Medicinal Aloe

Graptopetalum paraguayensis , or the “ghost plant”, is a great, trailing, wandering, ground cover. We love the colors that this plant brings out in a design, complementing the blues, pinks, and purples that so many of the gorgeous succulents have to offer. Each plant has its own unique coloring and shades to offer. It’s extreme hardiness and coloring make it an incredibly versatile plant. We’ve seen it used as a sprawling ground cover, mounding up and filling in entire planters, or for spot color in the smallest of arrangements. Something overlooked, or sometimes unknown about succulents, is that stress brings out their best color. It’s often a combination of factors that causes the stress and each succulents vibrance, but colder temperatures, less water, and more sun, are the big three factors that come into play. Most succulents, in full sun, in the winter, receiving just the right amount of water, will have the best color here in Southern California. With that being said, there is no “one size fits all” answer to bringing out the best color in each plant. Experiment, tweak, and enjoy playing with your succulents.

More Succulent Tips

All About Air Plants: Growing Without Pots & Soil

Growing air plants is easy! You don’t even need soil or a planter. There are 3 common ways that you can water an air plant. The first is to mist them…

Drought-Tolerant Plants And Other Water-Wise Landscape Trends

We always encourage using drought-tolerant plants and other savvy methods of reducing water waste in the garden, but this year it’s extra important! Our projected rainfall for the year is much less than typical, so every drop of H2O counts. To save you from spending...

Sedum Spectabile

There are well over 500 varieties of sedum. Everything from large, blooming, showy sedum, to houseplants, and smaller trailing ground covers. Many of the common drought tolerant sedum are the smaller, more boutique variety, but this showy sedum can grow quite tall....

Kalanchoe Orgyalis Copper Spoons

The golden bronze leaves on this Kalanchoe give it the same finish as a new copper penny. Branching, succulent shrub that if given the proper conditions can reach up to 6’ tall. They way this plant gets its name is almost as interesting as the plant itself. Kalanchoe...

How to Design a Succulent Rock Garden

For a dreamy desert landscape full of vibrant colors and fascinating textures, learn how to design your own rock garden with succulents and cacti!

Succulent Symmetry & Agave Blue Glow

Succulents in the garden can add contemporary beauty with the use of ancient symmetrical principles. Geometery has been used in gardens, landscapes, and design since the Egyptians and before. Symmetry doesn’t always mean perfectly mirrored, although possible with...

Agave Joe Hoak

A hardy sport of “The Variegated Smooth Agave” , agave ‘Joe Hoak’, has a soft creme and green paintbrush stroke down the center of each leaf. Each leaf also varies in variegation, but a tricolor appearance sets it apart from its regular variegated counterpart. This...

The Houseplant Matchmaker Test

Discover which plant is your perfect match in this fun personality quiz!

Agave Attenuata ‘Ray of Light’

Variegation in plants is the appearance of different colors in the leaves. Typically these colors are white, or yellow, where the zones contrast the more common green foliage. The white, or yellow, variegation is from a lack of chlorophyl in the tissue of the plant....

Shrubbing Euphorbias

Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow, Blackbird, Blue Haze, Glacier Blue, Martinni, Ruby Glow, Shorty, and Silver Swan. These Euphorbias are an easy way to bring soft color into any garden, drought tolerant, or not. Many have been selected because of their distinct variegated...

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