EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF CACTi, CASTLES, ALOE, LIVING STONES AND OTHER INDOOR HEAT-LOVING REPRESENTATIVES OF SUCCULENTS. IN ACTUALITY THIS GROUP IS MUCH MORE DIVERSE AND NUMEROUS. THESE HARDY PLANTS ARE FOUND IN ALMOST EVERY GARDEN OF THE MIDDLE LANDSCAPE, BUT FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEIR TRUE ORIGIN. SO, MEET: GARDEN SUCCULENTS
Succulents are a very large group of plants found naturally throughout the globe, excluding permafrost areas. Let us omit the heat-loving natives of hot countries in our story and devote this story only to plants close to our harsh conditions. You will be surprised, but a huge number of succulents grow in central Russia.
Typical appearance of a succulent plant
Despite all the diversity of succulents, their main quality is common - they are all unpretentious and lead a truly Spartan lifestyle. Perhaps this is the most undemanding group of garden crops. Many of them have thickened and modified fleshy leaves, some have a thick underground caudex - both “devices” help store moisture for future use so that the plants can survive long dry periods without damage to life and loss of decorativeness.
Succulents also vary in their growth form. These can be rosette-shaped plants that reproduce by daughter rosettes. There are bush-like representatives. Often creeping species with numerous small shoots, which quite quickly form a continuous cover and juicy multi-colored mats. In addition, among succulents there are plants with long creeping shoots that grow in dense clumps.
Many succulents have compact root systems that can squeeze out even the smallest amount of soil. In some species it is the other way around: fleshy vertical rhizomes that make their way through stones into the depths of the soil. They are securely attached to it and extract moisture.
A caudex is a short, thickened trunk or stem that serves as a kind of reservoir for storing water. It can be located both underground and on its surface.
The variety of leaf shapes and their colors is amazing, but succulents attract gardeners not only for these qualities, but also for their colorful flowering. In spring or summer, our persistent garden workers delight with a variety of whimsical flowers of all shades - crimson, yellow, white, pink, purple.
Sunny corner
Euphorbia
Few people at first glance recognize succulents in the next group, they look so unusual compared to their peers. This group of rather tall plants stands apart.
Let's mention first Euphorbia multicolor (Euphorbia polychroma). It is indispensable in the spring garden - in May the tops of the shoots are covered with contrasting light yellow bracts. Retains the beautiful shape of the bush until late autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Before winter, shoots are cut off at soil level.
Compared to other species it looks quite exotic Euphorbia myrtifolia (Eu. myrsinites). Its thick shoots creeping along the ground, as if dotted with pointed leaves in a spiral, resemble dense scales. For several years now I have been observing the self-seeding of this species in my garden, sometimes in places far from the mother plant: the tasty seeds are taken away by ants. M. cypress (Eu. cyparissias), which blooms in May-June with greenish-yellow flowers, also looks excellent in the garden.
Rejuvenated
Perhaps the most famous, recognizable and beloved group of garden cold-resistant succulents is juveniles. With all their appearance they talk about belonging to this group. Unpretentious, reliable and resilient - they are not afraid of either drought or severe frosts without snow.
These plants amaze with their variety of varieties, shapes and colors - amateur gardeners collect entire collections from them.
It is worth noting that juveniles are very popular in pot culture and are indispensable when creating garden paintings, carpet plantings of different varieties and multi-colored borders among stones.
The very name of the first type that we will talk about speaks about its purpose. The inhabitants of medieval Europe and England completely planted roofing rejuvenation (Sempervivumtectorum) the roofs of their houses. Until now, this technique is often used by professionals in landscape design to design the slopes of garden houses, gazebos and canopies.
Green roofs are all the rage right now.
A very unusual look - molo dilo cobwebby (Sempervivum arachnoideum). The entire plant is densely pubescent and covered with white thread-like hairs, as if covered in a web, hence its name. The rosettes are planted so tightly together that they resemble a mini-mountain relief.
Also on sale there are plants united by the capacious name rejuvenated hybrid (Sempervivum x hyhriihim). Their appearance is so diverse and variable that it defies description.
Rarities among garden succulents
In a separate chapter we will talk about outlandish and rarely found succulents in ornamental gardening. These include rare mountain species, valuable medicinal plants, and even whimsical sissies, the cultivation of which requires some effort.
One of these rarities is Rhodiola rosea (Rhodioia rosea). It has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Popularly, Rhodiola is often called the golden root, which speaks of its value. It is a rare crop in gardens, often grown for its medicinal rather than ornamental properties. However, she has a non-trivial beauty and extravagant appearance.
Hairy rosularia (Prometheum pilosum)- a rare alpine succulent plant, better known among lovers and collectors of alpine crops. To protect against winter soaking and preserve the plant, it is necessary to build a dry shelter, for example, cover it with a transparent jar.
Another garden curiosity is the beetroot. This is a rarely found succulent in culture, which botanists alternately assigned to the genus Molodil and Sedumov. One species is common in Russia - Ball beetle (Jovibarba globifera).
REFERENCE
Monocarpacic plants, or monocarpics, as gardeners affectionately call them, are species that bloom only once in their life and die after fruiting. New flower stalks are formed on young plants of the next generation.
Succulents - photos and descriptions
False sedum (Sedum spurium)
A creeping perennial plant with creeping or erect shoots. Semicircular leaves of green and reddish hue, sometimes with teeth, sit loosely on the shoots. Inflorescences appear on longer shoots (up to 20 cm). The flowers are small, star-shaped, collected in corymbose inflorescences. There are many varieties with different colors of leaves and flowers.
Sedum acre
A ground cover plant with branched stems up to 10 cm long, completely covered with small, oblong, fleshy leaves of a dark green color. During flowering, it is covered with small yellow star-shaped flowers so that the greenery is literally invisible. It grows into small tufts that can merge with each other and form a continuous carpet.
