Agave spikes and potted succulents get me through summer
I feel we’re in the home stretch now, but even at its worst summer can’t wear these plants down. In sun, Queen Victoria agave (A. victoriae-reginae), with its pleated, white-edged leaves, just laughs at the Death Star.
Agave stricta, which really needs a bigger pot, and Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’ look sharp all summer too. Moby, my big ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia), hulks over them all.
In dappled shade, smaller succulents reside in pots that add bright color even when blooms are scarce. Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spiciger), the shrub below the Circle Pot, is already revving up for fall with a sprinkling of orange, tubular flowers.
Wide steps are handy for displaying pots, and I enjoy this view through the French door in the living room. All the plants can go a week without watering in summer, even lush-looking purple oxalis (Oxalis triangularis). It gets droopy if I let it go that long, but it perks right back up when given a drink. Thank goodness for dappled shade under the live oaks, which keeps these plants — and me — happy.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Lovely photos! (as always) and another pretty post. Now I have a pretty Macho Mocha mangave in my garden thanks to YOU!
The red circle pot is really fun and adds such color to your garden.
I hope the Macho does well for you, Lucinda. It is a beautiful plant when it fills out and gets those purple spots. —Pam
Me too… I love the juxtaposition of the red pot and the orange honeysuckle blooms. In combination they really draw the eye. I put a few succulents in pots this year but got a little careless with placement and they are actually getting too much sun. Not to mention the squirrel and bird damage. I need to get those pots moved back in closer to the house but now the plants are on the straggly side and not so lovely to look at so I leave them out – and they get straggly-er – rinse, lather, repeat. Honestly I think some days I shouldn’t be trusted with plants…
Birds sometimes do a number on my juicy-leaved succulents too, Deb. And sun will fry them in a heartbeat, as I’ve also learned the hard way. (I have so much sun on my back deck that even agaves can get fried up there. Ugh.) Soon we’ll have cooler weather and even these tough plants will breath sighs of relief — not to mention us gardeners. —Pam
I’d be happy in your garden, too. Everything looks great.
Thanks, Diana. I’m slowly getting things back into shape after a neglectful summer. One area behind the pool is absolutely dreadful, and of course it’s the first thing I see when I walk outside, but I have plans for it too — eventually. —Pam
Lovely plants all! I adore the Mexican honeysuckle. I discovered it just a few years ago (as it would not have fared well in my old yard) I just love how it blooms with those bright orange blooms from spring to fall here. I divided some sections from the edge of mine back when it was really hot and they transplanted well in spite of my bad timing.
Mexican honeysuckle does divide and transplant well. I have 5 divisions in my front garden slowly filling in, and I look forward to great fall show one day, hopefully by next year. —Pam
Nice potted plants. It is good to have some potted plant to make you look out into the heat once in a while.
So true, Lisa. —Pam
The bright pots are a great antidote for the summer doldrums. I was surprised to hear that the oxalis can survive water starvation.
Well, not water starvation. But in shade, in a deep pot, it can go a week without croaking, unlike many thirsty annuals. It looks best with watering twice a week in summer. —Pam
I know exactly how you feel. Yet another 95°F day here. I’m so tired of the heat, but my succulents, potted or in the ground, don’t seem to be fazed. I chuckle to myself when I see people watering their plants everyday. I only need to do it once a week, just like you.
People who use thirsty plants in pots must LOVE the heat way more than I do. That’s all I can think. —Pam
My Justicia spicigera has started to bloom also. I’m really looking forward to its fall bloom. After the rough winter we had up here it came back but skipped its spring bloom, so I’m looking forward to fall. Otherwise, I totally agree with the others – your potted succulents look great.
Mine missed spring bloom too, Peter. In fact, some of them got hit so hard they didn’t bounce back until summer. —Pam
It’s an idea I had to transition to with your help. I used to pass right by the “desert” plants at the nursery and now I don’t skip them or the native plants. Credit goes to posts like this one on Digging. Without them I would not have much of a garden left this summer.
Thanks, Shirley. And now you’re inspiring spike-dubious gardeners too! —Pam
Pot / vessel colors, spiky plants, all great dormancy diversions. Take that, Death Star! I best not tell you what our last 5 weeks of weather have been, though we pay in June (and this year July, too)…
I can’t believe El Paso’s not hotter than Austin. But I guess it’s desert so at least there’s no humidity and it cools off at night. —Pam
It’s starting to get cooler here. I need to think about taking my potted succulents in for the winter before I’m surprised by a 40 degree night.
Ah, cooler sounds so nice, LR. We have another month of heat before the cooler temps of October arrive. —Pam