In the weeks ahead, I plan to focus on some plants that I've found will thrive in Florida's unusual conditions but aren't commonly used here.
Let's begin with succulents, plants that store water in their leaves, stem or roots and thus are ideal for Florida gardens. This week, I'll give a brief description of succulents and their attributes. In my next article, I'll discuss three specific types--Echeverias (commonly known as hens and chickens), Sempervivums (commonly known as house leeks) and a relative of Sempervivums, the Aeoniums.
First, let's explore a little further why succulents are good choices for Florida gardens. For starters, they don't need much water. Their special coatings -- such as the waxy leaf in Echeveria elegans or the felted leaf in Kalanchoe tomentosa -- help reduce excessive water loss through transpiration. Unlike many other types of plants, succulents will grow in poor, dry sand and are thus excellent choices for beach areas. These drought-tolerant, easily propagated plants like hot, dry conditions, and some varieties will accept shade. They're good for paving areas and are great in containers and troughs.
Succulents are particularly suited for snowbirds, who won't have to worry about them over the summer; apartment or condo dwellers, who won't need a lot of space to grow them; children, who won't need much experience to keep them thriving; and for elderly or disabled gardeners, who won't have to devote much attention to their care.
Unlike annuals, which have to be replaced twice a year in Florida, succulents provide year-round interest when used as ground covers. They come in a tremendous variety of shapes, sizes and textures. Their range of color makes succulents especially appealing. Leaf colors include ice blue, blue grey, pink mother of pearl, and deep maroon. Some have glaucous leaves that create unusual tints. Others have green leaves tipped with red or pink. Combined, these succulents can make even a hot, dry area look lush.
The smallest succulents are the living stones, Lithops ssp. They grow to about one inch tall, barely peeking out of the sand. Certain species of aloe and yucca can grow to be 20 feet tall. Some succulents grow as ground covers, while others, such as some Euphorbias and Aeoniums, form clumps.
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