A Colorful Succulent Garden

Plant Combinations, Spring Borders, Summer Borders, Fall Borders, Winter Borders

Garden Ideas, Landscaping Ideas, drought tolerant plant, succulent garden, agave americana, senecio, Debra Lee, graptopetalum paragayense, phormium amazing red aloe, sedum rubrotinctum

This tapestry garden weaves together succulents and other drought-tolerant plants for a long-lasting impact. Color and texture highlight this landscape creation, where the focus was laid on foliage, and blooms regarded as a bonus.

Bold plants like Agave americana (Century Plant), chocolate Phormium or Aloe striata (Coral Aloe) are emphasized throughout the garden, often clustered for impact. Rivers of cool Senecio mandraliscae (blue chalk fingers), pastel Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant), and hot-hued Sedum × rubrotinctum (Stonecrop) flow through and around beds. Along with a path of Dymondia margaretae (Silver Carpet), they draw the landscape together.

This succulent heaven has been created by Debra Lee Baldwin, garden photojournalist and author, for her own backyard.

Garden Information

Hardiness	9 - 11
Heat Zones	10
Climate Zones	17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Low
Soil Type	Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Dry Soil
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden

Plants In This Garden

Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalksticks)

Prized for the shape and pretty color of its foliage, Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalksticks) is a spreading succulent from South Africa with 3-4 in. long (7-10 cm), silvery blue, finger-like fleshy leaves and small white flowers in summer. Quickly forming a dense blue mat with its upward curving leaves, this low-growing succulent is highly versatile and ideal as a border plant or as a groundcover. Great for creating a low, blue edging too.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Rabbit

Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant)

Quite cold-hardy, Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant) is a small evergreen succulent forming 4-inch (10cm) rosettes of fleshy, pointed, flat, grayish-white, opalescent leaves. The foliage turns pinkish-yellow in hot, dry conditions and turns blue-gray in partial shade.

Hardiness	8 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer

Sedum x rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant)

Sedum x rubrotinctum, commonly known as Jelly Bean Plant, features chubby, jelly bean-shaped leaves that transition from green to red under sun stress. This easy-to-grow succulent is perfect for hanging baskets and ground covers, thriving in bright light and requiring minimal water. Ideal for adding a splash of color.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	4" - 8" (10cm - 20cm)
Spread	10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Soil Type	Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil

Agave americana (Century Plant)

Agave americana, known as the Century Plant, is a striking succulent with large, spiky blue-green leaves edged with sharp spines. Native to Mexico, it typically blooms spectacularly with a tall flower spike, attracting pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.

Hardiness	8 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spread	6' - 10' (180cm - 3m)
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Salt, Dry Soil, Deer, Rabbit

Aloe striata (Coral Aloe)

More frost-hardy than most Aloes, Aloe striata (Coral Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming beautiful rosettes of flat broad leaves. Pale gray-green, the fleshy leaves turn pink in full sun or take on blue-gray hues in the shade. Toothless, the leaves exhibit subtle narrow stripes along their length and transparent pinkish red margins.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt

Phormium 'Amazing Red' (New Zealand Flax)

Ideal for small gardens, Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ is a compact variety of New Zealand Flax with upright, narrow, sword-like, dark reddish-brown leaves. Robust, this evergreen perennial is topped in summer with a dramatic flowering stalk bearing panicles of tubular, red flowers which attract nectar-seeking birds.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit

Dymondia margaretae (Silver Carpet)

Native to the coastal plains of South Africa, Dymondia margaretae (Silver Carpet) is a slowly spreading evergreen perennial forming a dense silvery-green mat over time and choking out virtually all weeds. Growing no more than 1-3 in. tall (2-7 cm), its tiny and narrow, gray-green leaves curl slightly, exposing the white underside of the leaves and conferring a variegated look.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1" - 3" (3cm - 8cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil Ph	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Photo courtesy: Debra Lee Baldwin (debraleebaldwin.com/)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.