Creating a Succulent Sanctuary: A Half-Wreath Garden for Relaxation

Inspired by a Wreath

A living wreath of succulents sparked the idea for a unique garden feature in my Escondido, California backyard. I had crafted a wreath using various succulents and was captivated by their fleshy leaves, sculptural forms, and colors ranging from silver-green and jade to bronze. Why not expand that concept into a large half-wreath planting that curves behind a semicircular sitting area? In Southern California, most succulents thrive in partial shade, and many cascade beautifully. The best vantage point to appreciate their rosettes and whorls is at eye level, in a spot designed for lingering.

Planting the Foundation

In early fall, I gathered overlooked aeoniums, kalanchoes, and sedums from my garden and massed them above the sitting area's wood retaining walls. The soil there is fast-draining, enriched with leaf mold and a cactus-succulent potting mix. Smaller plants were placed in front, larger ones toward the back.

Hunting for Unusual Varieties

Next, I visited specialty nurseries to find succulents with extraordinary shapes and colors: the purple-black Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop', frilly-edged echeverias, and Aloe striata, which resembles a fleshy gray-blue star.

Seasonal Bonus: Flowers

Beyond their evergreen foliage, many of these succulents offer a seasonal surprise: flowers in yellow, red, cream, or coral that last a month or more.

Succulents for Slopes

Cascaders

Sedums such as donkey tail (S. morganianum) produce fat, overlapping, downward-pointing leaves. For vibrant color, pork and beans (S. rubrotinctum) is unbeatable; the more sun it receives, the redder it becomes.

Clumpers

Aeoniums form lush clusters of rosettes ranging from dime- to dinner-plate size, depending on the variety. Striking selections include A. decorum 'Sunburst', with green, pink, and cream stripes, and A. arboreum 'Zwartkop', which is nearly black.

Showstoppers

A single large agave or aloe packs a powerful punch, but many have vicious spines. For a dramatic yet safe backdrop, use smooth-edged, solid-green Agave attenuata, which grows 5 to 6 feet across and produces offsets.