in a succulent or two and they’ll thrive.

So what is a succulent anyway? These plants are known for their thick, fleshy leaves which are an adaptation for storing water. That’s why they do so well in dry areas. Succulents grow just about everywhere on this planet and are the darlings of the garden these days.

“From your local coffee shop to department store windows, succulents seem to be making an appearance everywhere lately. Their stunning colors, geometric shapes, and resilience make them appealing to everyone, including those who don’t consider themselves as having a ‘green thumb’.”

Author Tawni Daigle, DIY Succulents * (Adams Media, 203 pp., $18.99)

The succulents that most gardeners are familiar with are sempervivums, or “hens and chicks.” They earned that name because you’ll typically see a mother plant and a flock of baby plants surrounding it. This type of succulent is very hardy for this region, typically down to USDA zone 4.

Another wonderful type is the sedum. Perhaps you’ve heard them commonly referred to as stonecrop. These are even hardier than sempervivums, down to zone 3. One example of a popular stonecrop is sedum Autumn Joy. It is much loved for its pink, bee-attracting flower heads that light up our gardens in the fall.

Three types of popular succulents that aren’t hardy to our region are Echeveria, Aeonium and Crassula. Each one grows in zones 8 to 11. This means we either have to grow them as annuals or move them indoors when the temperatures drop in the fall. I’ve seen so many amazing cultivars of these succulents, I’m frustrated we can’t grow them outdoors year-round.

Let’s focus on the types of succulents we can grow here, and how to care for them:

Most succulents prefer a sunny location but do well with afternoon shade or a bit of protection from intense sunlight.

In addition to growing beautifully in dry, sunny garden beds, succulents are ideal for growing in pots. When you think about how easily flower pots dry out, you can see why they are a good choice for containers. The plants’ only requirement is that the soil must drain well. I’ve heard you can’t kill a succulent. However, if you keep the plant in soggy soil, that’s a good way to accomplish this. Succulents do require watering when the soil is dry. Be sure to give them a drink regularly, especially during our hot summers.

It’s great fun decorating a patio, deck or balcony with containers of succulents. I’ve seen them planted in clay pots, ceramic dish gardens and metal toolboxes. Decorative tins, concrete blocks, in driftwood, split logs and even in rotted tree trunks are ideas.

Hens and chicks work well in fairy gardens and in decorative baskets hung on garden gates. Then there are the jaw-dropping vertical succulent gardens made from picture frames attached to shallow planting boxes. The ideas are endless.

I’m certain you will want to dive right in and decorate your home and garden with these amazing plants.

Susan Mulvihill is co-author, with Pat Munts, of “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Contact her  at Susan@susansinthegarden.com and follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/susansinthegarden.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy the photos on this post. I seem to be drawn to succulents like a magnet. Click on any of the photos to view a larger image. How do you like the big urn of succulents below? I saw that in an English garden during a 2011 trip. I told myself, “I need one of those in MY garden!”

* Please note this is my Amazon affiliate link. This will not affect the price you pay.