Succulent trough planter

January 09, 2009


I spied this luscious stock-tank planter filled with succulents at Thunderbird Coffee on Koenig today. The plump, green succulents in varying textures include Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ on each end, a blushing kalanchoe under a pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli ) in the middle, and an unknown in the very middle that knocks my socks off. (Does anyone have an ID?)
Anchoring the left side is the wiry, grass-like Nolina texana, and there’s a blue fescue on the far right. The silver of the cattle trough sets off everything handsomely. I love it.
Incidentally, it was 80 degrees (26.7 C) today. A cold front is expected overnight that’ll drop us down to more seasonal temperatures in the 50s tomorrow.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Succulent trough planter”

  1. Lythrum says:

    I really like that succulent trough. I have been starting to grow some succulents but I have to bring them inside in the winter. Maybe a smaller version of something like that would work. Thanks for the idea!
    Succulents work great in smaller containers too, so that would be a good solution for those in colder climates. I have a little chip-and-dip set that I turned into an agave-and-succulent planter. Any sort of container will work, so long as you drill holes in bottom for drainage. —Pam

  2. Gail says:

    Pam, It has your name written on it! It’s absolutely perfect for you and fantastic plant combos, too! gail
    Hi, Gail. If only I’d thought of it first! 😉 I may have to copy it though. —Pam

  3. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    This is a beauty. I can see the wheels turning now. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. It is funny you posted about a stock tank today. Just yesterday I thought about you when I was in Rural King and I saw a big heavy duty composite feed container with a bale of hay in it. I wonder if they hold up like the galvanized do? It was a dark brown color. I was getting ideas myself.
    Hi, Lisa. I’ve never seen the brown containers that you mention. If it’s a feed container, surely it’s built tough. I think I’d miss the silver of the galvanized trough though. I hope you can find one! —Pam

  4. Racquel says:

    A perfect container to compliment these succulents!
    I think so too. Thanks for stopping by, Racquel. —Pam

  5. Diana Kirby says:

    When I first looked at the photo – I thought it was your latest acquisition and was wondering which deck was its new home! You should have one — I have a feeling it’s on your list!
    You’re right, Diana. I should have one. I’ll be scheming. —Pam

  6. Robin says:

    Pam, I’ve seen that trough. I loved it also, and its nice to see that it is growing. It wasn’t so lush when I saw it. I’m not sure which one you are referring to for an ID. If you happen to walk by and a leaf of it fell on the ground, you could start your own…
    A serendipitous leaf-gathering, eh? Well, you know what they say—if everyone found leaves on the ground… 🙂
    I think I shall just have to be patient until I can start my own succulent trough and then do some fun shopping. —Pam

  7. Karen says:

    Nice foliage shape contrasts and subtle hue differences. Love the planter too. In the 80s? Jealous! I think the high might have been 40 here in Seattle today.
    It’s in the 50s and blustery here today. Winter in Austin is all about up-and-down temperatures, but that way everyone gets a little taste of the weather they prefer. 😉 —Pam

  8. chuck b. says:

    They sell that middle succulent at my local nursery. I have a little bit of it, but don’t remember the name. (I have a hard time with succulent names for some reason.) I’ll try to get you the name tomorrow if you don’t have it by then.
    Chuck, I have an ID of Pachyphytum from Kat, who commented below. But if you know the particular variety, I’d still love to get it. —Pam

  9. Les says:

    I considerate it fortunate when a coffee shop provides outdoor seating and keeps the trash picked up. It would be great if enlightened business owners would provide a beauty like this planter for customers to enjoy. I would like to believe that gardeners would not be the only ones to appreciate the effort.
    I agree, Les. Thunderbird is certainly enlightened in this regard. I didn’t photograph their other stock-tank planters, but there are several more positioned around the covered patio, and they’re all eye-catching. —Pam

  10. S, another Austin gardener says:

    Hi Pam – we bought our stock-tanks last weekend at Callahan’s for our new veggie garden. We think they are going to make great raised beds. They are 4X2X1. Thanks for the great suggestions.
    Hey, congrats, S! Thanks for letting me know. I hope you get lots of veggies out of them. If you ever want to send a picture of how they worked out, I’d love to see it. —Pam

  11. Brenda Kula says:

    I don’t know what it is either, but once you find out, please post it. You sort of “introduced” me to succulents in 2008. Now I love them as much if not more than any bloom in my garden. Because of you I want a trough so badly. Just have to find out where to purchase them. I’m sure that won’t be very hard. Just have to start checking around town. You know, you really should write a book about these hardy lovelies. And the troughs. I think it would sell wonderfully. It is sort of your trademark, along with the infamous whales tongue! If you ever make it to Tyler, please look me up and we’ll talk succulents!
    Brenda
    Hi, Brenda. I would certainly give you a ring if I were heading to Tyler. But maybe you should make a road trip to Austin to get yourself a stock tank and meet the Austin garden bloggers? Hmm? —Pam

  12. kat says:

    I believe the one in the middle is Pachyphytum, and a lovely one at that.
    Thanks, Kat! I think you’re right. —Pam

  13. Jean says:

    I’ve been wanting to do a succulent bed in a tank for some time now. So this post spurred me to run to the feed store and order one (they were out of the 4 foot long ones). I was really surprised by how much they cost though! But I guess it’ll be cheaper than a pot that size, that’s for sure. 🙂 I can’t tell about that middle succulent. From what I can see it looks like a simple Hens and Chicks. But you would have known that one!
    Hi, Jean. Congrats on getting your own cattle-trough planter. I hope they didn’t charge you extra for having to order it. I consider the tanks relatively inexpensive compared to a comparable-size pot, as you point out. But you’ll still have to pay at least $100 for a regular-sized tank, and more for the big, round ones. They’ll last a long time though. I hope you’ll let me know how yours turns out. —Pam