Spanish sedum (Sedum hispanicum)
A ground cover species that forms very dense mats. The shoots are creeping, studded with small, oblong, palmate leaves. The foliage is covered with a bluish waxy coating, giving the entire plant an exotic bluish tint. Some garden forms may have reddish or yellowish leaf tips. The flowers are white and pink in loose inflorescences.
Euphorbia polychroma
A perennial plant that forms a fairly compact bush with erect stems 40 - 50 cm high. The bush is neat, spherical in shape. It blooms in spring for a month: in May, bright yellow leaves of bracts bloom on the shoots. The ‘Bonfire’ variety is very impressive with reddish-burgundy shoots that retain their rich color until the end of the season.
Euphorbia myrsinites
A perennial species with creeping or ascending shoots up to 2 cm long. Diamond-shaped leaves sit densely on the stems. Their bluish tint and the waxy coating that covers them give the entire plant a southern flavor. Flowering occurs in May-June for two to three weeks. The flowers are small and have no decorative value. The plant is grown for its unusual foliage.
Cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
Perennial spurge, forming a loose bush up to 40 cm tall. The shoots are thin, strong, covered with needle-shaped bluish-green leaves. Blooms in May-June. Flowers with greenish-yellow spathes. The plant remains decorative even after flowering until late autumn. On light soils it grows quickly due to underground rhizomes, capturing new territories and forming dense clumps.
Roofing sapling (Sempervivum tectorum)
A perennial consisting of spherical rosettes with a diameter from 3 to 18 cm. The leaves are fleshy, green, often with a reddish border and jagged edge. In July-August, tall (up to 25 cm) flower stalks appear from the rosettes. The flowers are small, star-shaped, collected in small but spectacular corymbose inflorescences. Garden forms have rosettes of different colors and diameters.
Cobweb Juvenile (Sempervivum arachnoideum)
A ground cover perennial that forms monocarpic rosettes (from 5 mm to 2 cm in diameter), which form entire colonies. The leaves are green, sometimes reddish at the tips, with noticeable cobwebby pubescence. Pink rather large star-shaped flowers on high stolons decorate this species of juvenile and give it a special zest. Flowering begins in the second half of July.
Hybrid young (Sempervivum x hybridum)
This name hides a huge number of varieties obtained by crossing different species. Their number has long exceeded a thousand. These are plants of all shapes and sizes, the main decoration of which is the varied color of the leaves. There are all colors from green, yellowish, red, burgundy and pink to marble, gray and silver.
Rhodiola rosea
A perennial plant that forms very decorative small (up to 40 cm tall) bushes. The shoots are powerful, directed upward. The leaves are juicy, fleshy, arranged alternately. It blooms in June-July with medium-sized corymbose inflorescences, which consist of yellow-green flowers. The specific name “pink” was given due to the fact that the smell of the rhizome is somewhat reminiscent of the aroma of a rose.
Hairy rosularia (Prometheum pilosum)
This is a perennial monocarpic plant - after flowering, the mother rosette dies off, giving way to young offspring. Due to the daughter rosettes, rosularia forms small groups-colonies. Prefers to grow among stones and in crevices. The rosettes look like juveniles; in this type of rosularia they are pubescent. It blooms in summer with small pink flowers.
Ball beetle (Jovibarba globifera)
The plant forms low turfs from rosettes of basal leaves with a diameter of 2 - 3 cm, spherical in shape. As soon as you touch it with your hand, numerous babies easily roll to the sides, as the specific name hints at. And in July-August, tall flowering stems with dense corymbose inflorescences up to 5 - 7 cm in diameter appear. A rare species - both in nature and in collections.
Succulents - planting and care: tips and reviews
Hoyas
Hoya - photo These succulent vines offer an incredible variety of both flowers and leaves. A lot of them “passed” through my hands, in the end I left about 25 species and varieties that either readily bloom or delight with beautiful foliage. I root cuttings with several nodes, mainly in water, the best time for this is spring. I wait for the roots to appear and plant them without delay. It also worked well to root cuttings in coco-soil.
When the leaves of an adult hoya begin to dry out and the substrate dries out too quickly, it is time to replant the plant. In general, I try not to disturb hoyas often, since a relatively poor soil mixture and a cramped pot stimulate flowering. I’ll tell you briefly about some of the species from the collection. Hoya muitiflora blooms in my conditions even in winter, I assume due to the lighting. The variegated Hoya carnosa lives on the balcony all year round. Its leaves are mostly variegated. I don’t cut off the completely green ones yet, I left them for plant nutrition. Hoya retusa is unusual for its ampelous shape. It has been living with me for about seven years in a hanging plant pot. Friends complain that this species grows poorly in their country. Perhaps due to lack of lighting. I keep the plant no more than a meter from the south window. In summer, its leaves even lighten a little, as if they “burn out”, but this is not scary, the sun is only good for this hoya: it regularly blooms with single large “stars”.
Of the specimens with unusual foliage, Hoya sp. is surprising. Square - blooms with white “balls”, and its leaves have an almost perfect rectangular shape. The beautiful Noua caudata has large and very hard leaf blades, like stone ones. It turned into a large vine Noua kerrii, grown from a leaf - a “heart”. While the shoot formed, it sat in the ground for 4 years.
Cotyledon photo Cotyledon
Of the cotyledons, perhaps Cotyledon undulata is the most popular for its amazing foliage with a wavy edge and a “mealy” bluish bloom. When I let it grow into a large tree, it blooms. But usually I keep the plant small and rejuvenate it - it looks better when it’s more compact.
Aloe
I keep some plants of this genus on the window sills in my room, and some on the balcony all year round, such as Aloe deltoideodonta. Many species tolerate low temperatures above zero in dry soil and do not freeze.
