Plants & Varieties
Is Mistletoe a Succulent?
Is mistletoe a succulent? No. Is it a cactus? No. What then is “mistletoe cactus?” (If you’re curious about real mistletoe, scroll down.) Meet mistletoe cactus I suspect a nurseryman came up with the name hoping to create a market for little-known succulents in the genus Rhipsalis. Their pendant growth habit and pea-sized white or…
Read MoreYes, You Can Grow Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm)
In my new video, we observe and learn how to relocate a Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm) that had become too large for a homeowner’s side yard. “Betty” is a gorgeous specimen: ten to 12 years old, nicely branched, and 7 feet tall; with a 3-foot-diameter, half-ton caudex. No doubt you’ll marvel—as I did—at how Laura…
Read MoreDwarf Aloes Perfect for Pots
If you’re into aloes, you’re probably aware of highly collectible Kelly Griffin hybrids. Kelly, a premier plant breeder, is responsible for dozens of cultivars in the commercial marketplace. Naturally he has a following
Read MoreGrow Calandrinia (Cistanthe grandiflora, Purslane)
Gray-green calandrinia (Cistanthe grandiflora) shrubs sit quietly, building their strength, from late summer until spring. Then, like the fireworks they resemble, they explode with neon-bright blooms. Here and in my new video you’ll find out how to keep calandrinia healthy and flowering, and how to use it to enhance your own garden. Calandrinia is native…
Read MoreAbout Aloe arborescens (torch aloe)
One of the most widely grown succulents in California from the coast to the foothills is Aloe arborescens (torch aloe). There’s no need to buy it. It’s so common, it’s a “pass-along plant,” meaning friendly neighbors who grow it will likely give you cuttings. But before you go knocking on doors, here’s what you need…
Read MoreAbout Kalanchoe luciae (succulent flapjacks)
Kalanchoe luciae, commonly called paddle plant or flapjack plant, is a highly popular succulent due to its bright coloration and flat, rounded, pancake-like leaves. These are green near the stem and red on the edges. Kalanchoe luciae, perfectly colored Shades of red in paddle plants vary from rose and magenta to burgundy; greens go from…
Read MoreSpiral Aloe Essentials
Seeing a spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) is an unforgettable experience, and to see one is to want one. Under ideal conditions, these rare succulents can attain two feet in diameter. They’re challenging to grow, but not impossible. Like lithops (living stones), if you understand their persnickety requirements, they’ll do fine. Spiral Aloe Essentials Climate: Spiral…
Read MoreCrested and Monstrose Succulents with Normals
I’m proud to present to you the only YouTube video and Gallery showing both normal and crested succulents side-by-side—nearly 90 different kinds! Succulents are unusual in the plant kingdom in that numerous varieties will grow convoluted, twisted, or puckered forms called crests. These look gathered like a waistband or a drawstring purse, and follow curved…
Read MoreHow I Understand and Remember Succulent Names
Ever wish you could understand and remember succulent names? It’s especially challenging when they’ve changed, multiple common ones exist, and Latin binomials (genus + species) are long and unpronounceable. Here I share my own experiences in order to help, offer hope, make you feel better, and entertain you. It kills me when I get a…
Read MoreAgave attenuata (Foxtail Agave) Care & Cultivation
How do I love foxtail agaves (A. attenuata)? Let me count the ways: They’ve performed well in my garden for over 20 years. In pots too. Rosettes eventually attain a manageable 5′ in diameter. Soft, flexible leaves lack barbs or points. Yes, a harmless agave! They’re trunk-forming unlike other agaves, so they serve as beautiful…
Read MoreSilly Succulents and Garden Store Horrors
Succulents that make me want to scream are proliferating at my local garden center…which I’m now calling The Big Box of Horrors. I suspect these appeal to kids and newbies who are unaware that fake-and-flashy succulents are doomed to fail, and also to anyone who assumes if a plant’s for sale, it must be OK.…
Read MoreEcheveria Bonanza at Oasis
The selection of large (dinner-plate-sized) echeverias at Oasis Water Efficient Gardens right now is astonishing. Great timing, too. Autumn is nearly upon us, and an important end-summer task is refreshing our echeveria gardens. My own occupies several large pots. Annually in late August, I remove dry lower leaves, deadhead, and enhance the assortment—hence my trip…
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