South African Succulents at the Safari Park Garden
In my latest video, we explore the Old World Succulent Garden at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Here succulents small and large look good year-round, need minimal care or water, and are ideal for dry (but not desert or frost-prone) landscapes. You'll see tough specimens to consider when planning or refreshing your own garden.
Location
The Safari Park is in Escondido, an hour's drive NE of the main Zoo. The 18,000-acre outdoor destination has thousands of animals on exhibit. Located just past the condors, the Old World Garden occupies a south-facing, decomposed granite hillside in the park's northwest corner.
To the southeast of the Safari Park's Old World Garden is Tiger Trail. Foreground: a tiger tail.
What you'll see
Old World Succulents are mainly from South Africa. They prefer hot summers, low humidity, and winter rainfall. Because demand for these easy-care lovelies has surged, they're becoming more available.
Aloes bloom in the Old World Garden in midwinter.
San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society volunteers maintain both Old World and adjacent Baja California gardens. The Old World garden is noteworthy for aloes, euphorbias, senecios, and pachypodiums in a garden setting. The emphasis is on species rather than cultivars, but as you'll see in the video, I did find a few interesting crosses to show you.
Climate and Season
The main downtown Zoo also has a lovely succulent garden, but that location is nearer the coast. I prefer the Safari Park’s because it has more specimens, occupies a larger area, and like my own garden, has an inland climate with colder winters and hotter, drier summers.
Aloe chabaudii (Dwala aloe) normal and stressed
This is a compilation of photos and videos taken in midwinter and late summer. As you know, changing seasons bring on flowers or dormancy. Rain and cooler temps refresh the plants; dry summers and triple-digit heat stress them.
I take you plant-by-plant, introducing them and giving their merits. I also show and ID them for you in the Gallery below.
Explore at your leisure
Do make this renowned public garden a destination when you're in the area. And if you're a local, become a member so you can explore the Zoo and Safari Park at leisure, as my husband and I do.
A warning to spouses: Jeff (who is eager to see the gorillas, which I'm not) waits patiently while I pursue plant-nerd stuff. Occasionally, alas, we miss the great apes altogether.
Above: In another garden I'll soon show you. Stay tuned!
Gallery of South African succulents at the safari park
*Nearly all are succulents except for a few noteworthy, nonsucculent companion plants indicated with an asterisk.
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