A Dream Garden: Sun-Loving Succulent Collection

As I am still young in my horticultural pursuits, I have yet to actualize most of my gardening dreams. However, I dream up and plan out ideas way too far in advance, so I have several lists of different kinds of "gardens" I wish to cultivate someday.

Since yesterday's post was all about succulents, I'm posting my dream succulent collection.

This list also contains some cacti, to which I am also partial. I'm not sure how I'd want to arrange all these species. I'd probably plant them in three or four different containers. Anyway, here is my dream succulent collection.

Note: I do not have my own pictures of these plants, but the links will take you to pictures.

Jovibarba 'Murtal': The spherical growth habit and clean green coloration draw me to this species. It's cheery and small, making it a good option for a backdrop to a showier plant.

Sempervivum 'Purple Beauty': Green and purple is one of my favorite color combinations. This variety of sempervivum captures perfectly the potential of these two colors occupying adjacent spaces.

Sedum dasyphyllum 'Major': So many succulents are sharp and spiny. This variety of sedum is the exact opposite--it's round and cuddly. It would make a great filler for more show-stopping species (see Aloe dorothea below).

Aloe dorothea: One of the main reasons succulents are so popular is their exotic appearances. What could be more exotic than a prehistoric-looking red aloe? The redder, the better, for me.

Agave parryi 'JC Raulston': As I mentioned the last time I talked about agaves, you can extract nourishment from these plants, but I don't know how. Besides, my interest in this plant is its aesthetic value. I'm no tequila hound. The creamy blue-gray of this variety, along with its fleshy leaves and dark spines, make it the Beauty and the Beast of plants.

Senecio rowleyanus: String of pearls is a very aptly named plant. It is obviously desirable--it is a treasure trove in its own right.

Opuntia compressa: In a shocking twist, only one of the plants listed here is edible. This is it: the Eastern prickly pear cactus. Its pads and fruit are edible, and thankfully there are some spineless varieties.

Opuntia rutila: Not all cacti are edible, but they are still fascinating plants. This Opuntia has very attractive spines, reminiscent of a calico cat. The oval shape of its pads is, in my opinion, one of the best shapes cacti provide.

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa: Another species with flashy spines. These are incredibly white, like stars blinking out from a plant. They have great chartreuse blooms, too. Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors lately.

Does any particular combination of these plants appeal to you? I can imagine that sempervivum with the sedum, the aloe with the jovibarba and the string of pearls, and the agave by itself. If it looked really lonely, you could put a few small sempervivums around it and fill the remaining space with string of pearls.

Next post: my long-awaited seed sowing!

University Greenhouse, Part III: The Revenge of the Succulents

For a university in the midwest, this greenhouse had an impressive collection of succulents and cacti. I captured the most interesting specimens.

But first: pinks! These Dianthus flowers are related to carnations, and they were in top form. I love the swirly anthers. They make the flowers look like they just walked out of a fairy tale.

Now, here's where the succulent action starts. First up is what looks like an  Echevaria, though it was unidentified. This one looks a little dusty, but it really stands out against the sedum, with its cooler colors and gracious curves.

The second succulent I photographed was this conveniently identified Kalanchoe. Even the succulents are in bloom! I had never seen a succulent with leaves so far off the soil  before. They're like little succulent trees.

Here's more sedum! We grew a lot of this when I was a small child. It always grew well for us, and it's fun to play with when you're six.

This is one of the more novel succulents, albeit unidentified. My friend Jing said it reminded her of beans. I just wonder how it gets food, since it doesn't look like it photosynthesizes much.

Meet Rabeia albinota. This succulent is unique because of its texture. Most succulents seem to be smooth and (somewhat) uniformly colored. This plant as a backdrop to a really showy, colorful Echevaria or red aloe in a container would be really sharp.

Here is the first picture of my latest obsession: agaves. Agaves mean tequila and agave nectar, though I sadly don't know how to extract either of those from the plants. However, they are fierce and gorgeous all at once, so I definitely want some someday. This one reminds me of Agave parryi 'JC Raulston,' often mentioned on Danger Garden, one of my favorite blogs.

Here's another angle. Are those markings on the leaves dust marks? They add visual interest, but I'm not sure how they came to be.

Fortunately, this agave was labeled. It is Agave verschaffeltii. I'm not crazy about the necrotic/woody portions, but these too would do well in a container. They're like a lite version of other agaves.

This succulent was also unidentified, but its variegation is quite attractive. I don't know if those protrusions are spiky or hairy, but they add aesthetic value as well. This little guy probably doesn't get very big, which is a plus for people with limited space. You can also see that woodworrel about to bloom. Woodsorrel is one noxious weed, but its leaves and pods do taste quite good.

Next time I post greenhouse pictures, I'll start with some exotic aloes and move into even more arid climes. But I haven't gotten all the succulenting out of my system yet, so--

Next post: my dream succulent container collection.