Using Succulents In Your Dallas Garden

Here's a quick botany lesson for you Dallas gardeners; nearly all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. What's the difference between the two? Succulents are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy and can appear engorged, usually to retain water in dry climates and soil conditions which is what makes them perfect for our sunny, hot and dry north Texas summers! 

There are about 60 different plant families within the group of succulents, including aloe, haworthia, sedum, sempervivum, and of course, cacti. Cacti are fleshy plants that store water, making them part of this group. Cacti must have areoles. Areoles are small, round, cushion-like mounds of flesh where spines, hair, leaves, flowers, and more grow from the cactus. Areoles are only present on cacti, not all succulents.

Why the lesson on succulents? Because they're perfect for filling small spaces and adding texture in a bed or container. The aesthetics and low maintenance needs of succulents make them the perfect choice to incorporate into xeriscaping designs as was done in the image below. 

The picture below shows ‘Angelina Sedum’ which has been planted in between the stones of a path. This is a wonderful way to add some more color and character to an area.