The Amazing World of

Succulents
Master Gardener Conference
Tuesday, 10-11 am, (C-4)

Keri Leymaster
Residential Horticulture
UF/IFAS Orange County Extension
 Definitions
• Cactus: Any plant of the Cactaceae family
that have succulent stems and branches
with scales or spines instead of leaves and
are found especially in dry areas (as
deserts).

• Succulent: A plant having fleshy tissues to

conserve moisture.
-- From Merriam-Webster
 Cultural Requirements
• Soil and Drainage: Good drainage is a must.
In fast draining soils, no amendments may be
needed. Containers need to have extra care
taken for drainage.
• Light: Full sun to part shade.
• Water: Succulents do need water. Care must
be taken to ensure that plants are watered
properly and as needed.
• Location
 Succulents in the Landscape
• Cultural requirements
• SeaGarden at SeaWorld
• Design examples
Grafted cactus
Senecio ‘Blue Chalk Sticks’
Disocactus ‘Red Mistletoe Cactus’
Sedum ‘Gold Glow’
 Cereus monstrosus

Agave victoria-reginae Euphorbia lactea cristata

Cryptanthus
Planting Design
June 2010 July
January 2011 January
Around Central Florida…
 Container Ideas
• Keys for success
– Controlled irrigation
– Good drainage
• Turface MVP
• pot shards
• ammendments
Single Specimen Containers

Repetition
Single Specimen Containers
 Single Specimen Containers

Single plant collections

Mixed Plantings
Unique Containers
 New Ideas
• Hanging baskets
• Vertical gardens
• Wall hangings
• Interiors
Table top Gardens
Topiary
Orange County Exploration Gardens
 Form
• Rosettes
• Upright
• Agave-type
• Paddle-shaped
• Trailing & Groundcovers
• Companion Plants
 Form
Rosettes
• Echeverias
• Semperviviums
• Sedums
• Aloes
Rosettes

Echeveria ‘Pearl von Neuremburg’ Echeveria ‘Lola’

Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ Echeveria ‘Lipstick’

Rosettes

Echinocactus grusonii, Golden Barrel cactus ‘Painted Echeveria’

Agave victoria-reginae
Sedum ‘Gold Glow’
Rosettes

Semperviviums, Hens & Chicks

Rosettes

Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ Green Aeonium

Aeonium ‘Kiwi’ Aloe ‘Pink Blush’

 Form
Upright
• Senecio
• Cereus
• Kalanchoe
• Sansevieria

Senecio ‘Blue Chalk Sticks’

Upright

Cereus 'Monsterosus' Euphorbia lactea ‘White Ghost’

Senecio mandraliscae- Blue Senecio Euphorbia lactea cristata

Upright

Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Coral’ Sansevieria trifasciata 'Moonshine'

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Black Gold' Sansevieria ‘Zulu’

Upright

Sansevieria cylindrica

Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Firesticks’

 Form
Agave-type
• Agave
• Yucca
• Furcrea
• Aloe
• Dyckia

Agave ‘Gainesville Blue’

Agave-type

Agave ‘Blue Glow’ Agave geminiflora

Agave lophantha- ‘Green Striped Agave’

Agave lurida
Agave-type

Agave ‘Reggae Time’ Aloe ‘Hercules’

Aloe maculata- Soap Aloe Dyckia ‘Cherry Coke’

Agave-type

Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta’ Aloe squarrosa

Aloe striatula 'Octopus Aloe' Agave americana ‘Marginata’

 Form
Paddle-shaped
• Opuntia
• Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe thrysifolia-
Flapjacks Plant
Paddle-type- Opuntia
Paddle-type

Kalanchoe Portulaca molikensis- Hawaiian Portulaca

Kalanchoe thrysifolia ‘Fantastic’ Kalanchoe beharensis- Elephant Ear

 Form
Trailing and Groundcovers
• Portulaca
• Doreanthus
• Sedum
• String of Pearls

Doreanthus ‘Mezoo’
Groundcovers & Trailing

Portulaca ‘Toucan Fuschia’ String of Pearls

Pepperomia ‘Ginny’ Sedum ‘Sea Urchin’

Climbing- Cereus vine
 Companion Plants
• Foxtail fern
• Bulbine
• ZZ Plant
• Coontie
• Bromeliads
Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii'- Foxtail fern
Companion Plants

Euphorbia millii- Crown of Thorns Bromeliads

Zamia pumilla- Coontie Bulbine

Companion Plants

Pedilanthus-
Devil’s Backbone

Zamioculas zamifolias- ZZ Plant

Pedilanthus 'Silver Star’

 Maintenance

• Pests- Mealy bug, Cactoblastus caterpillar

• Propagation
Propagation
Propagation
Propagation- division
 Maintenance

• Pests- Mealy bug, Cactoblastus caterpillar

• Propagation
• Weeding
• Pruning- Deadheading, leggy growth
 Questions?
Keri Leymaster
Residential Horticulture
UF/IFAS Orange County Extension

Phone 407.254.9206
Email kleymaster@ufl.edu
http://orange.ifas.ufl.edu