Succulents:

The spice of a winter’s garden

By Lisa CuLLen

No matter if you are yearning for a more beautiful landscape and need some inspiration or looking for ways to spice up your winter garden, succulents and other exotics may be the answer. The varieties of plants available are endless and it can truly be fun combining the different colors and textures. These are plants that don’t need much water, and most of are self-perpetuating, so you will always have more than you need and can pass them along to friends.

When talking about exotic succulents the place to go for inspiration is Lotusland. There you will see first hand the myriad of ways to use succulents, cacti, bromeliads and other exotic plants and trees. Don’t be intimidated at the magnitude of varieties of plants you will see. Use the experience to learn what works and what doesn’t and to find out what you like. Since Lotusland doesn’t open until mid February, here are a few ideas to get you on your way and some photos to entice you to create your own beautiful wonderland.

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ALoes

Aloes are at their peak in the winter months when the rest of your garden is likely taking a break. Brilliant displays of red, orange and yellow are the trademark of the versatile Aloe. Native to south Africa, the Aloe has adapted well to our Mediterranean climate, needing very little or no water once it is established.

Aloe arborescens, or Candelabra Aloe is a sprawling plant that grows to 8 feet tall and does its best when used in a mass or as a backdrop to other succulents. Their characteristic coral-red flowers rise 2 feet in the air and last from late fall through mid-winter. But this is just one of the many choices in the Aloe family. For sculptural accents, you could add in few of the more exotic Aloes, like Aloe excelsa or Aloe plicatilis (Fan Aloe). There are hundreds of Aloes to choose from so have a blast with them.

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Agave are plants of the New World. Agave is Greek for “noble” no doubt due to their bold structure and striking form. The most common variety is Agave attenuata, which has soft edges and are spineless. I love the way they send out a large plume of flowers when they are mature. All Agave are “monocarpic” meaning they bloom once in the life of the plant. But, as any one who has agave can attest, they produce lots of “babies”. When the mother plant blooms, not to worry, she has left lots of progeny behind. Agave Americana with its dangerous spines shouldn’t be planted anywhere near walkways or entries. The variated variety is particularly dramatic. Only use Agave Americana if you have plenty of room. This is a plant that should be enjoyed at a distance.

Cacti possess a few key attributes that allow them to survive in some of the world’s most inhospitable places. Stated simply, they have extremely short growing seasons, long dormancies, extensive but shallow root systems and other special features, which allow them to quickly take in any rainfall that may occur.

If you decide to take the plunge into the Cacti pool of plants, give them good drainage, they need sandy soil, like decomposed granite and virtually no water. Consider them a specialty plant that needs it’s own environment. The Nopal or Prickly Pear cactus is a common sight on our hillsides and roadways and makes a great security fence for large properties (and great tacos)!