But the endemic o. Madagascar Baker's aloe (Aloe bakeri) is quite thermophilic. By the way, the plant is included in the list of endangered species in nature, for this reason it is not available for sale. She brought a cutting from the University Botanical Garden of Kiel (Germany). I love it for its thin, long, speckled leaves. In summer, when there is a lot of sun, they turn red.
It changes color amazingly depending on the lighting and Aloe’ Black Gem’; it literally turns black in the sun. In the ‘Pink Panther’ variety, the pink border becomes brighter.
Xerositsios – photo Xerositsios
The original and rare in collections Xerosicyos danguyi with rounded leaves like coins was also brought from Kiel. Easy to propagate - both stem cuttings and leaves take root well. I practically don’t feed it so that it doesn’t grow, so it grows in size quite slowly. Although the more food there is, the more powerful and thick the leaves grow.
Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe beharensis needs large volumes of soil and does not like when there is not enough room for roots. I replant when I notice that the leaves are starting to shrink. The plant can become a large floor tapeworm; mine somehow reached almost 2 m. To prevent it from growing “to the ceiling,” I renewed it. It bushes reluctantly, at most it branches in two. The plant was also once brought from the Botanical Garden (Kiel). There it was a huge tree.
Succulent plants - planting and care: video: Indoor aichrizon or tree of love...
Kalanchoe, aloe, cacti, crassula, crassula, agave - these unpretentious plants are found in almost every home and office, but few people know that they all belong to the group of succulents. This category unites species characteristic of regions with arid climates that accumulate moisture in modified stems and leaves. Thanks to this feature, succulents can survive without watering for a long time, maintaining their attractive appearance. Aesthetics and unpretentiousness make them an excellent option for landscaping interiors, terraces, flower beds and even rocky alpine hills.
Description and types of succulents
Translated from Latin, succulentus means “succulent” - this is how one can describe the appearance of representatives of semi-desert flora. During the summer rainy season, they intensively collect water, thanks to which they can withstand dry subequatorial winters. Several families are classified as succulents - these include cactus, crassulaaceae, agave, lily, euphorbia, aizoonaceae plants. Their exotic shape and bright flowers look extremely attractive in any setting, and the ability to go without watering for a long time greatly saves time and effort in caring for these compact green spaces.
In the broadest classification, succulents are divided into two categories - stem ones, with a thickened and often ribbed stem (cacti, spurge) and leaf ones, in which moisture accumulates in the fleshy leaves (crassula, aloe, young and others). The biological characteristics of all these plants allow them to absorb water from any possible sources: long roots pull it from the deep layers of the soil, ground shoots collect dew, fluff on the surface is designed to condense droplets of moisture from the air, and rain flows down smooth curved leaves directly to the outlet . All this means that guests from arid climates sometimes still need life-giving watering and spraying, but this must be done very moderately and carefully.
Species are grown indoors for which a decrease in sunlight and temperature during the dormant period is not critical. The most popular indoor succulents are all kinds of cacti, as well as numerous names of Crassulaceae, such as:
Aeonium. The leaves of aeonium, rounded and slightly pointed at the tips, resemble multi-layered dahlia or rose flowers in appearance. At the same time, they have completely unique colors - a green gradient along the jagged edges can be edged with pink or red, and there are also dark purple, black, lemon, and creamy green species. The stem of indoor aeonium is very short, and the leaves are tightly pressed to each other, growing in a checkerboard pattern from the center to the edges.
Graptopetalum. The attractiveness of this plant lies mainly in its unusual flowering. Around May-July, twigs with beautiful five-petal pink “stars” appear from a squat rosette of fleshy leaves. In the center of the opened buds, bright yellow stamens on long stalks sparkle, which give the blooming flowers a special festive charm. This extravaganza lasts 2–3 weeks, and then the succulent returns to its standard appearance for fat plants.
Pachyphytum. The Greek name Pachyphytum means “thick-leaved,” which can really be considered the main characteristic of this succulent. Its dense leaves in the shape of elongated and slightly flattened grapes are covered with a bluish waxy coating that prevents moisture evaporation. The plant has the form of numerous pineal-shaped processes, which are connected to each other by short, woody stems. Pachyphytum blooms inconspicuously, producing small pinkish shoots like slightly deformed ears of corn.
Aichrizon. This succulent is also called the “tree of love.” With its small dark green leaves, crown-like branches and dense stem, it really resembles a miniature tree. Associations with romance are probably due to the heart-shaped shape of the leaf blades. In the spring-summer period, the aichrizon is covered with a lush cloud of small golden flowers, which are very similar to the panicles of St. John's wort. To form a crown, the tree is regularly pruned, and in the warm season it needs regular watering with small doses of water.
Monantes. A large number of small green cones growing directly from the ground - this is Monantes. During flowering, a thin reddish stem with a pale yellow “star” at the end rises from the center of each rosette. This succulent is valuable for its miniature size, and in compositions it makes an interesting background for larger plants.
Crassula. Much more often this plant is mentioned under the names “crassula”, “tree of happiness” or “money tree”. Its rounded leaves with a yellowish tint look like coins, so this succulent is considered an amulet that attracts financial wealth and prosperity to the house.
Brighamy. A bright palm-shaped plant, known under the names “Hawaiian palm”, “volcano palm”. In autumn, yellow star flowers appear at the green top, with which the succulent takes on an even more exotic look.
Portulacaria, or “elephant bush” is an ornamental mini-tree with a very powerful tree-like stem of dark brown color. In terms of texture, it really evokes associations with the legs of elephants, but the countless miniature light green leaves against the background of a thick base look very contrasting.
Argyroderma, which in translation sounds like “silver skin”, owes its name to its unique coloring. The cold greenish tone of the dense leaves seems even more mysterious due to the light gray waxy coating. In shape, this plant repeats sea stones - the same smooth and oval-flattened, but dissected in the center. During the flowering period, the doors open slightly, and in each one an incredibly beautiful “aster” of orange, pink or bright yellow color appears.
