10 evergreen outdoor succulents, hardy and easy to care for
Outdoor succulents are perfect for those who want contact with nature and a green and flowery corner all year round. Not all succulents are the same and some may not be suitable especially if the house is located in very cold areas. Follow our advice and evaluate the exposure to the sun and the type of soil available, but before did you know that some types of plants purify the air? Watch the video and find out!
Why choose outdoor succulents?
The outdoor succulents, called "succulent" they are equipped with special fabrics that allow them to store large quantities of water, essential for the plant during periods of drought. This feature causes the leaves and stems to be swollen and fleshy, while the shapes are different depending on the family they belong to. In this way you will have succulent plants with an elongated, rosette or spherical shape.
The genus of succulent plants includes many varieties of species, with very different characteristics depending on the type. Some of these succulents bloom with beautiful flowers that last a long time especially if the plant is cared for in the right way. Below we present 10 varieties of outdoor succulents perfect for the balcony or terrace or simply to enrich a garden. Discover the characteristics of each and choose your favorites.
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1 - Beard of Jupiter
The Sempervivum Tectorum better known as Jupiter's Beard is part of the family of Crassulaceae, a constantly evolving species.Specifically, Jupiter's Beard is a succulent outdoor plant widely used in construction due to its ability to insulate and waterproof roofs and surfaces of various types.
Sempervivum Tectorum is very popular as an outdoor succulent plant to embellish balconies and gardens, first of all because it resists well in all types of climate, from the most rigid to the most temperate ones. It is a decorative plant with dail leaves, shades of intense green in winter, and red in autumn. The flowers have beautiful pink, purple and lilac colors, perfect for brightening up a gray balcony, for example. The best location for this type of plant will be a very sunny place, in a pot with very rich and well-drained soil, to be able to grow and flower well.
2 - Mammillaria zeilmanniana
Mammillaria zeilmanniana is a succulent plant that is part of the Cactus species and can be grown in pots both outside and inside, in an apartment. Native to Mexico, Mammillaria has a rounded and squat shape, does not reach great heights and it tends to develop in width, up to a maximum of 5 cm in diameter. These characteristics make it perfect for decorating balconies and terraces due to its great visual impact. Among other things, it is equipped with black and white spines that cover the entire surface of the plant making it one of a kind. To make it grow well, it is essential to cultivate it in the right soil, rich in nutrients that help the plant resist outdoors even during the winter. As with all succulents, it should not be watered too much: touch the ground and only if it is dry, then it will be time to wet it. If the weather conditions allow it, Mammillaria can also bloom in the summer: you need a sunny spot and after a few days you will be able to see a wonderful pink flower that will bloom and stay in bloom all summer.
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3 - Sedum Palmieri
Sedum is a family of outdoor succulents that has almost 600 species belonging to the large family of Crassulaceae. Many species grow wild, while others are grown in pots or in the garden as outdoor succulents, thanks to the fact that they adapt very well to low temperatures or winter frost.
Sedum Palmieri is a very pretty and decorative succulent plant that is really easy to grow.
It takes very little to take care of it: a pot on the balcony or in the garden in a bright position, a soil that is always well drained and never too much water.
In winter, rainwater will suffice to quench the plant's thirst, while in summer it will be watered every 10-15 days. Sedum is a succulent plant with star-shaped yellow flowers that bloom starting in February. The leaves in autumn change, taking on a beautiful reddish color typical of the season.
4 - Jovibarba Sobolifera
Jovibarba is a genus of outdoor succulent plant with the main characteristic of being resistant to any type of climate: hot, cold, frost, drought.
It is one of the succulent plants most grown outdoors on balconies and terraces, thanks to the ability of this plant to adapt to the environments in which it is found: from rocky crevices, to alpine peaks, to busy and polluted cities. (attention: it is not an anti smog plant!).
Furthermore, Jovibarba Sobolifera is capable of reproducing very quickly, occupying large spaces in a short time, both in pots and in the garden. At the beginning of spring, this incredible succulent plant blooms with yellow-green flowers that remain on the plant until the beginning of autumn.
