Succulents: A Great Addition to a Drought-Resistant Garden
With rainfall averages seemingly going down year after year, creating a drought-resistant garden is the future. There is no better place to start, or yet end, then with succulents. By very definition succulent plants are considered drought resistant plants in which the leaves, stems and roots are more fleshy in the development of water-storing tissue. There are over 10,000 varieties of succulents worldwide with nearly 200 native to California. A few of the most common being Dudleya, Agave, Cholla and Stonecrop.
One type of succulent most of us are familiar with is Carpobrotus Edulis otherwise know as California Coastal Ice Plant. It’s that soft, green squishy stuff (see photo below) you walk over when taking trails down to many California beaches. The ice plant stores water like a camel and survives solely off the what it leeches from coastal fog, morning dew and whatever it can pull from the ground. Never watered, it stays alive year round.
Easy to Grow
Most succulents need very little water and only limited sunshine to survive thus making them low maintenance. So, even if your not a green thumb, they are cheap to buy, easy to plant, and even easier to maintain. They become nearly an afterthought once planted. Also, since it rarely gets to or below freezing on or near the coast you won’t have to worry about them dying. Many can handle being in conditions 320 or under anyway. Before you plant, you might want to consult your local nursery or Google info about what your growing intentions are and how to fulfill them.
Decorative
These oddly shaped and diversely colored plants which sometimes even come with thorns can be used in many decorative ways. Whether it’s adding a section of color to your garden that will stay through all the seasons or livening up a balcony or window sill, succulents are the perfect everyday plant. For either someone who wants to add life to their patio or for the serious gardener, succulents will satisfy with their diverse beauty and ease of care.
