Need help selecting a succulent - Texas

14 years ago

Hi all. I live in Central Texas and hope that a succulent or succlents can be planted in a difficult bed.

Outside my south-facing front door, the walkway has two 12"-wide strips of earth on the east and west side of it that run along the walkway. Both of these "strips" have a wall next to it, so each strip gets about 3-4 hours of sunlight per day. The west strip gets late morning sun and the east strip gets mid-to-late afternoon sun. I've tried to grow a variety of things in these strips, but I haven't been successful at growing anything pretty here. Due to the challenging conditions (part sun, little water, and the heat reflecting off the bricks of the walls), I figure a succulent or succulents would grow here.

I'm in zone 8B, but given the fact that this planting area is sheltered, I think succulents that wouldn't usually survive our winters will do okay here. Any succulents that can withstand heat, grow to a max of 12", and thrive on part sun?

Thanks.

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Comments (2)

norma_2006
14 years ago
Native succulents to the New World are Echevieria, Agave, Sedum. You left out some information that is important. Soil, what kind? Most plant need some care. What is your average rain fall amount and when? These species have handled temps, down into the low 20F if they just didn't get water the night before. Most African succulents are able to as well. All need a very porous soil content. lots of rocks and gravel, pumice or perlite. Do a small section at first to test it out. There are many more species that will be able to handle the heat/cold and dry, you may need to use some nurse plants to help them along, put down black cloth to protect against weeds, and keep soil cooler. There are many tricks that can be used and many choices. In the hot summer you may need to water once a week. Norma
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
14 years ago
I live in Central Texas (8B) also and I have had good luck with Aloe Maculata. It is also tolerant of wet cold conditions that we get sometimes in Texas. This winter I covered my aloe maculata for the 12 degree cold snap. My A. arista and variegata survived nicely covered up. Those two need to be in an elevated stack of rock. A. peglerai , A. striatula, A. striata, A brevifolia are reputed for being good here. I am still raising the babies and treating them sweetly. I did do some protecting this year. It was an exceptionally cold and wet year. Aloes are chancey and take some care, but I have kept my A. maculata alive for 20 years. There are small agaves that can take the shade , sun and cold.

Agave bracteosa and Agave paryii var truncata is a great one and it will grow in the confined area. The ghost plants and Echeveria runyonii is a good one. I have had good luck with sedum palmerii (bullet proof), graptopetalum paraguense, X sedoveria in that situation. I am just west of austin (8B) and I have GOBS of sedum palmeri that you can get from me for nada iuf you come and get it or for postage. Email me if you are interested. Sedum mexicanum and lenophylum texanum is a good one. Dykias are a good one.

Look at Yuccadoo.. They are a texas mail order place. They have decent descriptions and their species have been tested for Hemphill and Giddings Texas. You don't have to buy from them because much of what they have is available in the better Austin nurseries if you are close to here, but Yuccado is a good place to start familiarizing yourself. You will want to bring in some peagravel or decomposed granite and some rocks to give some elevation for some of the species. Especially if you are in the famous clay that some Central Texas areas have. WE can rain pretty heavy here and the walkway will push its water onto the strips. This will definitely matter with the more dry loving aloes. Rocks and sharp rock mulch can make an immediate visual interest and one CAN"T kill them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Yuccado
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Need help selecting a succulent - Texas

Comments (2)

norma_2006

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

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