GROWING WITH LESS WATER Succulents in San Diego Botanic Garden 1 What is in a name? Water Thrifty Water Wise Low Water Drought Resistant Xeriscape not Zeroscape 2 7 Principles of Xeriscaping Reduce water Improve Soil Limit Turf Use Appropriate Plants Mulch Irrigate Maintenance 3 1
LAVA ROCK MULCH My Garden right after planting 4 My Garden 7 Years later 5 7 Principles of Xeriscaping Reduce water Improve Soil Limit Turf Use Appropriate Plants Mulch Irrigate Maintenance 6 2
Benefits Water Conservation Reduce Water Bills Decrease Garden Maintenance Increase Habitat for Wildlife Increase Visual Appeal 7 Physical Removal Herbicide Round Up Solarization Sheet Composting Lasagna Gardening Turf Destruction http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/lawn_replacement/ Grass_Removal_Methods/ 8 Background Culture Adaptation Use SUCCULENTS 9 3
KINGDOM ---PLANTAE DIVISION --- ANGIOSPERMS CLASS --- EUDICOTS ORDER --- MALPIGHIALES FAMILY -- 30 SUCCULENT families GENUS --- 185+ SPECIES ---1222+ SUBSPECIES ---460 VARIETIES--- 1000 s CULTIVERS?????? 10 WHERE THEY COME FROM Old World Succulents So. Africa, Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Canary Islands, etc. Euphorbias, Aloes, Crassulas New World Succulents Mexico, North and South America Agaves, Crassulas, cactus 11 Definition: A plant with the ability to store water Water loss minimized by absent, reduced or cylindrical to spherical leaves Fewer stomata...the breathing organs on the underside of the leaves that open only at night WHAT IS A SUCCULENT? 12 4
Waxy, hairy or spiny surface to reduce air movement Ribs to give more surface space Gray, dull color to reflect the sun Shaped to direct water to roots, and surface roots to grab water Thick skin Family determined by flower WHAT IS A SUCCULENT? 13 STEM SUCCULENTS Stem is enlarged to contain the waterstoring tissues Stem is predominant feature May have non-succulent leaves, deciduous leaves or no leaves May also have tuberous root - caudex Stems and leaves contain chlorophyll 14 LEAF SUCCULENTS Typically small or no stems and enlarged leaves which store water Many shaped like rosettes or single pairs of leaves with no stem No spines but may have sharp terminal point 15 5
Family: Agavaceae Rosette shaped 6 to 15 across Leaves are generally fibrous, stiff Some have beautiful leaf imprints Marginal teeth Most are monocarpic, dying after sending out a tall flower spike Flower spike may have thousands of tiny flowers AGAVE CENTURY PLANT FAMILY 16 AGAVE PLANTS 17 Family: Asphodelaceae Range in size from 1 to 30 700+ species Rosette shape common but leaves grow from the center rather than unfurl Leaves are soft, non fibrous Annual orange or yellow flowers not monocarpic Flower spike with tubular blooms, long lasting and showy Rolls Royce of healing plants ALOE 18 6
ALOES 19 Family: Euphorbiaceae Diverse plant appearance but flowers alike Some insignificant flowers and showy bracts All plant parts contain milky latex which may be simply allergenic or may be a virulent poison African euphorbias resemble American cactus EUPHORBIA Spurge Family 20 EUPHORBIA PLANTS 7
EUPHORBIA Spurge family flowers 22 CACTUS VERSUS SUCCULENT Succulents are not a family, genus or species but just a common name for plants with juicy stems, roots and/or leaves Cacti can be distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of small cushion-like structures (areoles) from which, in almost all species, spines arise, as do flowers, branches, and leaves (when present). Merriam Webster Dictionary 23 Family: Cactaceae 100+ genera and 1500+ species Characterized by areoles, small spot like cushions or budding organs 3, 5, 10, or tens of cactus spines arise from each areole Usually no leaves Beautiful flowers Spines provide protection from predators CACTUS 24 8
CACTUS 25 Family: Crassulaceae 33-37 Genera, 5400+ species (differing data) Fleshy leaves typically arranged in rosettes or in symmetrical opposite pairs Nectar flowers Varied range of leaf shapes, sizes and textures CRASSULA Stonecrop family 26 CRASSULA PLANTS -- CRASSULA Aeoniums 27 9
CRASSULA PLANTS - ECHEVERIAS 28 CRASSULA PLANTS - OTHERS 29 CONVERGENT EVOLUTION Different plants have similar form or behavior despite being from different areas No explanation for the similarity that doesn t come from a common ancestor Adapt to the similar environment 30 10
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION Ocotillo From Baja and S.W. USA Alluaudia from Madagasgar 31 What should I plant in my garden? Why do my succulents look horrible? I want a no-maintenance garden. What should I plant? What should I plant in my XXX space? How much water should I put on my XXX ASK A MASTER GARDENER 32 Sun/shade/wind/north or south, east or west Scale sizes to the property Remember that some grow BIG, others stay small Tallest plants in the rear Shortest plants in the front Use boulders, rocks and gravel to enhance the theme Don t replace a flat lawn with flat plants. Use mounds, hills or art to provide visual level changes Succulents are super easy to propagate ASK A MASTER GARDENER 33 11
CHOOSING YOUR SUCCULENTS Know the plant that you purchase Know where the container will be located Small containers need small plants Find a resource that works for you The web is full of lists The library has lots of books AGAVE AMERICANA MARGINATA SUCCULENT DESIGN 36 12
BEFORE AFTER Photos courtesy of Laura Eubanks SUCCULENT Design 37 BEFORE Photos courtesy of Laura Eubanks AFTER SUCCULENT Design 38 SUCCULENT COLOR 39 13
SUCCULENT COLOR 40 SUCCULENT COLOR 41 SUCCULENT COLOR 42 14
THANK YOU Time to tour San Diego Botanic Garden 43 15