Succulents and rocks make a fantastic pair; these low-maintenance, water-efficient plants look enchanting when set against boulders, crushed rock, and pebbles. What’s more, you can mix and match the striking shapes, colors, and textures to create a picturesque rock garden all year. But what are the best succulents for rock gardens?
The best succulents for rock gardens are those that love snuggling against rocks or thrive in the tiny crevices between boulders. Such plants include Euphorbia, Echeveria Sempervivum, and Aeonium. Still, plants like Sedum also provide stunning ground cover while cacti provide great visual impact.
In this article, we will explore some of the best succulent plants for your rock garden and what it takes to make them thrive through the seasons. We will also talk about how to create a rock garden and offer general guidelines on how to maintain it.
Sedum
The Sedum plant also goes by the name stonecrop.
There are many reasons why you might want to consider Sedum for your rock garden. Its water needs are minimal. It can withstand high temperatures and grow in any sunny, dry, rocky, or well-drained location.
Sedums are excellent for your garden if you are busy, have limited time to tend to your rock garden, or often forget to water your plants. They are unique in that you can get away with planting and then forgetting about them. These ground-hugging perennials are tough-as-nails and will survive.
Stonecrops bear tiny star-shaped blooms that make a bold statement in your rock garden. Better yet, different varieties produce differently colored blooms such as pink, white, or mauve, so you can use them to brighten your rock garden.
Echeveria
The Echeveria is a slow-growing succulent that thrives on short-term neglect, little water, and nutrients. It features fleshy, thick-leaved rosettes and is fuss-free, growing well in containers or the garden—usually to a height of no more than 12 inches (30 cm).
The most favorable growing conditions for Echeveria are bright sunlight and well-drained soil. While the succulent prefers desert-like conditions, it will put up with little amounts of water but should be allowed to dry out in between waterings.
Echeveria comes in many varieties, its beautiful colors providing interesting tones and textures for your garden. They also form beautiful group displays, especially if you nest the large varieties in the center and the trailing, shorter ones on the outer edges.
To propagate this succulent, pull off some of the baby plants from the mother rosette and replant them in a blend of sand, compost, and topsoil.
Cacti
Most people know cacti because of their thorns, but some varieties are thorn-less too. Like most succulents, cacti love bright light, but they are not particularly fond of direct sunlight.
Available in various forms, there are those that grow in rounded formations, such as the Barrel Cactus or the Organ Pipe, which creates remarkable architectural effects. Others like the Saguaro feature vertical columns, while the Prickly Pear branch out.
Interestingly, the pears on the Prickly Pear are edible, which means you also get to enjoy some fresh fruits right from your rock garden.
Sempervivum
Sempervivum makes excellent rock garden plants. You see, these beautiful plants multiply as they grow. Again, due to their small size, the plants tuck into the tiniest nooks and crannies, making your garden look fuller.
Sempervivum also goes by the name Hen and Chicks. And the reason for this curious moniker? The plant (hen) sends forth babies (chicks) on short runners that, in time, form a tight mat of attractive foliage. What’s more, you can separate the chicks from the hen and replant them in other spots that might benefit from extra cover.
These succulents are ideal for rocky and sandy soils since they don’t need much water to grow. They are also ideal ground cover plants to use as foils for either cacti or succulent bushes as they help fill in the area.
And the best part? They are flowering plants whose red, pink, and purple highlights add striking colors to your garden. Ensure you plant them in a spot that gets full sun for them to maintain their brilliant colors.
Aeonium
These are unique, fleshy-leaved succulents that sport a pronounced rosette shape. Since they have shallow roots, growing Aeoniums should not be left to dry out completely. These plants come in various sizes and are available in more than 35 species.
Aeoniums don’t like freezing temperatures. They prefer well-drained soil, a sunny spot, and temperatures of 40 – 100℉ (4 – 38℃). So, if your rocky garden is indoors, place them next to a sunny window. Keep in mind that the foliage may be affected by frost in cooler temperatures, causing the rosette to fall off.
You may place mulch at the base of your Aeoniums but avoid piling it near the stem because rot might result. The plants are usually affected by root rot, but you can prevent this by ensuring that the roots never get soggy.
Aloe
Most people are quite familiar with Aloe Vera as its sap is effective against sunburn and is used to make soothing lotions. Well, this is not the only Aloe. There are more than 600 species in existence.
Aloes are fleshy-leaved evergreen succulents native to arid and tropical regions. They are very sensitive to frost, but you can grow them in containers and move them to a much warmer area when temperatures drop.
