10 New Succulents, Plus 11 Great Ways To Use Them [Slideshow]
Succulents come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Their versatility lends itself well to all types of fun uses for containers and in the landscape. Take a look at some new 2014 varieties and a collection of fun ideas for how to use them from Pinterest and Flickr.
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Idea 1: Container Gardens
Bring out the containers and create a succulent garden within a garden, like this private garden in Santa Barbara, Calif., designed by Isabelle Greene. Photo courtesy of BrewBooks/Flickr.
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Aloe 'Piranha' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
The Fish Series of aloes exhibit great foliage, color and texture. Bred by Larry Weisel, they’re great in 4- to 8-inch pots. Perfect for patios and containers, ‘Piranha’ is a small- to mid-sized aloe with bright markings.
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Idea 2: Stacking
A variety of new Tessera succulents in natural-looking containers at the 2014 California Spring Trials are stacked up for more visual appeal.
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Crassula rupestris (D.S. Cole Growers)
There are many Crassula varieties, some of which are well known such as the Jade Plant. Crassula rupestris has a beautiful aqua color and interesting shaped leaves. The plant branches well and adds a different texture.
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Idea 3: Ornaments
Hanging ornaments are one of the newest trends with succulents. Photo courtesy of Bell Nursery.
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Delosperma Wheels Of Wonder Series (North Creek Nurseries)
The Wheels of Wonder Series is a new introduction by Concept Plants. These delosperma flower continuously from spring until frost and form a dense mat of succulent foliage. They are sun-loving plants, drought-tolerant plants. Available in five bright colors.
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Idea 4: Picnic Table
This Pinterest post shares a great idea to dress-up a plain picnic table by replacing one of the planks with a miniature succulent garden.
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Echeveria 'Holy Gate' (D.S. Cole Growers)
Although this echeveria has no visually outstanding feature when looking at the photo, the highlight is its rate of growth. 'Holy Gate' fills out a 4” pot faster than most, and production in 6” pots is easily achieved.
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Idea 5: Living Walls
Another Pinterest post showing a living wall of succulents for interiorscapes. Living walls can range from as small as a picture frame to as large as the side of a building.
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Echeveria 'Ruffled Red' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Echeveria ‘Ruffled Red’ has silvery-green carunculate leaves that are wavy and red at the margins. A Kelly Griffin selection, it grows to 8 inches in diameter. ‘Ruffled Red’ prefers sun/part sun, which brings out the red colors. It is tissue culture propagated for consistency.
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Idea 6: Vases
Succulents sit atop glass vases, adding a classic, elegant touch to the home. Photo courtesy of Seeking The Muse/Flickr.
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Echeveria 'Raindrops' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Echeveria ‘Raindrops’ has light green, rounded leaves highlighted by soft reddish-pink margins and a single drop-like nodule in the middle of each leaf. Produced from tissue culture for maximum consistency. Great for small containers.
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Idea 7: Miniature Gardens
Succulents are a great choice for small-scale gardening. Photo courtesy of Patrick Standish/Flickr.
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Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
This is the first time the variety has been commercially produced by tissue culture in the U.S. A good hedge or screen plant, ‘Silver Sheen’ has slender black twigs and stems that contrast with silvery green leaves. Fragrant purple blooms appear in spring and summer. Drought and deer tolerant, it grows to 9 inches or more and prefers sun to light shade.
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Idea 8: Landscapes
Succulents aren't just for containers. They can add texture and variety to landscape beds, as well. Photo courtesy of Pamela J. Eisenberg/Flickr.
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Rhipsalis pilocarpa (D.S. Cole Growers)
Rhipsalis is a cactus with long stems that can be grown as a pot plant or as a hanging basket. Some varieties are only a set of naked stems, while others, such as pilocarpa, have white hairs that add contrast to the entire plant.
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Idea 9: Living Wreaths
Use a combination of succulents to form a living wreath that can be used indoors or out. Photo courtesy of Maegan Tintari/Flickr.
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Sedum 'Lemonjade' (Walter's Gardens)
A new Proven Winners perennial, ‘Lemonjade’ is unlike the typical pink-flowered autumn stonecrop with its unique yellow flowers. Large 5- to 7-inch panicles of bright citron-yellow flowers cover the top of gray-green foliage in early fall. Plants do not split open when in bloom. ‘Lemonjade’ grows to 16 to 18 inches in height and is hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
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Idea 10: Broken Pottery
A broken piece of pottery adds a touch of the unexpected to a succulent in a landscape bed. Photo courtesy of Paul Sayer/Flickr.
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Faucaria tuberculosa (D.S. Cole Growers)
Faucauria tuberculosa These plants add interest to any program of succulents. Their yellow flowers form easily. They branch well and grow fast. After flowering, the plant continues to thrive with more growth and new plantlets.
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Idea 11: Bridal Favors
Succulents are catching on for weddings in bouquets, boutonnieres and and party favors, as seen in this Pinterest post.
View all
Idea 1: Container Gardens
Aloe 'Piranha' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Idea 2: Stacking
Crassula rupestris (D.S. Cole Growers)
Idea 3: Ornaments
Delosperma Wheels Of Wonder Series (North Creek Nurseries)
Idea 4: Picnic Table
Echeveria 'Holy Gate' (D.S. Cole Growers)
Idea 5: Living Walls
Echeveria 'Ruffled Red' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Idea 6: Vases
Echeveria 'Raindrops' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Idea 7: Miniature Gardens
Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' (Rancho Tissue Technologies)
Idea 8: Landscapes
Rhipsalis pilocarpa (D.S. Cole Growers)
Idea 9: Living Wreaths
Sedum 'Lemonjade' (Walter's Gardens)
Idea 10: Broken Pottery
Faucaria tuberculosa (D.S. Cole Growers)
Idea 11: Bridal Favors
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Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. . See all author stories here.