Succulents & Cacti

About

Succulents and cacti are the plants to reach for when you want colour and sculpture on the least water. The range here runs from blue groundcover senecios under 30cm to spined golden barrels, architectural agaves and the slow growing Dragon Tree at around 4m. Most ask for nothing beyond full sun and sharp drainage, so the real decision is frost, because many tolerate only a light one. Filter by height, climate and position below, or read the buying guide under the grid. How to choose succulents and cacti Start with the job, because this range covers everything from flat carpets to a small tree. For spilling over walls and clothing hot banks, look to the trailing senecios and ice plants. For pots and rockery pockets, the rosette formers: echeverias, haworthias and compact agaves such as 'Blue Glow' at 45cm. For real structure, step up to columnar euphorbias at 2m to 3m or the Dragon Tree ( Dracaena draco ), which builds to about 4m over 10 to 15 years. Speed is the honest trade-off. A Golden Barrel Cactus takes decades to reach 60cm, which is why advanced specimens cost more than a shrub of the same size. Buy the biggest you can afford where structure matters, and buy small everywhere else. Where succulents and cacti thrive Dry-summer regions are home ground: inland and semi arid districts, Perth and Adelaide, and warm temperate coastal gardens. Most also handle Brisbane's subtropical humidity if drainage is sharp, and about half this range shrugs off salt spray, which makes these natural picks for seaside beds and rockery plantings . Frost is the limit. Many tolerate a light frost only, so in cold districts keep the tender types, jade and golden barrel among them, in pots that winter under the eaves. For the most punishing positions, start with our succulents chosen for hot climates . Planting and spacing Drainage decides everything. In heavy soil, plant on a mound or raised bed 20cm to 30cm above grade, into a gritty free draining mix. Space Blue Chalk Sticks at 40