In the future, we want to present a “Plant of the Month” here that can be cultivated even under adverse weather conditions and with little botanical knowledge. There are already some very interesting articles with many tips on succulents, as bizarre archetypes in a dress of thorns, in our garden journal. Therefore, today it is about the hardy specimens, which are no less attractive and a real eye-catcher in the home garden in every season. Thanks to their fleshy leaves, which can store large amounts of moisture, succulents are true survivors.
The prickly pear tolerates frost
In addition to the well-known Crassula, Eclaira and Co., which are leafy succulents, these thick-leafed plants also come with a trunk. Also protected by thorns against its natural predators, the cold-resistant varieties are particularly suitable for planting in the rock garden, on terraces and on the balcony.
A special feature distinguishes the hardy plants from their peers: starting in September, they are not watered at all until the beginning of March. Photosynthesis causes the accumulated residual water in the plant bodies to be converted into sugar, so that while the cell sap is reduced at the same time, temperatures far below freezing point do not cause any damage to the tropical plants. This process can be recognized by the particularly characteristic color changes from green to reddish brown, which can be observed in many hardy plants in autumn. In the period that follows, they generate their own natural antifreeze, so to speak, and thus prepare themselves for the winter without our intervention.
Popular varieties of hardy succulents
If you are thinking about planting in the garden, you should definitely take into account that the stems of these plants can reach considerable dimensions and branch out profusely after a short time. Ultimately, however, the right choice of location, an optimal substrate as well as reliable rain protection and species-appropriate water dosage play a dominant role with these tropical plants, which can grow up to a height of 15 meters. In the following overview we have summarized some of the hardy succulent species commonly found in German gardens:
| variety | optimum temperature (°C) | growth height (cm) | features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echinocereus viridiflorus | until - 25 | until 10 | profusely flowering and excellent for rock gardens |
| Escobaria vivipara (globe cactus) | until - 30 | 10 to 15 | Formation of own offshoots, needs cold stimulus for flowers |
| Opuntia engelmannii | until 20 | 100 to 400 | Prickly pear with edible fruits and shrubby growth |
| mountain cactus | until 20 | about 150 | Cereus cactus with pink flowers in summer and 8 cm long thorns; not for room maintenance |
| Opuntia ficus indica | up to - 15 (except young plants!) | about 500 | Ancient variety with fruits up to 10 cm in size, extremely fast-growing |
| Corynopuntia clavata | until 20 | (minis) 3 to 7 | optically very striking yellow flowers, needs rain protection |
| Opuntia imbricata | until - 30 | maximum 500 | hardiest species, may also be shortened |
| Opuntia tortispina | until 20 | with wide growth up to 100 | pink flowers, needs frost to grow, good for pot plants |
Planting and care tips for succulents
In all regions of Germany, cultivation is basically possible in every garden, with the exception of a few young plants, which should be raised indoors or at least in a cold greenhouse for the first few years. Many of the species are particularly suitable as pot plants and can be used to decorate terraces, balconies or house entrances when you are not in the garden. A few tips to keep in mind:
- ideal planting time: late February into August;
- the location should be sheltered from rain and sunny (a southern slope is perfect);
- use water-permeable, granular substrate soil so that rainwater can run off quickly;
- DO NOT use compost (danger of fungal diseases!);
- do not water immediately after planting and avoid waterlogging.