These hardy succulents are available in various sizes. They produce offsets that you can use to increase the number of Aloes plants in your garden.
You will find most Aloe blooming in winter. During this time, they sport bright tubular flowers. Nonetheless, some species might bloom at different times throughout the year, especially if temperatures remain mild.
Euphorbia
Euphorbia is a shrubby, tree-like succulent that grows well in frost-free regions. Being both heat and drought resistant, these plants prefer full sun. Their shallow root system allows you to tuck them in-between rocks and boulders, making them perfect for your rock garden.
This tough perennial belongs to a huge genus of flowering plants known as Spurge. Unique and diverse, this amazing family of succulents comes in an unending selection of hues, sizes, and shapes.
Because of their vivid colored leaves and unique flowers, Euphorbias are quite popular. They also make stunning additions to rock gardens. Given that there are 200+ types of Euphorbia, you cannot miss one that will flourish in your rock garden.
Iceplant
The Iceplant is one indestructible succulent. Not only is this mat-forming perennial heat and drought resistant, but it also withstands poor soils and salt. Due to their evergreen foliage, they make ideal ground covers.
Its name came about not because it can withstand extreme cold but because of its shimmery leaves and flowers that seem covered in ice crystals.
Growing to a height of 3-6 inches (8-15 cm), the Iceplant can spread up to 2 feet (0.6m) wide. Its fleshy gray-green foliage lies beneath daisy-like blooms in red, purplish-pink, orange, or yellow shades.
An ideal location for this succulent is between boulders, where it gets to frame the rocks with its spectacular colors.
Yuccas
Yuccas are some of the hardest succulents to kill. However, too much watering can destroy them. Look out for soggy stems, as these indicate that you are giving your plants too much water.
These slow-growers boast a globular formation featuring stiff, spiky leaves. The leaves sprout from a central core and spread out in all directions. With time, Yuccas develop a spear-like woody stem, and the lower leaves die though there are also stemless varieties.
Since Yuccas come in a wide range of varieties, you are sure to find one that’s suitable for your climate. This is so because you can find Yuccas that survive below-freezing temperatures.
These succulents are very easy to grow, making them ideal for first-time gardeners. Over time, they tend to lose their lower leaves, forming a skirt around the trunk base. This gives the Yucca an attractive tree-like appearance.
Dasylirion
Dasylirion is a plant whose sword-shaped leaves are similar to a Yucca. However, the leaves tend to curve inward at the base, hence the name Desert Spoon. This plant is drought tolerant and also goes by the name Desert Sotol.
Sotol grows to heights of 7 feet (2 m). Additionally, they boast a flowering spike that stands at an impressive height of 15 feet (4.5 m). The dark green-gray leaves are slender and adorned with sharp teeth at the edges. The foliage also arches out from a central stubby trunk, giving the plant a slightly rounded appearance.
As you can probably imagine, this architectural marvel makes a remarkable accent in desert landscapes. It would therefore make a welcome addition to a desert-themed rock garden.
Agaves
Agaves are a type of succulent that bears fleshy, fibrous leaves. The leaves are rosette-shaped with barbed edges and sharp tips. They are available in various shades, including gray, green, blue, or yellow.
These sculptural succulents will look impressive in your rock garden. While there are agaves with heights of more than 10 feet (3.4m), there are also small, dish-sized ones, and still others with soft leaves but no spines.
Most of these plants adore the sun, but some Agaves can withstand low temperatures. They are slow-growers and take years—even decades—to mature. On maturity, a tall flower stalk sprouts from the center. The bell-shaped flowers are long-lasting and sport different colors such as yellow, white, and green. Curiously, after the flowers produce seed pods, the Agave plant dies.
Kalanchoes
Kalanchoes have the distinguished honor of being the most commercially sold succulent. Flaming Katy—as they are also known—are pretty easy to find in nurseries, supermarkets, grocery stores, and flower shops. Popular as houseplants, they also make excellent outdoor plants in milder climates.
Most Kalanchoes hardly grow larger than a few feet. They, however, bloom with enduring bright flowers all through fall to winter. The flowers boast vibrant hues such as pink, orange, yellow, magenta, and red, while the foliage stands out with its massive, glossy green leaves.
These succulents are sun lovers but don’t allow them too much direct sunlight, or else they’ll burn. They look better in bright light, though, as the flower buds may refuse to open, and the foliage turns spindly in low light conditions.
Senecios
Senecios are ground cover succulents that form a carpet with hints of blue in your rock garden. Their daisy-like flowers also bear yellow or reddish-orange hues. These tough succulents can tolerate heat, drought, and some level of frost.
