Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Have you been searching for easy and perfect drought-tolerant succulents for your garden but don’t know where to start? Welcome to my blog.
In this short guide, I will highlight the best drought-tolerant succulents for your garden so you can choose which type you want to grow and start your drought-tolerant succulents garden.
Although most succulents will thrive in Southern California, some are nearly effortless. The easy drought-tolerant succulents on this list can handle poor soil, is very easy to grow and transplant, and will all add color and architectural interest into any outdoor living space.
Best 10 Drought-Tolerant Succulents Plants
1. Agave Attenuata
A staple in lots of Southern California gardens, agave attenuata is as easy-care as they get. Big agave attenuata plants are costly, however, if you have a next-door neighbor that wants to let you hack off a rosette, all you have to do is stick it in the ground.
Since one rosette can clump into 6 inches large plants within a couple of years, plan for plenty of areas. The great news is that you can keep cutting and transplanting them to other locations of the backyard. We do not have space for anymore so just recently left rosettes on the yard with a sign for passers-by to just pick them for totally free. Believe me, they were gone within minutes.
Agave attenuata endures clay soil and life as a container plant, though you will need to provide containers with periodic water here to prevent drying. Agave attenuatas do not like temperature levels that are lower than 30°F (like the majority of succulents on this list), love sun, however is a shade-tolerant succulent.
2. Aeonium arboreum (schwarzkopf or atropurpureum)
While any aeonium arboreum appears to do well in San Diego, the dark-colored ranges called aeonium schwarzkopf and aeonium atropurpureum as drought-tolerant succulents stand out in locations where you need a color contrast. Match them with blue senecio (details below) or bushy or low-growing greens. Round rosettes with dark purple, spoon-shaped leaves branch off from cork-like stems.
These are likewise simple to transplant (however long stems are difficult to keep straight till the roots are developed). Aeonium arboreums (there is a variegated range and a green range, too) grow about 2 to 3 feet broad and high and do require periodic watering to keep the rosettes huge.
They can perfectly handle full sun and partial shade and choose deep, irregular watering. Deer will not touch them. It is simple to find little sizes at regional nurseries, even as little as 4″ pots.
The variegated aeonium sunburst is expected to manage complete seaside sun, however does best in our lawn in filtered light.
3. Aloe aborescens
This type of aloe as drought-tolerant succulents frequently does not require additional water by the coast and is therefore considered a fire-resistant plant, credited with conserving houses from current SoCal wildfires with its moisture-filled leaves. It’s a thick shrub that matures to 9 inches high with spiked leaves in rosettes that can mature to 18 inches large.
Leaf color depends upon the quantity of sunshine got, however, the flame-colored flowers bloom on 2′ spikes throughout the fall and early winter season.
As a member of the aloe genus, it is the kind of plant that is considered to have healing qualities. However, do your research study prior to growing it for this usage.
4. Crassula ovata
Also referred to as a jade plant or friendship plant, crassula ovata has oval-shaped, shiny and little leaves resting on thick branches. This succulent flourishes on little water and does not handle overwatering well.
We have the variegated range which appears to do well in perpetually moist clay soil and full sunshine.
Crassula ovata is exceptionally simple to propagate. It spreads out by just dropping leaves onto the ground. Some individuals have actually mastered the art of pruning jade plants into bonsai. They’re typically seen growing around San Diego by themselves, needing little to no upkeep, however, if you want to grow them in pots, they can get top-heavy and tip over without pruning.
5. Aeonium haworthii
We grow this plant in partial SoCal seaside shade with a great deal of success in its kiwi (variegated) type which has green and yellow-tinted leaves with pink outlines. The plant grows to about 2 inches high and 3 inches wide and can tolerate a vast array of watering.
Far from the coast where the environment is warmer and drier, this is an alternative for full shade. It likewise tends to do well on rocky slopes.
6. Euphorbia tirucalli
Because of its pointy branches, fire sticks or euphorbia tirucalli is frequently mistaken for a cactus. Since the milky residue can be an irritant, it’s really simple to grow, however, not recommended in high traffic places with kids and family pets. It can grow to about 8 inches high over an extended period of time and 3 inches broad. It chooses full sun and is a slow-grower.
7. Echeveria agavoides
These little echeverias are found in little sizes at Green Gardens, House Depot, and other nurseries around San Diego. They do not endure overwatering and require well-drained soil. The rosettes grow to about 12 inches wide with little red tips.
They form pups and spread out along the ground in clumps against the upright with stems. They’re in some cases called lipstick echeverias.
8. Echeveria topsy turvy
This pale blue succulent rosette grows rather rapidly outdoors on the ground, without stems. It’s likewise appropriate for containers, where brand-new pups will ultimately hang over the rims, and inside your home. These succulents enjoy filling out fractures in concrete walls and succeed in rock gardens.
They can manage full sun or partial shade.
9. Senecio mandraliscae
Typically mistaken for ice plant, Senecio mandraliscae (described as blue senecio) is a succulent that basically appears like a basket of blue french fries. It is frequently used as a ground cover. When planted, it is economical and simple to purchase in flats in locations like House Depot and needs really little care.
It can endure full sun or partial shade and regular watering (though it’s drought-tolerant). Ours endures on overspray from the next-door neighbor’s watering and not that much.
Roots form in as little as 6 weeks if you’re fortunate enough to score cuttings from a next-door neighbor’s plant. Little, white flowers appear in the spring that bees like.
10. Portalucaria afra
Portulacaria resembles a jade plant, however, it has many smaller-sized leaves on reddish stems. It can grow rather high, to about 8 inches while a dwarf variation is suitable as a ground cover up to just a couple of inches high. Since it endures irregular watering, it’s an advised plant for xeriscaping.
Since it’s native to Africa and edible, the leaves have a bitter taste (consume at your own risk), it’s frequently called elephant food. It is among the most effective plants for absorption carbon dioxide.
Conclusion On Drought-Tolerant Succulents Plants
Hope you enjoy the list of best drought-tolerant succulents plants on this list. Do you have any other drought-tolerant succulents plants you want to share with us? Let’s hear yours in the comment section below.
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