Six months ago, I had succulent mania – madly collecting and potting up a variety of plants in containers near our back deck. About half of the plants have died off, the remainder have quadrupled in size, and our pots are overflowing.
Several varieties of the assorted Graptoverias and Graptopetalums that I bought on Ebay have thrived, filling our old laundry tub to the brim. I love the subtle purple and green tones of the ones in the photo above.
One of my Echeveria Fanfares is doing very well, although the other has grown tall and ungainly…
This Sedum Golden Mound came as a cutting from Nic’s garden. It grows like a weed and the colour varies from lime to a darker green, depending on the weather. It seems to like quite a lot of water…
This is my new favourite – Echeveria Prolifica – it started life as a small flower head with maybe half a dozen petals. It’s growing in a strawberry pot, but I’m going to have to find a new home for it soon…
Echeveria Topsy Turvy is another favourite, with its clustered growth and grey-green leaves…
Our rare Haworthia Little Circles seems to have barely changed, although it has produced a few pups..
The Crassula Arborescens that I picked up at Bunnings is about ten times larger than when first planted. I adore its wavy leaves…
This large bloom came from Nic’s garden. I think it’s a form of Echeveria, but I’m not sure. It seems to be getting larger and larger…
It will be interesting to see how (if!) the smaller pots survive winter…
Echeveria Glauca (“Hen and Chicks”) does particularly well in our backyard. At the moment they’re madly making offsets, although I suspect that will stop now the cold weather has settled in…
More Graptoverias…
The Gasteraloe seems quite content in her pot, expanding very slowly from the base…
A pot of Sedum Jelly Beans began life as a single cutting from Kevin’s garden. Sedums grow prolifically under the right conditions…
Sempervivums are an old fashioned succulent. They’re also known as Houseleeks, and used to be grown on the roofs of houses to ward off lightning strikes. The name means “always living”, and these plants are reputed to be very difficult to kill…
Echeveria Black Prince – we’ve noticed that the deep maroon coloured succulents in our garden tend to get very badly eaten by bugs – this one is planted in the top of the strawberry pot and has therefore escaped decimation thus far…
It’s just produced the most gorgeous spray of tiny red tulip-like flowers…
And finally, a small, slow growing Adromischus, which was picked up from the sale table at the nursery for just $2. It’s trebled in size and seems quite content in it’s little Ikea pot. Incidentally, all the plants in the metal pots seem to be doing quite well – we were concerned they’d overheat, but it now seems the reflective metal might have done the opposite. We’ll have to get some more next time we’re at Ikea (we drill holes in the bottom of them for drainage).
Do you grow succulents? If so, I’d love to know how yours are going…
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Celia dearHeart: a Q first: we live in about the same climate with my nights about 3-4 C colder. With your obvious green thumb re succulents, what time do you think it best to repot? I don’t actually like them very much, but have ended up with a pile: some of mine have also withered away and others are so rampant I should be repotting and making better use of them in drier parts of the garden: my old strawberry pots could really come into use! But your collection: it is just beautiful :D ! Love the variety!!
Eha, I honestly don’t know, as I’ve only had them for six months. I think the conventional wisdom is to repot at the end of winter as the plants are supposed to be dormant, but I’m actually planning on repotting soon, as some of my plants have grown out of their homes. They’re really pretty in strawberry pots – have a look at google images (“strawberry pot succulents”) and you’ll be amazed!
Uhuh!!! Have just been ‘there’ and I suggest anyone else reading this will do the same! Does make one’s imagination flow, doesn’t it!! I only have about six different ones at this time, but an absolute overflow of some, so shall try and find time to do ‘art work’! Hmm: turn off the compute first , yes? :) !
I have actually been thinking seriously about adding a new succulent pot for the table on my deck. I have hens and chicks already but I would love to add some more. I wish we weren’t an ocean away. We could trade cuttings of misc garden plants.
Anna, the nice thing about succulents is that they look nice for ages before you have to fuss with them! My friend Nic has gorgeous pots on her outdoor table. It would be lovely to be able to swap plants! :)
You have so many varieties, Celia, and I can’t believe you launched into this just six months ago. Your succulents have been prolific. They are very pretty and I’m surprised to see such variety in the colours xx
Charlie, I’m taking the photos now, because I’m a bit concerned they might all cark it over winter! They’re really looking very nice at the moment, but I’m about to pop some into larger pots – have just had a visit to Ikea! :)
Celia – if mine have not carked it in nearly two decades . . . no way that yours . . . :) !
So many textures Celia, and I love the muted colours. I’ve been thinking that I’d give these a go in my garden, but how do you think they’d go with frost? Would they survive a quick snap, or would that do them in do you think? x
Becca, I’m sorry love, I have no idea. I’ve only been growing these for a few months – not even sure if they’ll survive winter here in Sydney! You could plant them in pots and move them indoors when it gets really cold?
Gorgeous succulents. All the shapes, colours and sizes are so interesting. They are the only the things that are successful on our balcony… the G.O. was just saying it looks the best it ever has. I think they’ve enjoyed the summer, but they are very forgiving. I have found them swimming in water a couple of times after storms.