Lithops, or living stones, cannot be immediately distinguished from pebbles. The gray, slightly spotted color completely camouflages them in the natural environment. The succulent reveals that it belongs to the plant kingdom only during flowering, when bright “daisies” in yellow, orange, pink or white tones bloom among the rounded half leaves.
Kalanchoe, with its rich and lush star-shaped inflorescences, is often purchased as a gift or simply for interior decoration. This succulent develops well in normal indoor conditions and tolerates both excess and lack of sunlight. Kalanchoe juice has anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and regenerating properties, which is widely used in folk medicine and cosmetology.
Haworthia. It has fleshy, but elongated and pointed leaves with jagged spines along the edges or woody white dots and “ribs” along the entire green surface. At the same time, young plants look quite peaceful, but over time they acquire an increasingly “frightening”, prickly appearance. Thanks to its exotic texture, haworthia can adequately decorate any floral arrangement.
Caring for Succulents
Brought from an arid climate, succulents require fairly harsh growing conditions. The slightest excess of comfort, oddly enough, leads these Spartan plants to lose their decorative properties or even die.
Cacti, fat plants and other guests from desert latitudes react positively to the indifferent attitude of the owners - they can even be left in the apartment without supervision or watering, and a few months later they can be found in the same condition. But succulents will delight with truly beautiful shape and flowering only if they are provided with an optimal climate close to natural.
Lighting
For all of the listed species, sunlight is vital, although, for example, the Tolstyannikovs recommend slightly diffused rather than direct light. The scorching heat is preferred by desert and mountain plant species - cacti, aloe, kalanchoe, and dwarf shrub trees. For this reason, it is advisable to grow them on balconies and window sills on the south side of the house. In winter, succulents enter a dormant period and photosynthesis slows down, so short daylight hours are not a big problem, but you still shouldn’t move the plants to a dark corner.
Air
For normal development, succulents need good ventilation. Loose rocky soil should provide air access to the roots. In general, plants respond well to room ventilation, and in summer it is recommended to plant them in a flowerbed or at least take them with pots to a balcony, veranda or under a canopy. The natural humidity of oxygen has a positive effect, from which the leaves absorb the missing elements.
Watering
Excess moisture for this botanical group is more destructive than its prolonged lack, so moderation and caution should be exercised with water. During active growth and flowering, that is, from late spring to early autumn, succulents need to be watered 1-3 times a week in small portions. In the off-season, the frequency should be approximately once a week to a week and a half, and in winter, one or two modest waterings per month are sufficient.
Temperature
For summer, the optimal temperature in a room with cacti and similar moisture storage devices is the standard +25...+30C during the day and +15...+20C at night. During the dormant period, most of these plants love coolness, so the temperature can be lowered to +5C, although ordinary room conditions with +15...+20C are also suitable.
Fertilizers
Any organic matter is strictly contraindicated for succulents, but mineral fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium will come in handy. It is best to buy a ready-made preparation for cacti and water the plants with it at the frequency indicated on the package during the growth period (spring-summer).
There are four main ways to propagate this group of indoor plants: from seeds, from cuttings, by rooting parts of leaves, or by simply detaching daughter formations.
The process of growing seeds is the longest and most labor-intensive, so it is used only by professionals to develop new varieties. Amateur flower growers limit themselves to very simple vegetative methods. So, for example, it is enough to dry a cut cutting or a fleshy piece of a leaf for 1–2 days, treat the cut with a growth stimulant, and then deepen it 1.5–2.5 cm into river sand, previously watered with warm water, and leave it in a bright place for 2–3 weeks for rooting. Sometimes you can simply place parts of the leaves on damp soil without sprinkling them - soon roots will appear at the cut site and begin to grow in on their own.
The soil for succulents should be poor in organic matter, so you should not add peat, black soil or humus to it. A clay-turf mixture is optimal, which can be further lightened with coarse river sand. For additional ventilation, it is recommended to add small pebbles or broken sea shells.
As a rule, the “ingredients” necessary for plants are placed in a container in layers: pebbles or other drainage at the bottom, then the soil itself, a layer of sand and again stones. This mosaic looks especially impressive in transparent florariums. To prevent succulents from wasting all their energy on root growth, relatively small and cramped pots are selected for them, replanting only as the above-ground part increases, every 1–3 years.
Succulents - photo
The unusual beauty and unpretentiousness of succulents provide wide scope for their use. Plants can decorate the local area, being a worthy element of a flower bed or flower garden. With their participation, the most original flower arrangements are created, including magnificent phyto-walls. Succulents look especially elegant in home florariums, which you can easily make yourself using shaped containers. Many pictures in our photo gallery will introduce you to the varieties of these interesting and, at times, funny plants. Enjoy watching!
An alpine slide, otherwise known as a rock garden, is a popular technique in landscape design. A composition of stones, a small waterfall and low-growing plants will be a magnificent decoration for any garden or personal plot.
The ideal place for a rock garden is a garden plot against the backdrop of a tall building, such as a house. It is advisable that the place be sunny.
Having chosen a place, mark the area and remove the top layer of soil to the depth of the turf. The recess can be filled with drainage material, which can be used as broken bricks and crushed stone left after construction.
Drainage is vital for mainly succulents, especially if the slide is being built on waterlogged soil. The drainage layer must be covered with earth. Often, previously removed soil is used for this.
After installing the drainage, you can proceed to laying out the stones, that is, building the alpine slide itself. It is ideal if large stones similar in appearance, for example, shell rock, are selected for the rock garden.
You cannot lay stones vertically - they are installed horizontally, penetrating about a third into the soil. When laying out stones, you should provide yourself with access to any part of the hill for subsequent care of the plants.
The soil around the stones should be compacted. After this, the finished structure must be watered so that the stones “settle.” It’s good if the alpine hill stands in good rain before planting.
