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GROWING WITH LESS WATER

Succulents in San Diego Botanic Garden

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What is in a name?

• Water Thrifty

• Water Wise

• Low Water

• Drought Resistant

• Xeriscape – not Zeroscape

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7 Principles of Xeriscaping

• Reduce water

• Improve Soil

• Limit Turf

• Use Appropriate Plants

• Mulch

• Irrigate

• Maintenance

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LAVA ROCK MULCHMy Garden right after planting

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My Garden 7 Years later

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7 Principles of Xeriscaping

• Reduce water

• Improve Soil

• Limit Turf

• Use Appropriate Plants

• Mulch

• Irrigate

• Maintenance

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Benefits

• Water Conservation

• Reduce Water Bills

• Decrease Garden Maintenance

• Increase Habitat for Wildlife

• Increase Visual Appeal

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Turf Destruction

• Physical Removal

• Herbicide – Round Up

• Solarization

• Sheet Composting

– Lasagna Gardening

• http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/Lawn_Replacement/Grass_Removal_Methods/

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SUCCULENTS

• Background

• Culture

• Adaptation

• Use

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KINGDOM ---PLANTAEDIVISION --- ANGIOSPERMS

CLASS --- EUDICOTSORDER --- MALPIGHIALES

FAMILY -- 30 SUCCULENT familiesGENUS --- 185+

SPECIES ---1222+SUBSPECIES ---460

VARIETIES--- 1000’sCULTIVERS ??????

WHERE THEY COME FROM

• Old World Succulents

– So. Africa, Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Canary Islands, etc.

– Euphorbias, Aloes, Crassulas

• New World Succulents

– Mexico, North and South America

– Agaves, Crassulas, cactus

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WHAT IS A SUCCULENT?

• Definition: A plant with the ability to store water

• Water loss minimized by absent, reduced or cylindrical to spherical leaves

• Fewer stomata...the breathing organs on the underside of the leaves that open only at night

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WHAT IS A SUCCULENT?

• Waxy, hairy or spiny surface to reduce air movement

• Ribs to give more surface space• Gray, dull color to reflect the sun• Shaped to direct water to roots, and surface

roots to grab water • Thick skin• Family determined by flower

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– Stem is enlarged to contain the water-storing tissues

– Stem is predominant feature– May have non-succulent leaves,

deciduous leaves or no leaves– May also have tuberous root - caudex– Stems and leaves contain chlorophyll

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STEM SUCCULENTS

LEAF SUCCULENTS– Typically small or no stems and enlarged

leaves which store water

–Many shaped like rosettes or single pairs of leaves with no stem

–No spines but may have sharp terminal

point

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AGAVECENTURY PLANT FAMILY

• Family: Agavaceae

• Rosette shaped

• 6” to 15’ across

• Leaves are generally fibrous, stiff

• Some have beautiful leaf imprints

• Marginal teeth

• Most are monocarpic, dying after sending out a tall flower spike

• Flower spike may have thousands of tiny flowers

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AGAVE PLANTS

ALOE

• Family: Asphodelaceae

• Range in size from 1” to 30’

• 700+ species

• Rosette shape common but leaves grow from the center rather than unfurl

• Leaves are soft, non fibrous

• Annual orange or yellow flowers – not monocarpic

• Flower spike with tubular blooms, long lasting and showy

• Rolls Royce of healing plants

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ALOES

EUPHORBIASpurge Family

• Family: Euphorbiaceae

• Diverse plant appearance but flowers alike

• Some insignificant flowers and showy bracts

• All plant parts contain milky latex which may be simply allergenic or may be a virulent poison

• African euphorbias resemble American cactus

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EUPHORBIA PLANTS

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EUPHORBIASpurge family flowers

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CACTUS VERSUS SUCCULENT

• Succulents are not a family, genus or species but just a common name for plants with juicy stems, roots and/or leaves

• Cacti can be distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of small cushion-like structures (areoles) from which, in almost all species, spines arise, as do flowers, branches, and leaves (when present). Merriam Webster Dictionary

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CACTUS

• Family: Cactaceae

• 100+ genera and 1500+ species

• Characterized by areoles, small spot like cushions or budding organs

• 3, 5, 10, or tens of cactus spines arise from each areole

• Usually no leaves

• Beautiful flowers

• Spines provide protection from predators

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CACTUS

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CRASSULAStonecrop family

• Family: Crassulaceae

• 33-37 Genera, 5400+ species (differing data)

• Fleshy leaves typically arranged in rosettes or in symmetrical opposite pairs

• Nectar flowers

• Varied range of leaf shapes, sizes and textures

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CRASSULAAeoniums

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CRASSULA PLANTS --

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CRASSULA PLANTS - ECHEVERIAS

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CRASSULA PLANTS - OTHERS

CONVERGENT EVOLUTION

• Different plants have similar form or behavior despite being from different areas

• No explanation for the similarity that doesn’t come from a common ancestor

• Adapt to the similar environment

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CONVERGENT EVOLUTION

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OcotilloFrom Baja andS.W. USA

←

Alluaudiafrom Madagasgar

→

ASK A MASTER GARDENER

• What should I plant in my garden?

• Why do my succulents look horrible?

• I want a no-maintenance garden. What should I plant?

• What should I plant in my XXX space?

• How much water should I put on my XXX

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ASK A MASTER GARDENER

• Sun/shade/wind/north or south, east or west• Scale sizes to the property• Remember that some grow BIG, others stay small

• Tallest plants in the rear• Shortest plants in the front• Use boulders, rocks and gravel to enhance the theme• Don’t replace a flat lawn with flat plants. • Use mounds, hills or art to provide visual level

changes• Succulents are super easy to propagate

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CHOOSING YOUR SUCCULENTS• Know the plant that you purchase

• Know where the container will be located

• Small containers need small plants

• Find a resource that works for you

• The web is full of lists

• The library has lots of books

AGAVE AMERICANA MARGINATA

SUCCULENT DESIGN

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SUCCULENT Design

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BEFORE

←

AFTER

→

Photos courtesy of Laura Eubanks

SUCCULENTDesign

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BEFORE

←

AFTER

←

Photos courtesy of Laura Eubanks

SUCCULENT COLOR

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SUCCULENT COLOR

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SUCCULENT COLOR

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SUCCULENTCOLOR

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THANK YOU

Time to tour San Diego Botanic Garden

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