So we've been pot crazy this year. And we've just featured lots of overall and combination shots on a couple of our more recent posts. Now let's take a closer at some of the occupants of those pots, the succulents. And as I focus the spotlight on them, once again feel free to be distracted by the pots...
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| Dyckia 'Morris Hobbs' |
I 'almost' got into Dyckias, Puyas, and Hechtias, in a big way but before my interest really got going the viciousness of them (especially puyas) reigned on it. I almost got rid of this one but despite being neglected for a couple of years it did well. And when I was looking for a plant that would look great in this zinc planter (like a miniature stock tank) caught sight of it in the greenhouse they seemed a perfect match. It's persistence deserved to be rewarded by being repotted.
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| Fascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata |
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| Aloe hybrid mix |
A bottle caddy that had the same shade as the newly painted garden chairs. Drilled holes then presto!
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| Agave victoria reginae |
One of my favourite pots in the lot, there were only two left when I spotted them. Wish there were more...
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| Aloe 'Green Sand' |
This succulent should really be called 'Sand Paper' as it's very rough but it seemed perfect for this miniature urn.
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| Aloe brevifolia (white variegated) |
Such a finicky succulent this one, I have already lost half of of the plants I acquired last year for reasons unbeknown. Hopefully this clump will do fine long term. Otherwise don't be surprised if this white elephant pot will have a different occupant in the future.
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| Aloe 'Flurry' |
There are loads of aloe hybrids out there and a lot of them already look like each other with only the most subtle of differences. This one is a good performer though and bulked up quickly. As for the elephant pot, I adore them! There were plenty when I first spotted them but I don't know why I only got three (and only one white one!!). What was I thinking?? I want more!!
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| Aloe deltoideodonta x jucunda, A. 'Kelly Blue', A. 'Doren Black' |
These three tiny aloes used to live in the conservatory but remained static there. Now it is out it is bulking and in no time I may have to separate them.
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| Aloe 'Goby' |
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| Agave 'Shaka Zulu' |
If you think this agave looks so similar to 'Blue Glow' it's because they are the same. It's just that Dutch decided that 'Shaka Zulu' is more catchy for the European market. Oh well! Whatever the name, it's a beautiful agave!
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| Echeveria 'Ruby Blush', E. 'Black Prince', E. affinis |
One of my favourite succulent mix bowls at the moment, just love those dark and burgundy tinged leaves!
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| Echeveria purposorum and a munched Echeveria agavoides 'Taurus' |
Slugs and snails seemed to have taken a particular liking for the Taurus. Never mind! I'm hoping the damage will be outgrown eventually.
Going through the photos made me realise that if I include all the ones I intend to highlight this will be a very photo intensive post. So will do another batch in a few days. But for now I'll leave you with the fabulous Aloe 'Sparkling Burgundy'...
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| Aloe 'Sparkling Burgundy' |
Just love the rich colour of this aloe!
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
The Aloe brevifolia in the elephant is brilliant and the care you have taken to match all the others is inspired as well. Shaka zulu? Oh well, as you say it is a pretty agave.
ReplyDeleteThe colors and hardiness of Dyckias make them so tempting to collect but those spines have caused me to dial back my interest a bit too.
Shaka Zulu is such a strange name isn't Shirley? Very gimmicky. Some really nice looking dyckia said out there but one false move and it can easily lead to torn skin...
DeleteI love seeing all your succulents. I've been looking at succulents more now that I have a greenhouse to keep them in over the winter. They always stretched and looked terrible when I tried to keep them inside during winter. Echeveria 'Black Prince' is going straight to my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteA lot of succulents are surprisingly cold tolerant Evan, provided some winter sun as well as kept frost free. Black Prince is nice but have a personal preference for one of its parents, E. affinis :)
DeleteI'd love to see what makes the puyas so dangerous -- hooks on the leaf margins?
ReplyDeleteHow many pots have you added this year? (and will you have the space to winter them?) Fabulous, but the winter shuffle will be interesting...
The recurved spines on the leaf margins can be very vicious Alan, although a good pair of protective gloves sometimes is sufficient to protect.
