About me

About me
🌿 I've been gardening ever since a child, when I spent time with my father in his vegetable garden. But my fascination with Echeverias started in the 1980's, when my father gave me a pot with five Echeverias, which turned out to be E. imbricata. At first I wasn't much interested in them and planted them in some obscure corner of the garden and completely forgot about them. How great was my surprise when, a couple of months later, I noticed that they had spread and made a beautiful display - I was hooked!

Saturday 12 March 2016

Succulents and lots of rain


All the rain has greatly benefited one of my succulents, my grass Aloe (A. cooperi) - moist soil, perfect conditions for these damp grassland species. This is the first time it has flowered since I acquired it early last year.


Indigenous to South African grasslands, A. cooperi grows singly or in small groups from offshoots at ground level. The flowers of Aloe cooperi vary in colour from greenish-cream to apricot and salmon pink. Easy and lovely in the garden and smaller than most Aloes, Aloe cooperi is hardier than most too – down to 10 degrees F (-12℃ - although we've never had it that cold here in Tarlton (Gauteng, South Africa). The blooming stalks grow to 3’ (1m) tall and bear very attractive flower heads. The thin leaves are held in a fan shape & are evergreen in milder climates. Aloe cooperi forms offsets freely. The leaves & flowers are eaten by the Zulu people. It is also used traditionally to ease birth.


The base of A. cooperi - I think it's ready to go into the ground now



Another succulent which just loves lots of water, expecially if it is in full sun, is Crassula imperialis. They then get bright green and put up a gorgeous show of masses of curly tendrils. This one is planted in a wire basket but stands in the garden in full sun.

Hail damage on my Pleiospilos compactus

Not benefiting from the rain so much, and especially the hail we had, is Pleiospilos compactus. As soon as the flowers get wet, they shrivel and die almost immediately.


Seemingly unaffected by the lots of rain and hail, are both my Euphorbia horrid and Pleiospilos nelli on the left. In fact, they both seem to be loving it! But all the pots do have excellent drainage, which contributes to their healthy looks.

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