Succulents for an alpine slide
Various succulents are planted between the stones. Don't do this too often - succulents quickly take up a large area. Usually one season is enough for this.
They require a special watering regime. Here we need to say what it is.
Succulents or sedums are plants living in arid zones that tend to accumulate moisture for future use.
For example, cacti are classified as succulents. Succulents do not belong to the same family - this is the name of a trait that unites several species and speaks only of the plant’s ability to store water in its stems, leaves or roots.
Watering the alpine hill should be as rare as possible. A few waterings during a particularly dry summer will be sufficient. Otherwise, the plants may rot and die.
To create an alpine slide, you can use a variety of succulents. However, preference should be given to winter-hardy endemics, which should be distinguished from. The former are able to withstand cold winters, while the latter can only withstand short-term frosts.
Some types of succulents for rock gardens
- sedum (Sedum) – grows very quickly;
- grains (Draba) – frost-resistant, bloom beautifully;
- saxifrage (Saxi-fraga) - true to its name, capable of rooting even on bare stones, using minimal cracks;
- young (Sempervivum) are very hardy succulents that bloom in mid-summer.
Thick, water-filled leaves and stems of sedums are designed in such a way that they are able to retain the resulting moisture for a long time. The name of the Crassulaceae family is interpreted as “eternally living,” and indeed, these succulents are extremely adaptable creatures to the gardener’s inattention. And the propagation of these plants is not particularly difficult. Let's get to know them better
In the modern classification from sedums, or sedums (Sedum), a group of plants separated with taller straight stems (50-70cm), paniculate inflorescences in the shape of a dome, with bell-shaped flowers that did not open to the stars, which received name sedum (Hylotelephium). Sedum blooms from late July to September, making worthy company for summer and autumn garden plants.
The most recognizable representatives of the genus are Sedum spectabile (Hylotelephium spectabile) and found in forests and glades of the Non-Black Earth Region Sedum telephium (Hylotelephium telephium). A wide variety of garden varieties and hybrids have been created with pink, purple-red, beige or white flowers, differing in height and leaf color. The textured leaf pattern supports the decorative appearance of green-leaved sedum (Brilliant, O. telephium).
Throughout the season, their compact bushes harmonize with the linear leaves of cereals, irises, and daylilies. Speaking about the green leaves of sedum, it should be noted that most of them have a more or less pronounced bluish bloom, which is most clear at dawn and practically disappears in the warm colors of the sunset rays. Ornamental leaf plants can produce single species stems with green leaves, which should be removed so that the bush does not turn into a progenitor. Variegated bushes of Frosty Morn or Mediovariegatum can be used to dilute a border of hostas or to edge a flower arrangement, interspersing them with green-leaved varieties.
You should not plant them only with other variegated plants. Filling the garden with sedums with green-red, purple and brownish leaves such as Purple Emperor should also be treated with caution. Otherwise, it’s easy to get a dark, failed spot in the flower garden or make gloomy borders. At the same time, this color gives win-win options in combination with beige, yellow, silver, dark green and crimson, lilac-pink.
Plant astilbes, early-blooming chrysanthemums, and chrysanthemums with these sedum plants.
You have to wait half the summer for the sedum to bloom - during this time its leafy attire becomes so familiar that the flowering is perceived as an unexpected gift. The violent opening of inflorescences, present even on the smallest and youngest shoots, turns the bush into a blooming bouquet.
To complete the golden leaf border, choose a sedum variety with bright pink, red or crimson ( Red Cauli with dark green leaves on reddish stems) inflorescences, and for green leaves - with white ( Gooseberry Fool and Iceberg with dark green leaves), light green-lemon inflorescences (low border variety with green leaves, Citrus Twist).
THE VIBRANT OPENING OF THE BLOWERS OF THE SCRUM, PRESENT EVEN IN THE SMALLEST AND YOUNGEST SHOOTS, TURN THE BUSH INTO A FLOWING BOUQUET
Based on shades of pink and crimson, with the participation of sedum Rosenteller, Korean chrysanthemum and paniculata hydrangea, it is easy to create an autumn trio that will decorate any corner of the garden until October. If you like more contrasting solutions, then plant sedum Matrona next to spirea Golden Princess, add yellow Korean chrysanthemum flowers and purple heuchera leaves to the first row, and as a background plant choose any shrub with green leaves, such as openwork and translucent dwarf birch. White-beige flowers with greenish-lemon centers on bright crimson sedum stems look elegant. Hab Gray(dark green leaves with a dark purple-red center, spreading out into a reddish mist towards the edges).
In a garden that needs to be decorative throughout the season, it is better to combine them with gray fescue. It will delicately dilute the dark color during the period of growth and budding of sedum. Types of sedums with star flowers, forming thickets pressed to the ground, are, as before, classified as sedums.
Blooming half as tall as sedum false sedum (Sedum spurium).
Its overwintering fleshy leaves can be green, variegated ( Tricolor), purple ( Purple Carpet). Flowers, depending on the variety, range from pink to crimson and purple-red.
Sedum Rural (Sedum selskianum) differs in the shape of the leaves and yellow flowers. Their place is in rocky compositions, on hills among gravel; They are not suitable for the border and foreground of a flower garden due to uncontrolled growth in different directions.
U Sedum Kamchatka (Sedum kamtschaticum), as with s. false, there is a variegated variety Variegatum, but the leaves do not overwinter. The shoots of the plant become woody and in the spring they appear as reddish hard cords, which are beautifully overgrown with succulent young leaves, especially bright in the decorative leaf form. The lush clumps of the plant resemble compact bushes that can be successfully grown along paved paths exposed to the sun.