These plants thrive in full sun but not so in desert climates. Grow your Senecios in bright shade but for an indoor rock garden, go for a sunny window. Senecios bearing white, green, or variegated leaves are better suited as indoor plants than the blue ones, which prefer strong sunlight.
Succulents are slow growers at best, but these particular succulents go dormant in summer. Growth slows down, and if the area receives summer rains, they might even rot. To boost growth, fertilize your Senecios during fall. This is also an excellent time to prune.
Haworthias
These small South African-based succulents are beautiful, popular, and more tolerant of low lighting conditions than most succulents. They sport tiny whitish flowers and vibrant leaves in brown, red, or green.
Some Haworthias sport thin, bristly leaves while others have thick, fat ones. The leaves could be either plain or striped, bumpy, or dotted. These plants are very popular because they grow in adverse conditions and are also easy to propagate.
A close relative of the Aloe plant, Haworthias, comes in many different multiple variants. They all bear different forms, shapes, and colors, even though they have a basic rosette pattern. These small parts are ideal for small spaces and make great accent plants. They are well-suited to frost-free climates, though.
How to Create a Rock Garden
A rock garden can be either indoors or outdoors. For your outdoor rock garden, look for a spot that receives the morning sun and shade in the afternoon. This is because you want to avoid the hot afternoon (above 80℉ or 27℃) sun since it could result in succulent sunburn. Such a spot also lessens how often you need to water your succulents.
Your succulents will still need soil to grow as they cannot survive on rocks, gravel, or pebbles only. Pay key attention to soil drainage. If possible, choose an elevated portion of your garden.
Alternatively, create berms (mound boulders and gritty soil) since the extra height enhances drainage, prevents rot, and makes your rock garden look attractive.
To finish off, you can add top dressing in the form of pea gravel, decomposed granite, or chicken grit. This helps keep the succulent leaves water-free and soil-free.
Choose succulents with different colors and effects. For instance, place tall, bushy plants such as cacti near the top or in the middle of your rock garden. Remember that succulents flower for short periods only, so what you should consider most is the foliage color.
Finally, go for rocks with interesting shapes, colors, and textures such as large rocks, crushed rocks, cobbles, and pebbles. But wait until you have planted your succulents before you place the rocks.
After creating your rock garden, you are now ready to plant. So, which succulents are most suitable?
Choose varieties that are suitable for your climate. For instance, if your region’s winters get below freezing temperatures, you may want to go for hardy succulents. Other factors to consider include:
- The type of drainage
- Humidity levels
- Temperature
- Amount of sunlight
Don’t limit yourself, though. Experiment with different succulents, mix textures, or cluster complementary colors until you get the effect you desire.
There are many options for your rock garden. Some succulents will add ground cover, while others bring in color. Whatever your choice, the rule is to go for succulents that can flourish in rocky soils and handle long sunny days.
How to Maintain Your Rock Garden
Succulents are hardy plants, generally drought-tolerant, and can store water in their thick, fleshy leaves. As a result, they thrive in arid environments and don’t require much water. However, they still need moisture, more so as they grow.
Still, their moisture needs depend on the prevailing environmental conditions, and rainwater might be sufficient for your rock garden. But, if you live in a hot and dry area with rapid drainage, your plants will need extra watering.
To ensure that your succulents flourish, only water them when the soil is dry. Note that overwatering could lead to rot.
Once you establish your succulent garden, you will enjoy the tranquility and captivating beauty a stunning garden brings. Make sure to set aside time every so often to relax in your rock garden, enjoying your creativity.
Signs That Your Succulents Are Not Doing Well
It’s easy to tell when your succulents are not growing as they should. Watch out for the below signs and take the necessary steps to remedy the situation:
- Soggy, mushy leaves mean that you are over-watering your succulents
- If the leaves start stretching or turn pale, the plants aren’t getting enough sunlight
- Over-fertilized succulents sport brown spots on the leaves
Final Thoughts
Succulent rock gardens are charming. Their appeal also lies in the fact that they are not fussy, so if you have minimal gardening skills, your garden will fare quite well. This is because most succulents prefer being left alone—so long as they have adequate sunlight.
While a rock garden is easy to build, making it look natural takes time. Still, once established, succulents like Prickly Pear make great ornamental and conversation pieces while low growers like Hen and Chicks create excellent ground covers.
So, choose your succulents, follow the guidelines provided, and enjoy watching your rock garden bloom and change colors as the seasons come and go.