ED, I’ve managed to fry a couple, but I think the corner where the laundry tub is seems to suit them very well. And many of them have survived the torrential downpours we’ve had, although I have gone out a couple of times after the rain and found just a stem, with all the leaves having dropped off! :)
I really love the Gasteraloe one, I had to do a double take, I thought it was some sort of lizard at first!
Lisa, it’s so lizard like! I bought it because I saw a giant version of it at the nursery and was completely entranced by it!
Love your display of succulents. I love them too, they seem to tolerate my neglect much better than most of my plants. It’s so much fun to get a little snippet from a friend and watch it grow into a beautiful plant.
Liz, I’ve found them quite easy to grow, but not nearly as easy as the books make out! Some have actually been quite fussy, but then again, I can ignore most of them for weeks and they don’t die, which is quite promising! :)
Oh, I’ve killed my share. Can’t grow Black Prince and I had one with a similar growth pattern but hairy that didn’t survive the first rain that hit it!
Fine close-ups.
I’ve always liked these plants.
Peter, as you know, I only grew them because of how photogenic they are! :)
I have no luck with succulents, so maybe I should try growing houseleeks? Do they need full sun or shade … As if I should worry about ever seeing full sun in this country! Pffft!
Misky, I think the sempervivums are a traditional European plant, so they should grow well there! Although I don’t know how well they’ll survive the cold?
What a lovely collection, Celia.
Jeannette, thank you! I hope they survive their first winter!
Wow Celia, what a fabulous variety of succulents you have! I cannot believe it was 6 months ago already when you first posted about these.
We have quite a few in the garden – although only about 3 varieties and they are all self sufficient and grow happily and make babies which on occasion I transplant to fill in holes the our fur babies have made in the garden.
Have a lovely week ahead.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, you have quite established ones, don’t you? (I’m working from memory!). I love how the plants make babies.. :) xx
You have many varieties, Celia! They are all looking so good! Cool!
Sophie, I *may* have gotten a little carried away collecting different varieties when I started.. :D
;)
Beautiful variety! Lovely post!
Thank you! :)
I don’t grow succulents yet, but the beautiful pictures of yours have inspired me to try it this year. I have a lot of spare, unused pots in the garage and I saw a small display of succulents at a nearby store. You seem to have a huge variety available where you live. I’m worried that the succulents won’t do nearly as well here, because of cooler temps & lower humidity. I know the challenge will be keeping them alive over the winter in the house. I love the different shades of green that succulents come in. Green is a favorite color of mine.
You’ve done a great job growing your succulents into beautiful specimens!!
Hi Mel! The best bet with succulents is to maybe walk around the neighbourhood first and see what grows – the most successful plants I have were from cuttings from a neighbour’s yard. They can be really beautiful – have a look at Debra Balwin’s youtube clips, it’s amazing what she does with them! And not a huge variety were bought locally, but ebay had lots on offer! :)
Great Captures! I planted jades yesterday – love succulents:)
Renee, jade plants are supposed to be lucky! :)
Wow! They look great. Looks like they thrive in the heat. Will you winter them outside? I really like the different colors of the various succulents.
Manuela, we’ll winter them outside as we don’t really have room to bring them in, but I’m not sure how they’ll do out there! This will be their first winter, so I’m a bit nervous for them!
Love love succulents , all I know is water occasionally and sun sun sun
Let me know if you ever want any cuttings, Dotti! xx
Hehe succulents are the only things that I can successfully grow! PS I hope this comment works!
Yep, got it! Hope you’re having a great time! x
They’re very odd aren’t they?
Yes, they’re like plants from outer space! But I find them so appealing in their quirkiness! :)
Not only are your succulents beautiful but you have photographed them like David Attenborough :)
Thanks T, I’m glad you like them! Nice to have you home, love! x
Lovely plants – so architectural in their forms – I can see why you love them :)
Jo, how’s the glorious pot of sempervivums doing in your greenhouse? Is it still thriving? And I love their angles and sharp lines – makes them so photogenic! :)
Gorgeous pics. I have a few succulents in pots that have survived the winter but do look as if they are in even more dire need of sunshine than me! We have just had a couple of lovely sunny bank holiday days but I think they need a bit more than that to thrive. Still hopeful, but I do think that although wild garlic may thrive around here (in our damp woods), your climate is a bit more suited to succulents.
Andrea, I hope your plants survive – I’m already a little concerned about how they’ll manage winter in Sydney – the Cotswolds (straight out of Wind in the Willows! :)) would be something else altogether!
I love succulents sooooo much! we have a big pot of them on our front doorstep :-)
Sandy, they’re such rewarding plants to grow, aren’t they?
They are so beautiful dear Celia, Thanks and Love, nia
I adore succulents and have them all about my patio. They thrive in the mostly shady area. Your collection is delightful!
Thank you! I’m quite new at this, so crossing my fingers that they survive winter! :)
There is so much perfect beauty in a succulent garden. The precision of the leaves and the profuse colors.. it’s all so very stunning! It still seems strange to read that you’re heading into winter. We’ve lots of rain this spring, so it’s been a cold one.. I’m not sure succulents would like it here in our climate? xx
What a gorgeous collection Celia.