Succulents; Sedum; Sempervivum & Thyme...

...Drought Smart Plants for Smart Gardeners

What are succulents? These elegant, unusual, fleshy and interesting plants run the gamut from plump and chubby, to slender and bizarre – the one trait they all have in common is their ability to store moisture for use in dry times.

Their flowers are quite often spectacular, to attract insects for pollination.

Some of them live high in jungle tree tops, bathed in mist.

Others have evolved in dry deserts, with rare rainfall events.

Many are hardy in cold climates, others love the heat.

There are succulents for every type of garden, including unique containers on a dry patio, planted in a lush and colourful xeric garden, or even on green roofs.

The fascination with succulents can sometimes become an obsession, so please approach with caution.

Confused about the identification of your succulents? Find out what your plant is with the easy to use succulent plant identification page – make sure you check out the submissions by other visitors.

Do you have a question about growing plants, whether they’re succulents or other plants? Ask the Horticulturist.

If you’re in Canada, you can buy succulents online at the Garden Shop, or use the handy directory of online nurseries to find these fascinating plants in other countries.

There are many beautiful varieties to accent your xeric garden. Use them on your green roof to create a haven for butterflies, bees and birds right in your own backyard.

They’ll hold your precious soil in place with their tenacious but well behaved growth, and add texture and colour to rockeries, walls, borders and planters.

Plant some Sedum on your barnboard nest boxes and give the birds something to chatter about.

Make a thyme lawn, and plant some succulent plants in odd and unusual crafts and containers.

Echeveria come in an incredible array of blue to grey, pink to mahogany, crinkled, warty, and soft, rubbery textures to delight and fascinate you.

Investigate the potential, and find out some incredible facts about these wonderful plants.

Find the information you need to plan, design and nurture your perfect ecological niche. Get inspired to beautify your garden with rustic garden crafts, unique and clever ideas for displaying succulent plants as well as ideas for using many drought smart plants in your garden xeriscape.

Many gardeners sense a mysterious attraction to drought smart plants. You may feel the pull of their symmetry and simplicity like many others before you, and admire their toughness and resilience in conditions of poor soil, infrequent watering and neglect.

Your garden can still look lush and inviting, even when you don’t have time to water and cater to the whims of more fussy plants.

I’m Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist, avid Xeric Gardener and Wildcrafting Artisan. Find out more about me, and join me on the adventure of a lifetime in the hunt for exotic, unusual, intriguing and fascinating Drought Smart Plants.

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