5 - Pasakana
The Cactus (Tricocerius Pasacana) is originally from Argentina, where it is commonly called Pasakana.
The term “cactus” refers not to a plant, but to an entire family of succulent plants, the Cactaceae, which includes about 3000 species and 120 genera.
Cacti have very different shapes and sizes depending on the species and only some can be chosen as outdoor succulents: among these the Trichocereus Pasacana stands out. This plant, unlike the other succulents of the Cactaceae family, grows well outdoors, both in pots and in the ground, withstanding very cold temperatures, up to -10 degrees.
It is a plant that grows in height, reaching about 10 meters. Its ideal location are very bright and sunny places and with a very well drained soil. One of the most particular characteristics is that in the summer during the night, the plant blooms, blooming in very beautiful white or pink flowers, which will remain open for 1-2 days.
6 - Echeveria
Echeveria is a succulent plant that belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is native to Mexico. The main features are fleshy leaves that form roses, more or less large depending on the species. The Echeverie can have different colors, ranging from green to gray-blue. In addition, this type of plant also has pink or red bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring / summer from the center of the rosette where long stems sprout.
The Echeverie do not require special care, which is why they are perfect as plants to keep on the balcony even in winter. They love the light and the sun during the winter, but fear the direct rays during the summer because they are too strong for their leaves. They tolerate cold temperatures well, but if in winter the temperature frequently drops below freezing, it is better to protect the plant. from frost with a breathable cloth. In other cases, you may decide to move the plant inside for a period.
7 - Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is one of the best known plants, especially for its beneficial properties, but can it be grown at home? The answer is yes! Aloe leaves contain a gelatinous substance with a strong refreshing, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing power. Already since ancient times. these leaves, after being broken, were applied on wounds, burns and scalds. To grow Aloe Vera outdoors, just choose a bright place, with direct sunlight only in the early hours of the morning. The soil must be dry and well drained, like all succulents in fact, even Aloe Vera needs little water and for this reason it must be sheltered from heavy rains and frosts. In spring the plant can blossom with tubular, red flowers, orange or yellow that will remain in bloom all summer.
8 - Agave Americana
The name Agave derives from the Greek and means "noble". It is a very decorative and easy to grow outdoor succulent plant. One of the most interesting features of this succulent plant is undoubtedly its longevity: an Agave plant, if well kept, can live up to 50-60 years. Among the most resistant Agave species suitable for growing as outdoor succulents in pots and in the garden, there is the American Agave.
It has rosette-shaped leaves, green or white and green in color and if grown in pots it can reach up to 2/3 meters in height. It needs a sunny place with well-drained soil; rainwater is usually enough for her, and only in particularly hot summers may she need water.
American Agave resists well even at low temperatures, but to protect it from freezing it is better to get a breathable sheet.
Agave syrup is obtained from this plant, a natural sweetener that can be used as an alternative to white sugar.
In spring, the agave blooms with a flower that can reach up to 5 meters in height, with flowering and fragrant branches. However, this disproportionate growth damages the succulent plant, which dies within two years.
9 - Astrophytum
Astrophytum belongs to the cacti family, has a very particular star shape and numerous raised dots scattered throughout the stem. Much appreciated for embellishing balconies and terraces, both for its original shape and for the beauty of its yellow flower, which is born every year in spring.
The soil suitable for growing this plant must be well drained and particular attention must be paid to too cold winters, excessive rain and humidity. The ideal is to keep it on the balcony or terrace in a sheltered and protected area, as well as sunny. .
10 - Rebutia Minuscula
Rebutia Minuscula is an outdoor succulent plant that belongs to the family of Cactaceae, it has a rounded shape and develops mostly in width.
The flowers, orange, red or yellow depending on the variety, are one of the characteristics that make this plant the ideal choice for decorating and furnishing terraces, balconies and flower beds in the garden.
It resists well even at low temperatures, but it is better to find it a sunny place, especially if you want to see flowering. If the climate is too harsh, cover it with a breathable sheet, or move it inside.