Sedum's Jackets CAN BECOME AN UNpretentious HIGH EDGE AND A GOOD SECOND ROW OF A FLOWER BED. PLANT FLOWERS FROM LATE JULY TO SEPTEMBER
Sedum reflexus (Sedum reflexum) from a distance it looks like a miniature forest of fir trees. The height of the plant is 15-20 cm, and the creeping and rooting stems along the entire length are longer and form cushion-shaped thickets that easily “absorb” small and medium-sized stones encountered along the way. Variety Cristatum with originally curved leaves that look like light green scallops, it is quite whimsical.
It does not always please with truly solid large ridges, which, as they grow, turn into strange shoulder blades lying on the ground. It is interesting that the inflorescences of the variety partially turn into comb-like processes with a row of flowers at the top. When planting these sedums, do not forget that they create large spots of color, which are especially noticeable in decorative leaf forms and during flowering.
True, their short stature makes it possible to take into account their color combinations only with the closest neighboring plants. They look great on rocky hills, next to creeping coniferous plants, and they benefit when combined with forms with blue and dove, as well as with golden needles.
All sedums absolutely cannot stand the proximity of crops with more aggressive roots, and the smaller the plant, the more sensitive it is. It is not without reason that it is found in nature almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. sedum acrid (Sedum acre) not only finds vegetation-free sandbanks of rivers, roadsides, and light pine forests, but also releases toxic substances that oppress neighboring plants. In garden compositions with. caustic forms a low golden mat that completely covers the soil. There are forms with white (f. alba) and yellow (f. aureum) leaves.
Looks more lacy white sedum (Sedum album). The species plant resembles the previous species; its fleshy leaves also do not exceed 5 cm in height; It is only during flowering that the difference becomes apparent. White sedum blooms with white stars, collected in large paniculate inflorescences on almost bare crimson stems. The purple anthers give the flowers a slight pinkish tint.
U f. atropurpurea chocolate red leaves and stems. Another covering covering is sedum spanish (Sedum hispanicum). This plant is loved for its cloud of snow-white blooms and for the diamond-like shine of dew or raindrops on its delicate, thin, fleshy bluish leaves. Unfortunately, s. Spanish is not a perennial and dies after flowering. This significant drawback is often compensated for by active self-seeding, and in this case gardeners do not even notice the change of generations. Otherwise, it is not inferior to the previous species and is actively used as a ground cover plant with a height of only 5-6 cm.
For more whimsical exotic small fry, it is advisable to arrange gravel gardens in flowerpots, free up the best spots in rock gardens, where to place them in a motley mosaic.
Oregon sedum (Sedum oreganum) Procumbens refers to such highlights. The amount of red in the color of this variety varies depending on the lighting - even slight shading can turn the variety into a species-specific green-leaved plant.
This is a highly decorative, relatively winter-hardy perennial with evergreen leaves that look like candy canes. It blooms extremely rarely with yellow flowers. Sedum spatulafolia (Sedum spathulifolium) it looks more intriguing in the form of a subspecies, the leaves of which, like mold, are covered with a white powdery coating. A distinct representative with bluish-purple and white leaves is the variety Cape Blanco .
No less original are the varieties in which red flashes shine through the white coating on the greenish leaves; the Purpureum variety is very interesting with young leaves in the form of white roses and old ones - purple. If you are lucky, the plant will delight you with low, up to 10 cm, flower stalks with yellow star flowers. Evergreen sockets thick-branched sedum (Sedum pachyclados) resemble plants of the genera Rhodiola and Molodilo.
The species is rarely found in gardens, as it grows poorly and often freezes, and blooms even less often. In central Russia, flowering is a great success, so even a small number of white stars appearing on the side of the rosettes is truly a huge achievement.
ALL Sedums ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TOLERATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CROPS WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE ROOTS, AND THE SMALLER THE PLANT, THE MORE SENSITIVE IT IS
FEATURES OF GARDEN SUCCULENTS
Sedums and sedums love well-drained soil in the sun and do not tolerate shade or soaking at all. Tall sedums, when grown on loamy, loose and rocky soils with a sufficiently high degree of fertility, become more luxuriant, bloom brighter and more friendly. Sedums prefer sandy, poor soil. They are unpretentious, drought-resistant, frost-resistant, but, like all plants, there are exceptions among them. Some of the most capricious species, as well as variegated varieties, hardly tolerate the winters of central Russia, and even if they get along in our climate, they bloom very rarely. If low winter hardiness is suspected, they are covered with a box and burlap.
Rapid aging, expressed in lengthening of stems or loss of planting density, requires rejuvenation of the curtain every three to four years. Fortunately, it is extremely easy to propagate plants by dividing the bush or cuttings, including leaf cuttings - the cuttings are 100% rooted in the soil. Seed propagation is rarely used, as it does not retain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. Broadleaf sedums are often damaged by slugs and snails. The false caterpillars of real sawflies also love to feast on fleshy leaves.
Fluffy mammillaria - a beautiful succulent
Mammillaria plant Mammillaria bocasana (Mammillaria bocasana), is an old-timer in my succulent collection. I received a small fluffy ball in an exchange in the early 2000s.
For the first couple of years, the “ball” expanded its root system and increased in size, then it began to acquire “children.” When the pot became small, I transferred the plant to a slightly larger one. It fulfilled all the requirements of cacti culture: it provided the brightest place on the southern windowsill in winter, summer maintenance in the fresh air, dry wintering and moderate watering in summer. True, I could not provide the cold in winter; the temperature on the windowsill did not drop below +18 degrees. Mammillaria pleased with its appearance and health, did not get sick and was not affected by pests. Small pink flowers appeared in the spring, but the flowering was not lush.
COOLING HELPED
And last fall we changed the heating devices and a bright room appeared with a winter temperature no higher than +15 degrees, where all the cacti moved for the winter. Spring came, and mammillaria showed itself in all its glory - the entire curtain was covered with flowers and buds! The flowering lasted for more than two months, and every day I told my favorite how beautiful she was!
