Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8/05/02
Contacts:
Kimberly Hilgers, Horticulture, (515) 294-2751, khilgers@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning August 9, 2002
Succulents for the Midwest
Kimberly Hilgers
Horticulture Extension Intern
Iowa State University
We may not be able to grow the stately saguaro cactus in Iowa, but we can grow cacti and other succulents outdoors in the Midwest. Succulents by definition are "plants with thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water." Succulents are valuable landscape plants for a number of reasons. They are drought and heat tolerant, have few disease or insect problems and are easy to grow. In addition, they can add outstanding color, texture and winter interest to any garden. There are four groups of succulents that perform well in Iowa: sedums, hens and chicks, cacti and yuccas. All are cold hardy and require little attention once established.
Sedum
Stonecrops, sedums or "live forevers" come in a variety of sizes,
leaf shapes and colors and flower colors. There are one-inch tall, creeping
groundcovers and two-foot tall plants. Leaves are fleshy and can resemble
three-inch rounded fans or even half-inch tic-tacs. The foliage is often
variegated and can be blue-gray, green, yellow, red, pink, white or any
combination of these colors. Sedum flowers can be yellow, orange, red,
pink or white and usually bloom in clusters above the foliage. Their bloom-time
varies by cultivar and ranges from summer to fall. On the taller species,
the seed heads can be left for winter interest.
Hens and Chicks
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.) are another common, long-lived
succulent in Iowa gardens. A large mother plant (hen) surrounded by smaller
offshoots (chicks) gives these plants their common name. Hens and chicks
have thick, pointed leaves forming a two to four inch tall rosette. The
green to red foliage sometimes looks like it's covered in cobwebs. On
occasion, a flower stalk may emerge from the center of mature plants topped
by a cluster of yellow, red or pink flowers. After blooming, the mother
plant may die, leaving her "offspring" to take her place. Hens
and chicks perform well in pots and on rock walls.
Cacti
One of the hardiest cacti is the prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), which
is native to the Midwest. Individual, round, succulent pads are joined
together to form eight to twelve inch tall spreading clumps. These large,
flat pads are dotted with sharp spines and smaller, barbed quills, which
can be hazardous. With care, the prickly pear can be an ornamental asset
to your garden. In summer, prickly pears produce large, brightly colored
flowers. Blooms may be yellow, orange, red or pink. After blooming, edible
fruits develop which turn various shades of red or purple.
Yucca
The yucca, or Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa), is a very versatile
plant as comfortable here in Iowa as it is on the southern tip of Florida.
The mound of spiky foliage grows two to three feet high. There are yellow
variegated forms as well as the normal medium green. Stringy hairs are
found along the edges of the leaves. While the clump of leaves is fairly
non-descript, the blooms are a knockout. In early to midsummer, white,
waxy, bell-shaped flowers are produced on three to five foot flower stalks.
These blooms produce interesting seedpods.
Culture
Succulents, while easy to grow, cannot tolerate wet feet and will usually
die in poorly drained soils. This problem can be alleviated by proper
bed preparation. For prickly pear cacti, incorporate composted manure
into the soil, and then top it off with six to eight inches of sharp sand.
Simply lay the pads on the surface, and they will send down roots. Yucca,
hens and chicks, and sedums can all be planted in any well-drained garden
soil. All of them should be placed in full-sun. Once established, they
require little or no fertilizing or watering.
As with many perennials, the cold tolerance varies among species and cultivars. Plants suitable for Iowa (USDA Hardiness Zones 4 and 5) include:
Sedum acre 'Aureum'
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
Sedum 'Ruby Glow'
Sedum reflexum
Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant'
Sedum spectabile 'Variegatum'
Sedum spectabile var. atropurpurea
Sedum spurium 'Bronze Carpet'
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Sedum spurium 'Variegatum'
Sedum kamtschaticum
Sedum floriferum
'Weihenstephaner Gold'
Sempervivum tectorum
Sempervivum calcareum
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Opuntia imbricata
Opuntia humifusa
Yucca filamentosa 'Bright Edge'
Yucca glauca
Succulents offer a wide variety of colors and textures with little maintenance and are excellent additions to Iowa gardens.
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