  14. Very nice planting! And 80 degrees is just wrong…;-)
    Oh, but it felt so right. ;- —Pam

  15. Layanee says:

    I thought it was one of your new ones also! Love it and envying your temperatures. Even fifty degrees is perfect for gardening!
    It was around 50 F today, Layanee, and it’s actually much more pleasant to garden in the 50s (if it’s sunny and calm) than in the 80s. My least favorite gardening condition is windy. But we get a lot of that here in Austin. —Pam

  16. wiseacre says:

    I love the planting but I can’t get past the metal look. I guess my problem is that stock tanks are so common around here and I’m used to seeing dairy cows drinking out of them. But after looking at it I’m thinking of building something similar in size out of stone.
    How’s this for temps – it’s 20 F warmer than yesterday morning and the thermometer says it’s 10 F.
    I love the silver metal, but of course stone is always good too. I’d love to see what you come up with.
    As for your comment on your upstate NY temps, all I can say is, “Brrrrr!” —Pam

  17. Randy says:

    You know, I’ve really been amazed at how tough some of those succulents are. You would think that something that holds so much water wouldn’t handle the cold as well as they do.
    It does seem counterintuitive, Randy. That’s true of agaves too, isn’t it? Some of them are quite cold-hardy, even though many people think of them as desert plants. —Pam

  18. Karrita says:

    The trough looks really nice with those succulents! Great find! It creates a simple and strong design.
    We need one, don’t we, Karrita? 😉 —Pam

  19. Cindy, MCOK says:

    Pam, I was still pondering whether I grow that Pachyphytum when I walked out to fill the bird feeders and got my answer. It’s planted in a terracotta half-moon wall planter that hangs on my driveway fence just above the galvanized can of birdseed, and the colors do work nicely together!
    I thought of you while at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market last weekend and met a vendor selling various succulents and agaves. I brought home a variegated agave in a 4 inch pot … it’s tiny now but I have high hopes for it!
    Oh, Cindy, I wish your thinking of me there could have actually sent me to the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market. I love Santa Fe. But how nice to be thought of, and congrats on your variegated agave find. That sounds pretty. —Pam

  20. Hostabuff says:

    Each time I visit your blog I am amazed at the garden activity still underway while the Northeast is hibernating. What a difference a couple of zones make. My succulent troughs are in storage and in zone 6a the plants look like shriveled prunes. Believe it or not, they will come around. I brought a few less hardy varieties indoors. The large paddle plant thinks it’s too cold indoors too. Hopefully it will make it through to spring…
    I hope it does, Hostabuff. I guess a big trough is out of the question when you have to bring it inside in the winter. Yes, this is when I do the majority of my planting and hardscaping way down here in central Texas. The balmy winter weather is perfect for both. I’ll be reading northern garden blogs when July rolls around and it’s too hot to consider gardening. —Pam

  21. eva norvell says:

    Pam,
    I plan to spend a day or so in Austin this spring while visiting my son who lives in Temple. I know there are some great nurseries and garden centers there, and I’d love to spend some time in them. Could you send me a list of your favorites?
    I really enjoy your blog!
    Eva
    Hi, Eva. My favorite nurseries are described in my sidebar under “Digging Deeper.” I’d also strongly recommend setting aside a couple of hours to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in SW Austin. Have a great time! —Pam

  22. Pam, it’s so pretty and then I read the dreaded words “PENCIL PLANT!” Why oh why nurseries continue to cavalierly sell this plant without foot high warnings of how dangerous it is (and there it is again in your photo in a public place at ground level!). I think it’s appalling. How I know this is that a friend of mine in AZ decided his needed “pruning.” Poor man. Shortly after working w/ his pencil plant, even though he had thoroughly washed his hands with soap and water, he touched his hand to his eye–and promptly a) was in excruciating pain and b) went temporarily blind! No kidding. This plant should never be used anywhere where children have access. One spill and they might be in the hospital. Am I the only one who thinks this should be common knowledge??
    I remember your warning about this plant when I got my “Sticks on Fire” pencil plant. It does sound like a warning tag would be appropriate. Of course, there are lots of plants that are toxic, and many people won’t plant spiky plants like agaves because of the danger, especially to children. I agree that it’s good to know the risks, and then make your decision according to your risk tolerance. I still have my pencil tree, but I do remind my children not to touch it. —Pam

  23. Jenny says:

    I think gardeners might start calling you “trough lady” Seriously I love the trough plantings and we are seriously thinking of doing something “troughy” in our side entry. I’m glad to get the warning about the pencil plant though. I’d freak out if I went blind for several days.
    Trough lady works for me. 😉 I can see a stock-tank planter looking really great in your garden, Jenny. Man, Callahan’s should give me a commission for each tank they sell! —Pam

  24. LOVE the stock tank. I think I may have to borrow that idea. Now that I’m visiting the feed store regularly I’ve been coveting three or four of the stock tanks I see sitting outside. This would be the perfect use for one out by the chicken coop–and perhaps high enough that the chickens wouldn’t decide to forage in them.
    Robin Wedewer
    National Gardening Examiner
    Hi, Robin. It’s good to hear from you again. I can easily picture a stock-tank planter near your chicken coop. It would just complete that bucolic farm thing you’ve got going on. Don’t forget to plant hens-and-chicks in it. 😉 —Pam

  25. Lynn says:

    delish! I think i’m gonna try a hypertufa for some sedums once things warm up. Look for that around April, maybe. Enjoy that sunshine.
    I shall, Lynn. A hypertufa trough sounds perfect for sedums too. Have fun with it! —Pam