What are succulents?
Succulents are plants that possess thick, fleshy leaves or stems. The fleshy leaves or stems serve as water storage organs to ensure the plant’s survival in semi-arid to arid environments.
Succulents include cacti and plants from several other plant families. Succulents vary in size, shape, texture, growth habit and other characteristics. In Iowa, commonly grown succulents in outdoor perennial gardens include sedums (Sedum species) and hens and chicks (Sempervivum species). The jade plant (Crassula argentea), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum), and century plant (Agave americana) are a few of the many succulents grown as houseplants. Many succulents make excellent houseplants. They don’t require a great deal of care and perform well in the average home.
Some of my perennials die out after a few years. What are some good, long-lived perennials?
When selecting perennials for the home landscape, it’s important to consider their size, bloom period, hardiness and cultural requirements. Another consideration is their longevity. Some perennials are extremely long-lived. For example, it’s not uncommon to see 50- to 60-year-old peonies in the yards of older homes in Iowa. In contrast, some perennials tend to be short-lived. These short-lived perennials persist for several years and then decline and fade away.
Long-lived perennials include snakeroot (Actaea racemosa), lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis), goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), false blue indigo (Baptisia australis), gas plant (Dictamnus albus), ferns (various species), hardy geranium (Geranium spp.), ornamental grasses (various species), daylily (Hemerocallis spp.), hosta (Hosta spp.), Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), blazing star (Liatris spp.), daffodil (Narcissus spp.), peony (Paeonia spp.), balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.), black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), stonecrop (Sedum spp.) and Carolina lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana).
If given proper growing conditions and good care, long-lived perennials often thrive for 20 or more years.
After the holidays, can I burn my Christmas tree in the fireplace?
Don’t burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Dry, evergreen branches literally explode when burned and could cause a house fire. Also, burning the tree may contribute to the buildup of creosote and lead to a flue fire.
-30-