Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Succulents

Cacti

• Jack Kelly of the Arizona Cooperative Extension says there are more than 2,000 species of cacti. Their sizes range from a few inches high to the tall saguaro. These drought-tolerant plants have adapted to many environmental temperatures. Many cacti produce edible fruits. The prickly pear cactus, common in the United States, produces a cactus pear that is sweet and high in vitamin C. Place cacti as accents in your landscape away from doorways or paths, where the thorns cannot injure those walking past. When transplanting a cactus you must face the plant the same as it was originally growing. The southwest side of the plant becomes resistant to sunburn. If you expose the other side to the sun, it may burn or scar. You can also start a new plant from cuttings. Leave a small piece of the plant in the air to dry for a few days. Then insert it into the ground and water once. This works best in the spring or early summer. Because it sends out shallow roots, do not disturb the soil around the plant.

Aloes

• Aloes and agaves form offshoot plants around their perimeters. You can transplant these in well-drained soil. Most commercial varieties of aloe have spiny leaves full of gel. The soap or zebra aloe, Aloe saponaria, has white spots on the leaves and produces pink-orange blooms. It tolerates mild winters but not severe cold. You may grow the well-known medicinal aloe, Aloe vera, as a houseplant. The gel from this plant, often included in cosmetics and lotions, has a healing effect on the skin. When planted in your landscape, it spreads as a ground cover. Most aloes prefer full sun but tolerate some shade. Too much water will kill them.

Agaves

• Often called century plants, most agaves flower only once in their lifetime. They have impressive stiff leaves, with sharp spines and tips, and a single stem. Use these as accents in your landscape, well away from walkways. You can transplant the plantlets from the flowering stalks to replace the parent plant. You can also plant the seeds. Although most agaves have sharp spines, a few have soft leaves. The Agave Americana thrives in climates across the southern half of the country.

Yuccas

• Native to the dry Southwest, yuccas also grow in the eastern part of the country. Native Americans twisted leaf fibers to create sandals, baskets, clothing, belts and ladders. They added the roots to water to form a suds used as soap. The plants send up a flower stalk 15 feet tall, topped with creamy white clusters of flowers. They may flower every year. The leaves, tipped with sharp points, grow up to 3 feet long. They need sandy soil and good drainage. Although many yuccas have sharp spines, a few hybrids have soft foliage and varied colors. Transplant yuccas in early spring as accents in your landscape.