A Sparkling Mediterranean Garden with Agave, Aloe and Euphorbia

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

Garden ideas, Mediterranean plants, Water wise garden, Low maintenance garden, Gardens by Gabriel,aeonium sunburst, aloe polyphylla, euphorbia Tasmanian Tiger, Sedum nussbaumerianum,Euphorbia polygona 'snowflake',Aloe maculata, Crassula Campfire

Quite colorful, this succulent garden is low maintenance and requires little water to thrive. The plants are drought tolerant and are laid out in a tapestry of striking colors, shapes, and textures. We can admire with delight the beautifully variegated foliage and long-lasting flowers of Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ (Spurge), which compete for attention with the bright coppery-red rosettes of Sedum nussbaumerianum or the incandescent foliage of Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’.

Equally attractive, are the rosettes of rounded leaves of Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant), the fascinating foliage of Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe) that is arranged in a perfect spiral pattern, or the white-spotted, sword-shaped leaves of Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe). Not to mention the small but arresting, chalky white columns of Euphorbia polygona ‘Snowflake’ and the fleshy blue gray pads of Opuntia santarita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) adorned with rich purple shades.

Looking good all year round, most of these plants change color over the seasons for a renewed appeal.

Garden Information

Hardiness	9 - 10
Exposure	Full 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	Showy
Tolerance	Drought
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Plants In This Garden

Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe)

Absolutely fascinating, Aloe polyphylla (Spiral Aloe) is a compact evergreen succulent valued for its foliage arranged in a perfect spiral pattern. The fleshy gray-green leaves form a tight rosette that becomes a beautiful spiral, either clockwise or counterclockwise, as the plant ages. A plant can count up to 150 leaves geometrically arranged in 5 ranks.

Hardiness	9 - 12
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	1' (30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger' (Spurge)

A stunning plant for year-round interest, Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ is an evergreen subshrub with beautifully variegated foliage and long-lasting flowers. Upright, it features erect stems with spirally arranged, narrow, gray-green leaves adorned with creamy-white margins. In spring, they are topped with broad conical heads of chartreuse flowers, which consist primarily of creamy bracts with green center blotches. The overall effect is very eye-catching.

Hardiness	7 - 10
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Sedum nussbaumerianum (Stonecrop)

Unique and eye-catching, award-winner Sedum nussbaumerianum (Coppertone Stonecrop) is a low growing, evergreen, perennial subshrub with attractive rosettes of thick pointed leaves, about 2 in. (5 cm) long at maturity. Yellow-green in partial shade, the leaves turn rosy-gold to bright coppery red in full sun.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	8" - 9" (20cm - 23cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Crassula capitella 'Campfire'

Eye-catching, Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ is a branching succulent with densely stacked, propeller-like, pale green leaves that change to brilliant scarlet in bright light. The color is brightest in winter in response to cool nights and bright sunlight. Low-growing, this plant spreads by runners to form a colorful mat. It can be used as a small scale groundcover.

Hardiness	9 - 12
Exposure	Partial Sun
Height	6" (15cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Euphorbia polygona 'Snowflake'

Worthy of our attention, Euphorbia polygona ‘Snowflake’ is an evergreen succulent forming cylindrical, deeply ribbed, chalky white columns adorned with beautiful ‘heads’ of dark purple flowers and fewer spines than the species. This plant offsets prolifically, eventually forming small, closely spaced colonies of symmetrical columns.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)

Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe)

Prized for its colorful flowers and interesting foliage, Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe) is an evergreen succulent perennial forming small rosettes of thick, sword-shaped, white spotted leaves adorned with sharp teeth along their edges. Pinkish red in full sun, the foliage turns bluish-green in part shade.

Hardiness	8 - 12
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	2' (60cm)

Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant)

Among the most dramatic succulent plants, award-winning Kalanchoe luciae (Paddle Plant) is an impressive evergreen succulent with a basal rosette of thick, fleshy, rounded leaves, 8 in. long (20 cm) and 6-8 in. wide (15-20 cm). Resembling clamshells, the jade green leaves are adorned with vibrant red-wine tips during the cooler winter months if grown in bright light.

Hardiness	9 - 12
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Opuntia santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear)

A very attractive species, Opuntia santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) is an upright, bushy succulent shrub with colorful, round, ovate, fleshy pads. Covered with spines, the pads turn rich purple in winter before changing back to soft blue-gray with warmer temperatures. This purple pad coloration also intensifies in direct sunlight and drought.

Hardiness	7 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)
Spread	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)

Euphorbia mauritanica (Pencil Milkbush)

Euphorbia mauritanica (Pencil Milkbush) is an evergreen, densely branched shrub with pencil-thin, cylindrical and smooth, lime-green branches. Small, silver-gray leaves show off on young stems. In winter, clusters of bright yellow flowers appear at the tip of the stems.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Aeonium 'Sunburst'

Among the loveliest of Aeoniums, award-winning ‘Sunburst’ is an evergreen succulent with large variegated rosettes, 6-8 in. across (15-20 cm), of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves. Held on long bare stems, the leaves are a delightful combination of creamy yellow and green stripes and are adorned with coppery red tips when exposed to the sun.

Hardiness	9 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

How Many Plants Do I Need?

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Euphorbia (Spurge) Crassula Kalanchoe Aloe Aeonium Opuntia (Prickly Pear Cactus) Sedum (Stonecrop)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Aeonium canariense (Canary Island Aeonium)

Crassula capitella ‘Red Pagoda’

Agave ‘Kissho Kan’ (Butterfly Agave)

Aloe striata (Coral Aloe)

The Landscape Designers

Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers

Gardens by Gabriel

Gardens By Gabriel is an organically-based custom landscape design and installation outfit, firmly rooted in San Luis Obispo County. Their vision is to bring the beauty and character of California’s Central Coast to your space through creative and regionally appropriate landscape design.

Address

448 Estero Ave, Morro Bay, California, United States, CA 93442

Phone

805-215-0511

Website

www.gardensbygabriel.com

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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.