This mammillaria is beautiful even without flowers - all white and fluffy, hands just reach out to stroke it. But you shouldn't do this! Hidden under the numerous hairs are hooked spines, which are not so easy to detach from without damaging both the cactus itself and the skin of your fingers.
Valentina MIRONOVA, Bataysk, Rostov region. Photo by the author
Wintering succulents
Now I am convinced that in the middle zone, juveniles (web, roofing, Othello, spherical, calcareous) and sedums (sedums) - caustic, white, pale yellow, rocky, Eversa, prominent, false, onacamparus - winter in the open ground. But if there is severe frost without snow, they can also freeze. When such a danger arises, I cover the plants with fallen leaves, straw or other material.
White sedum may partially fall out in severe snowless winters, even when covered with mulch. There are many varieties of it, and when purchasing planting material you need to be interested in how each individual winters in the middle zone.
Acrid sedum tolerates not only frosts, but also poor soil and drought.
Spanish sedums may drop the Aureum variety after a frosty, snowless winter. It is highly susceptible to getting wet and rotting.
Despite their southern origin, cacti such as prickly pear and echinopsis also withstand winters. They can withstand frosts down to -30 degrees, but they must be “dried out”, that is, on the eve of winter (at least a month in advance) protected from rain. I leave the shelter for the winter.
Succulents cannot tolerate waterlogging - they get sick. They should not be planted in low places. And I always add sand to the soil. I water only when planting. In order for the young to winter well, they need to be planted in sandy soil, in a dry, open place. The soil is neutral or slightly alkaline. Nutritious food is unacceptable. The rosettes, of course, will be large, they grow faster, but the plants will be less resistant to weather conditions. I water them only during planting. If over-hydrated, the young can rot.
: Indoor aichrizon or tree of love...
Ground cover plants that bloom all summer or cover the ground with a thick green carpet can emphasize the beauty of a garden or summer cottage, shade tall plants, and hide minor defects in a flower garden or alpine hill. Creeping flowers also look original in single compositions, complemented by stones, garden lanterns, conifers or hostas.
To choose groundcover perennials suitable for the landscape, varieties, photos and descriptions of which will be presented below, it is worth familiarizing yourself not only with the names, but also with the conditions for their cultivation.
Plants no more than 20 cm high are ideal for decorating a rock garden, alpine slide or ridge made of wooden boards in a small summer cottage. Low-growing groundcovers look especially beautiful in groups with fluffy hostas, junipers, thujas or against the background of tall flowers. To choose fast-growing groundcover perennials for your dacha or garden, it is worth studying the list of plants given below with photos and a brief description.
Creeping thyme (thyme)
Thyme is a perennial lodging subshrub with peduncles-semi-shoots 15-20 cm high. Its creeping stems take root at the base with age, become woody, forming a thick green carpet. The plant has hard oblong-oval leaves, forms pinkish-violet small flowers at the ends of the branches, collected in inflorescences, and after flowering - spherical fruits of black-brown color.
Creeping thyme (or thyme) is an unpretentious perennial that grows well even in poor soils. It is quite frost-resistant and easily tolerates drought and heat. It is better to plant it in a lighted place, protected from winds and drafts.
Omphalodes (umbilical cord)
These are low-growing perennial groundcover with lanceolate leaves collected in rosettes. Flowers of a bright blue hue form inflorescences. The thickets on the site grow due to the numerous tendrils produced by the plant after flowering.
There are 2 types of omphalodes:
- Cappadocian;
- spring.
The navelworm prefers to grow in partial shade from shrubs and trees, on loose, well-moistened soil. In the photo below you can see how it blooms in the garden in summer.
Sedum
This groundcover perennial belongs to a large group of low-growing plants that have the ability to grow very quickly. There are many types of sedum, the most popular names are:
- hare cabbage;
- prominent;
- Carpathian;
- Kamchatka;
- hybrid;
- hexagonal;
- false;
- caustic;
- Lydian.
Sedum flowers are small, collected in corymbose inflorescences, and can be pink, yellow, white or red. Sedum blooms from June to September. It is advisable to plant the plant in a sunny area with dry soil. The photo below shows 2 varieties - sedum Aureum and sedum Kamchatsky.
Saxifrage
Saxifraga is a herbaceous rhizomatous plant that grows in natural conditions in alpine meadows. Usually reaches a height of 15-20 cm. It is distinguished by a powerful root system, creeping stems with rounded leaves collected in rosettes. Saxifraga blooms with white or pinkish-red flowers; it is undemanding to soil and watering. Requires good lighting and a small amount of crushed limestone in the soil.
Shade-loving groundcover perennials
Natural grass mats help change the appearance of any unsightly shaded area and are therefore indispensable in the modern landscape. Such thick carpets are used to create alpine slides, rockeries, and for decorating garden paths. Even in the shade, cover ornamental plants look beautiful and impressive, attracting the eye with their unusual foliage or small flowers.
Creeping tenacious
This creeping rhizomatous perennial features dark green leaves, blue candle-shaped inflorescences and easily rooted shoots. It quickly covers any areas of the soil, forming a dense carpet. The plant looks most beautiful in the shade or partial shade under trees. Red tenacious is valued by gardeners for its purple leaves, variegated for its creamy-yellow splashes on the foliage.
When grown in the sun, the leaves lose their decorative properties and the flowers become pale. It is better to plant tenacious on loamy soil, propagating by seeds or rosettes. There is no need to water and loosen the seedlings often.
Yasnotka
This perennial has long, recumbent stems that form a continuous carpet in the meadow. The leaves are heart-shaped, covered with a marble pattern. Flowers are collected in leaf axils. Lamia grows well in partial shade and loves cool and moist soil. After the soil dries out, the plant quickly restores its decorative properties if the stems are watered abundantly. Requires pruning after flowering.
Kopyten
It is a shade-tolerant plant that produces dense, slow-growing mats of round, dark green leaves. Small dark red flowers are hidden under them and are not decorative. The following types of hooves are known:
- European;
- caudate;
- Canadian.
