Why succulents are sensational - inside and out!
We are currently experiencing a very hot and, unfortunately, dry summer. As gardeners and landscapers, we need to take this into consideration when planning a garden, as this is not uncommon in our part of the world.
This is one of the reasons that we generally favour indigenous plants as they tend to deal more naturally with the climactic conditions we face. One of the very best plant types available to us, therefore, is succulents and fortunately, they are not just dreary old unattractive plants. The South African, and some of the international, succulents that we provide at Windy Willows Wholesale Nursery are extremely attractive to look at and have a wide range of benefits for the SA gardener or homeowner. If you need to be convinced, let’s take a look at why succulents are sensational – inside and out!
Adaptable to all weather conditions – One of the best reasons to choose succulents right now is because they originate from arid areas like deserts and can therefore survive extended periods of drought. Being perennial plants their leaves or stems store water – sort of like a camel! This means that they are also very low maintenance, requiring little watering.
Indoors and out – Succulents can be grown or maintained both indoors and out, depending on what plant you choose. One of the popular indoor favourites is the Echeveria because they look like small roses and for a really drought-tolerant plant more for the outdoors, something from the Crassula family is always a good choice, also called a Jade Plant.
Great variety and adaptability – Succulents come in so many colours, shapes and sizes – some with leaves and some without, some with stalks and some not. The range of colours is wonderful too, from many shades of greens, purples and blues to brilliant yellow, orange and browns. They are adaptable too – equally happy when planted on a rock, in a pot, or the garden – these guys survive anywhere.
Reasonably priced – Succulents are generally very well-priced and therefore a popular choice for those on a budget. So, they are not only water savers but money-savers too!
They mix well – You needn't fear that if you choose succulents they are going to be the sole focus of the garden either. You can safely put succulents with other types of plants because they will benefit from the moisture in the ground soil, which means that they will be able to thrive and get plenty of oxygen, good for the other plants.
Some of our favourites
We at Windy Willows Wholesale Nursery have a great range of succulents and just a few of our favourites are listed below. the groundcovers Crassula campfire and Crassula multicava red, both with stunning red leaves in winter.
- The groundcover carpobrotus with hot pink flowers that spread easily to cover larger dry areas.
- The Aloe cooperii and Aloe maculata, which provide orange flowers in winter, when nothing else is flowering.
- The Portulacaria afra which is known for soaking up carbon dioxide, and the Crassula ovata, also known as the Jade Plant, and
- The Echevaria rock roses which come in hues from black to green to pink.
All these are ablaze with a variety of colours and can be utilised in different areas of the garden and this is just a small sample of all that we have available.
Succulents make a fabulous gift!
If you are going to give a meaningful gift this Christmas, give someone a succulent that they can either keep in the home or plant in the garden. If you know people without gardens they may love to have a bit of life in the house or on a balcony, and one that will require almost no maintenance.
And as an added incentive, all of our succulents are 12% off during December and January.
It's the gift that just keeps on giving. We have a fabulous range so do get yours online – or come and see what’s available at our nursery.
To all who have supported us in 2024, we are extremely grateful and if we don’t see you now we look forward to seeing you and serving you again in 2025. Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Read next article: Water collection and storage!