Plants & Varieties Archives - Page 3 of 6

See Rich Zeh’s 30-Year Succulent & Cactus Collection

Rich Zeh has an Aladdin’s trove of cacti and succulents. “I’m pretty much maxed out on space,” he says of his one-acre garden and greenhouse in Paradise Valley (Phoenix) Arizona.

Why You Should Grow Aloe Vera

Aloe vera leaf sliced (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Can you grow Aloe vera in your garden as an ornamental plant and harvest its medicinal leaves? Yes, but heed cautions below. This midsized succulent with tall, slender yellow flowers is famous for gel that soothes minor burns and skin irritations.

Succulent Slope Before & After

Streetside succulent garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

See a problem-solving, terraced succulent garden landscaped on a budget. Challenges include hillside erosion, large area, and steep grade. Before-and-after photos, video and plant gallery.

Discover 40 Kinds of Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe x houghtonii (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

I’m pleased to announce my new 15-minute YouTube video: “Kalanchoe Species and Cultivars: 40 varieties for your garden and pots.” In order to make sense of this highly diverse genus, I divided it into six categories: fuzzy, floriferous, mother of thousands (bryophyllums), paddles, tropicals and rarities.

Want to Make Tequila or Mezcal from Your Agaves?

Agave americana pina (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

As with most vegetables, roasting an agave’s heart enhances flavor and sweetness. Cottage distilleries in Mexico roast piñas in pits dug into the ground, sort of like a luau.

Grow Versatile “Mini Pine Tree” Crassula

Mini pine tree succulent Crassula tetragona (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Mini pine tree crassula, related to jade, is a carefree succulent I’ve grown for 20+ years. The botanical name, Crassula tetragona, refers to the three-sided shape of the leaves.

New Must-Have Agave Book

The new book, “Agaves: Species, Cultivars & Hybrids” by Jeremy Spath and Jeff Moore is a must-have for its images alone. Stunning photos capture the beauty and fierceness of these sculptural succulents in ways both artistic and definitive. It’s a must-have for plant IDs

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.

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.