Success With Succulents

Discover succulents with Debra Lee Baldwin, bestselling author of
Designing with Succulents, Succulent Container Gardens and Succulents Simplified

Welcome! I'm continually updating my site, now with 100+ pages on every aspect of succulents. Want a plant ID? Go to TYPES OF SUCCULENTS. Worried? Go to PESTS AND PROBLEMS. Want to grow the plants perfectly? Go to SUCCULENT CARE BASICS. Need garden maintenace? See REFERRALS. Looking for something specific? Check the MENU or use the SEARCH bar above. Feeling overwhelmed? Browse until you're better, or CONTACT me. Now relax and have fun. You've come to the right place. ~ Debra Lee Baldwin

HOW-TO'S, TIPS & IDEAS

SUCCULENT DESIGN

Discover how to plan and design lovely, carefree succulent gardens in containers and in the ground. Also under Design you'll find firewise landscaping info, DIY gifts and projects, and holiday decorating ideas - all beautifully showcasing succulents.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

SUCCULENT CARE

Get expert advice on growing, caring for and propagating succulents. Find out how to water, fertilize, control pests and diseases, overwinter succulents, grow them indoors, and by season and region. Under Varieties, view hundreds of labeled photos of easy-care kinds.

LOCAL & NATIONAL

SUCCULENT RESOURCES

Wondering where to find and purchase top-quality succulents? Which tools, books and supplies you need? It's all here under Resources, along with nurseries, public gardens and destinations in America's finest succulent city (San Diego) and beyond.

Subscribe to My Newsletter and Receive

Debra's 7 best succulents

In this free PDF exclusively for subscribers to my "Celebrating the Joy of Succulents" newsletter, you'll learn the 7 best easy-care succulents that thrive in pots and landscapes. Whether you're new to growing succulents or an experienced succulent "parent", you'll love these 7 beautiful plants.

Succulent Updates and Articles

Sep 21 2021

Check Agave Relatives for Weevils

Check agave relatives for snout-nose weevil. Don't wait for signs of infestation; take preventative measures now to protect your agaves, furcraeas, beaucarneas, mangaves and yuccas. See photos.

Sep 15 2021

Annie and Me at The Succulent Cafe

During succulent celebrity Annie Schreck's week-long visit to Southern CA, of course we went to The Succulent Cafe in Carlsbad near San Diego. As we sit amid walls of succulents and chat over lavender mocha coffee, Annie tells how she has "the coolest job in the world" despite its location

Aeonium 'Zwartkop' (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Sep 10 2021

When Aeoniums Get Leggy

When aeoniums get leggy, cut off the tops, leaving an inch or two of stem, and throw the rest of the plant away, roots and all. Replant each rosette as a cutting. Insert it into the soil, so it sits just above the ground. The best time

Aug 31 2021

Succulent Topiary Tips, Care and How-To

Expert Pat Hammer shows step-by-step how to make a succulent topiary beginning with a moss-filled wire frame and cuttings. Pat shares design, DIY, watering, pruning, long-term care, and helpful tips.

Aug 24 2021

Aeoniums with Annie Starring ‘Lily Pad’

When succulent star Annie Schreck visited recently, we did a video about aeoniums and planted several in container gardens. Learn about handling aeoniums, and discover the lovely 'Lily Pad' variety.

Aug 18 2021

Comfort Plant Benefits

I’ve been informally testing the herbal benefits of a semi-succulent herb with velvety, juicy leaves. If you've been to my garden recently, Mama Debra has crushed and smeared the juice of "comfort plant" (Plectranthus amboinicus) on your bug bites, scrapes or---if you brought your dog---hot spots.

Eric Evans with tillandsias (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Aug 13 2021

New Tillandsia (Air Plants) Page and Video

On my new page and corresponding video, I show over 30 easy, eye-catching air-plant projects, gifts and display ideas.

Agave parryi 'Truncata' bloom (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Aug 3 2021

Your Agave’s Blooming–Now What?

Your agave is blooming! Now what? In my new video, Q&A and photo gallery you'll find expert advice, agave IDs and how to start the plants from seeds and bulbils.

How to prune Euphorbia tirucalli (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jul 26 2021

How to Prune and Handle Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’

In both English and Spanish, landscaper José Arias explains and shows how to prune and handle Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’, a beautiful succulent with toxic, milky sap.

Aloe barberae in bloom (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jul 20 2021

How to Grow Tree Aloes (Aloe barberae)

If you have room in your garden and a mild climate, consider adding a tree aloe or two. Aloe barberae (Aloe bainesii, Aloidendron barberae), Africa's largest aloe, is sculptural,

Jul 14 2021

Join Me on Succulent Adventures with Annie

Join me and Annie Schreck, on-air host and researcher at Mountain Crest Gardens, on fun succulent adventures. I'm part of her Experts series! Annie's delightful and succulent-savvy. Wait 'til you see our design projects, destinations and super cool finds!

Agave 'Blue Flame' and dasylirion (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jul 13 2021

Late Summer Succulent Care

Excessive heat and sun can do as much damage as winter frosts. Use the summer care tips here and in my video to keep your succulents healthy when late-summer heat hits.