DeleteI haven't counted the pots yet but not all of them will be kept under glass in the winter. Some of the succulents will be treated as bedding :)
I love your elephant pots too! they are my favourite. And I am happy to know the european name of Agave Blue Glow, now I can look for it with that name :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Lisa :) and that agave won't be in short supply for sure!
DeleteYou've done a masterful job at pairing succulents with pots, Mark. I've just commissioned my husband to build me a bench to wrap around our Magnolia tree (which is looking all too plain with only bark mulch under it) but half of it will function as a shelf for pot specimens. I can only hope my pots will look half as nice as yours. (Don't hold your breath as there's no telling how long it will take my husband to get around to the task.)
ReplyDeleteSeeing how well you've done your garden Kris I'm sure you'll come up with a wonderful display :)
DeleteI had fun scanning each photo and seeing what caught my eye, while of course also reading about the plant/pot that you were featuring. I have to say the container I find myself coveting (in this group of photos) is a pair you can see to the left and above the photo of Aloe 'Flurry'. They're tallish, with ribs, sort of a blue green color with Aloes planted in them. Are they vintage? I absolutely love them!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them Loree and will show more of them on the next instalment :) they're only vintage looking but pretty much new. They weren't much but sigh, they only had those two then...
DeletePhotos of your succulents in there artfully chosen pots would get Instagram very excited ;-)
ReplyDeleteAhww! We ought to join Instagram Celia :)
DeleteI love those colourful pots. They are so cheerful! And I love how you have paired the plants to the pots too. Particularly love that Sparkling Burgundy. I am going to look out for that one now. Thanks, as always, for the wonderful inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely to hear Karen, thank you! :)
DeleteOh my gosh, what an amazing collection. Your pot to plant choices are wonderful, I'll have to come back to this post when I'm looking for inspiration. I like the multiple Echeverias together, that's just stunning. Funny about Agave 'Blue Glow', I thought it looked familiar :)
ReplyDeleteGot so much inspiration from the Portland fling Tamara, so many gorgeous gardens on its itinerary ;)
DeleteGreat post, but I am fixated on 'Green Sand'. I love the hunt.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it'll be around there Ricki :)
DeleteSo much magic here! The shallow white bowl you have your A. victoria-reginae in is perfect. Too bad there were only two.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why Aloe brevifolia is so problematic for you. I have one in the ground that I completely ignore and it’s turned into a nice little clump. Go figure.
Agave 'Shaka Zulu': I can’t get over the name. Everytime I read it I want to laugh. It sounds like an African tribal dance. No offense…
Aloe 'Goby' is the most inspired cultivar name I’ve seen in a long time. I should add that aloo gobi is one of my favorite Indian dishes :-).
It was fun matching the plants to pots Gerhard, enjoyed it and now just sitting back and enjoying the display myself :) only the white variegated one is problematic, plain green is virtually maintenance free thankfully.
DeleteShaka Zulu, such a strange choice of name...
Shaka Zulu--for shame. The White Elephant pots--great!
ReplyDeleteMatching plant to pot: tough, but you have it figured out.
Thanks Gail! I did roll my eyes when I heard the name Shaka Zulu...
DeleteYou have a wonderful collection. The one that truly caught my attention because it was the perfect combination of plant and pot shapes was the Agave victoria reginae. Fit for a king!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs :) and fit for a queen too!
DeleteI'm so with you on the terrestrial broms, dyckias, etc. I've still got some hechtias and puyas in the ground but won't be adding more any time soon. The bottle caddy is a great idea. 'Sparkling Burgundy' was perfect for the finish!
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to get into them Denise but one miscalculated move can remind you to be restrained :)
DeleteOh Mark, more eye candy from the succulent/pot adventure! Your pots are all stunning and your pot/plant combinations are way cool! The one that you showed in the two pictures before the last is very unusual. Love the way the pot provides petals for the Echeveria-centered flower. Elephants, simple white bowl with Agave victoria reginae... I love them all!
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter, glad to hear that :) really enjoyed the process of doing the display and collecting those pots. There's more to come!
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