Sensational Succulents
What is sculptural, elegant, striking, evergreen, needs little to no irrigation and is care-free? The sensational succulents! This group of plants is the perfect addition to any southwest landscape.
Cacti, agaves, yuccas, desert spoons, beargrass, and ocotillo all fit into the succulent category, giving the landscaper a broad palette from which to choose.
Photographer: Cado Daily
Agave parryi v. huachucensis makes a striking accent plant.
Needing little to no supplemental water depending on the climate, succulents can be relied upon to thrive when the irrigation system fails and water dependent plants start to wither.
Mix and match low water plants with succulents and celebrate your natural environment. Take a walk in nature and see what enticing habitats are created by the variety of plants in one area.
Fairy dusters with their pink or red puff flowers cluster around the base of a brilliantly blooming ocotillo, and a cactus wren may be nesting in the crook of a cow’s tongue cactus. The fuchsia blooms of a cholla soon fade and grow into juicy lemon-yellow fruit while tickled by the silver seedheads of the Arizona cottontop grass.
For many succulents, planting is very easy. For cacti, just break off a piece from the mother plant, keep it in the shade for a week and then plant it in the ground. Do not water right away because the new plant does not have any roots yet.
Photographer: Cado Daily
The beautiful blooms of Oputnia ellisiana would be a welcome addition to any landscape.
But don’t go breaking off pieces of the cacti in the wild! Because Arizona has more rare and unusual plants than anywhere else in the United States, many native succulents are protected. If you want to remove them from public or even private land, you need a permit from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
What native plants are protected? In addition to other plants, all species of agaves and cacti, ocotillos, the banana and the soaptree yuccas, desert spoons, and beargrass are protected. For more information, call the native plant division of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
There are several references for learning more about these great plants. Mary and Gary Irish’s “Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants” with color photographs, landscape suggestions, and detailed descriptions is an excellent resource. If you want to be an agave aficionado, browse Howard Gentry’s “Agaves of Continental North America.” These are just a few of many resources that will make you want to devote more of your landscape to the sensational succulents.
Cado Daily
Program Coordinator
UA Cooperative Extension
Cochise County
Water Wise Program