The bushes need to be replanted every 3-4 years, as they die in one place. Hooves are cold-resistant, love slightly acidic or acidic soils, shade and infrequent watering.
Zelenchuk
Yellow Zelenchuk looks like a low bush with jagged leaves along the edges. It blooms at the end of May, forming yellow flowers collected in whorls of 6 pieces. In summer it produces creeping shoots that grow 1-1.5 m in length. Varieties with silver spots on the leaves or along the edges are popular. Zelenchuk prefers shady and semi-shady places, loves fertile soil and moderate watering. Propagated by shoots.
Plants creeping on the ground
When choosing creeping flowers for your garden, you should pay attention to creeping perennials with decorative leaves or beautiful flowers. Forming dense mats along paths, gazebos or in corners of the garden, such ground covers can fill voids in the area and divert attention from uneven terrain. Creeping plants can also be planted along the fence and added to garden compositions with stones and conifers.
Iberis evergreen
Iberia or Iberis is a herbaceous perennial that forms dense semi-bushes up to 30 cm high, up to 1 m in diameter. The leaves are evergreen, white flowers reach a size of 1.5 cm. Up to 1000 flowers can bloom on one plant, turning Iberis into a white cloud in the middle of a rockery or flower garden Flowering lasts from April to the end of May. Semi-shrubs prefer to grow on loose, dry soil and do not like even light shading.
Budra
Budra ivy is a perennial with creeping shoots covered with rounded leaves. Small lilac flowers are collected in whorls in the axils. In summer it produces numerous creeping shoots. The cover that is formed is short-lived, but budra grows well in the sand, in containers or near the foundation of a house. Propagates by self-sowing.
Gerbil (arenaria)
Forms low-growing mats of creeping shoots covered with greenish-glossy leaves and white star-shaped flowers collected in inflorescences. It grows quickly, resembling moss in appearance. Common varieties of gerbil include:
- mountain;
- turfy;
- purple.
It grows in sunny, well-dried areas, loves regular moisture, and is propagated by dividing the bush in late spring or early summer.
Periwinkle
The subshrub forms a low, dense cover of creeping shoots up to 20 cm high. It blooms profusely, for a long time, with pink, blue or white flowers. The leaves are oval, dark green, shiny, and can be variegated. The pubescent or herbaceous periwinkle grows most quickly, but these varieties do not overwinter in our latitudes. The plant prefers semi-shaded dry areas, fertile loose soil, and good drainage.
Beautiful low-growing flowers for the garden
Perennial ground cover flowers for the garden or cottage are chosen by those who want to give the site originality and brightness. These plants can be planted along paths, borders, in the foreground of flower beds and at the edge of the lawn. Long-flowering ground covers are also irreplaceable in compositions in the middle of a rock garden, an alpine hill, or on a rocky slope.
Purslane
This is a perennial plant that reproduces well by self-sowing. Having planted it on the site, every year you will be able to admire a multi-colored mat that blooms beautifully throughout the summer. The ground cover “for the lazy” does not require frequent watering, grows on any type of soil, loves sunny places, and is drought-resistant. Looks great in low flower beds, along the edges of garden paths, near a gazebo or porch of a house.
Phlox subulate
A beautifully flowering ground cover with needle-shaped leaves blooms from early spring, covering the ground in summer with a carpet of blue, pink or white flowers. Both one variety for uniformity and a mixture of subulate-shaped phlox are planted in one place, creating original compositions near stones, in lowlands, on slopes. The plant grows quickly and is propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Gardeners also plant another species in mixborders and ridges - splayed phlox. Its flowering is more rare, but the flowers are larger. The flower grows best in illuminated areas with any soil; it prefers moderate watering.
Carnation
Two types of carnations are usually planted in gardens - garden and grass, but sometimes Turkish, Chinese, and the Shabo variety are grown. This is a fragrant, beautiful flower with many shades. The plant is considered unpretentious, requiring only regular watering and weeding. The perennial garden carnation serves as an excellent decoration for the garden; in landscape design it is used to decorate flower beds, rockeries, and alpine slides.
The grass carnation feels good among pebbles, crushed stone, sand, and in illuminated places. It can be planted as a single ground cover or combined with other plants. Does not bloom in the shade.
Aubrietta
The long-flowering aubrietta likes to grow on dry soil, prefers sunny areas of the garden, with plenty of watering in hot weather. It rarely blooms in the shade and requires shelter for the winter. It is most often planted near artificial reservoirs, “dry” streams, in tall flowerpots and rock gardens, on fertile, well-dug soil. Chalk, lime, and a little sand are added to the soil. If you trim the stems after flowering has finished, you can get shoots to re-emerge with new bright purple flowers.
Primrose (primrose)
About 500 species of this beautifully flowering primrose with rosettes of evergreen leaves and umbrella-shaped spherical inflorescences are known. The most popular among gardeners are the common, spring, rejected, fine-toothed and tall primrose. The ground cover is quite unpretentious in care and cultivation, has many colors, from white to yellow-cream, red and pinkish-burgundy.
Often in gardens there is a multi-flowered hybrid with fragrant large flowers in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The plant feels good in the sun and partial shade and grows on any type of soil. Does not tolerate soil drying out and needs to be replanted every 4 years.
You can plant in your garden or dacha not only the above-mentioned ground cover perennials, but also other plants, including spicy and coniferous plants:
- peppermint;
- lemon balm;
- low-growing or creeping juniper;
- rezuhu;
- moneywort;
- young;
- edelweiss;
- bergenia;
- tar;
- lumbago;
- daisies.
The choice of perennial low-growing plants depends on the soil on the site, the lighting of the place, the preferences of the gardener and the terrain. You can easily combine green or flowering mats on slopes, in ravines and on flat lawns, and supplement them with tall flowers, annuals, and shrubs.
