Growing Succulents Never Goes Out Of Style, Here’s Why
Succulents are all the rage these days, filling Pinterest pages and showing up in every type of container imaginable. They are increasingly popular in the blogosphere and for do-it-yourself projects. Learn why these tough, low-maintenance plants are a hit with consumers and deserve a place in your greenhouse, then check out the slideshow for the latest in succulent trends.
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Succulent Trends
Succulents, especially sedum, are a popular choice for sustainable green roofs. Northwest Horticulture offers four different mixes of sedum tiles to help make green roof installation easier for its customers. Photo courtesy of Northwest Horticulture.
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With their structural and textural interest, succulents are a great choice for interior decorating and gift giving at events. Succulents mounted on frames and ready-made deco items such as succulent dish gardens are also a hit with consumers. Photo courtesy of Sean O’Hara/Flickr.
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Container choices for succulents are trending away from typical flower pots to rusty buckets, baby shoes, glass bulbs, and more; even the tiniest of clay pots are not off limits.
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Pair a unique succulent like Mangave ‘Pineapple Express’ (Walters Gardens) with a striking container and you have a winning combination for the garden.
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North Creek Nurseries has seen a substantial increase in sales from offering succulents to landscapers for green infrastructure projects, green roofs, and green walls.
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Succulents make the most of every bit of water they get, which is a big draw for water-concious consumers.
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Consumers are after colorful succulents to liven up their gardens. Plants like Sedum 'Chocolate Cherry' from Cultivaris and North Creek Nurseries' Delosperma Wheels of Wonder Series offer the pop of color they are looking for in the garden.
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Delosperma ‘Wheels of Wonder Hot Pink Wonder’ from North Creek Nurseries has hot-pink petals with yellow and white centers that light up this colorful, high-impact groundcover.
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A quick Pinterest search shows that succulents are hot items for weddings, from the bride's bouquet to the topping on the wedding cake.
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Living succulent sculptures are popular do-it-yourself projects. Succulents can be used in topiary form or even mounted on Christmas-tree-shaped frames. Photo courtesy of touristonearth/Flickr.
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A trendy landscape practice is to mix easy-care succulents with clusters of colorful annuals and perennials. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr/Flickr.
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They Are The Perfect Fit For Sustainable Landscapes
Succulents play a vital role in sustainable landscapes because they are durable, low maintenance, and water wise. North Creek Nurseries realized a substantial increase in sales from offering plants like sedum to landscapers for green infrastructure projects, green roofs, and green walls. Etera, a division of Northwest Horticulture, has seen good sell-through of its sedum tiles for green roofs and sustainable landscape projects in both commercial and retail markets.
There Isn’t A Container They Can’t Fill
From rusty buckets and baby shoes to glass bulbs and the tiniest of clay pots, it is difficult to find a container succulents can’t dress up. Pair them with miniature plants and you have a trendy take-it-with-you garden. EuroAmerican Propagator’s 2015 California Spring Trials display was a good example of how to do this effectively. The company featured a display of tiny gardens in reclaimed containers, which were filled with a mix of miniature plants and varieties from its Savvy Succulents line.
They Have Water Conservation Figured Out
Succulents make the most of every bit of water they get, which is a big draw for water conscious consumers. Armstrong Growers in California offers a collection of sedums, agaves, and other perennials and annuals that add beauty to the garden while also being water wise. Altman Plants, also California-based, carries a line of drought tolerant shrubs, cacti, and succulents through its Smart Planet brand. The company recently opened an online cactus and succulent store offering a wide variety of succulents.
They Are A Decorator’s Dream
With their structural and textural interest, succulents lend themselves well to decorating. Brides are using them in their weddings and giving them away as thank-you gifts. Decorators like the modern touch they add to the home. Metrolina Greenhouses is taking advantage of this trend by offering succulents in frames, while Rocket Farms sells ready-made deco items including succulent dish gardens and wreaths. Bell Nursery offers novelty items through The Home Depot like painted succulents and succulents in glass balls for mini-terrariums or Christmas decorations.
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Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. See all author stories here.