Annette Hird 
Balloon cactus is a lovely ball-shaped cactus that grows happily in temperate climates. The plant exhibits deep ridges on the bluish-green stems that appear perfectly symmetrical. These ridges are adorned with bristle-like pale yellow spines. These are not as sharp as those found on the barrel cactus. The top of each “ball” is usually a … Read more
Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ is a hybrid or cultivar produced from Aeonium arboreum. It is sometimes also called Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ and goes by the common names of Black Rose, Black Beauty, and Black houseleek tree. It’s a stunning succulent with large, flattish rosettes with dark purple leaves that almost appear black when in very bright light. The … Read more
Aeonium arboreum is a delightful succulent that can grow up to 5 feet high as a bushy shrub. The rosettes have fleshy green leaves on elongated stems. When it flowers, it produces a mass of small yellow blooms on the ends of long stems primarily in spring. How to Grow Aeonium arboreum A. arboreum can … Read more
Baby toes is a distinct succulent with a unique structure. The plant has erect, club-shaped leaves that have a translucent “window” in the tip. This succulent only reaches a height of around 4 inches but can spread to almost 20 inches when fully mature. It forms a tight cushion of leaves and in late summer, … Read more
Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ is a hybrid Aeonium with variegated leaves. The leaves have dark gray-green centers that are edged in a creamy white. The leaves also have a pale pink tinge around the edges. This is an attractive Aeonium to add to your collection as it adds a little color and forms symmetrically shaped rosettes. When … Read more
Agaves are succulent plants that are popular both as landscape plants and as houseplants that are grown indoors. There are over 200 species of Agave varying in size from small to extremely large. You can grow Agaves easily since these plants require very little care and are both drought tolerant and cold tolerant. After all, … Read more
Epiphyllums or orchid cacti are easy-to-grow succulents that produce stunningly fragrant flowers once a year. They have flat stems that are fleshy with serrated edges. Many people mistake these for leaves but they are stems and the flowers are produced at the end of these stems. These lovely succulents are very easy to grow, even … Read more
Agaves are spectacular landscape plants that require very little maintenance and are easy to grow. They have succulent leaves that are often large and form a beautiful rosette. Many people also like to grow Agaves in pots because of their striking appearance and low maintenance requirements. Some species of Agave can have leaves that measure … Read more
The orchid cactus is a pretty houseplant that provides lovely colorful blooms to brighten up your days during the cooler months. These cacti are known as epiphytic plants because, in their natural habitat, they would normally grow in the branch crotches of larger trees. Epiphyllums are relatively easy to grow if you understand their very … Read more
Aeoniums (Aeonium spp.) are a small group of succulents that are easy to grow, drought-hardy, and quite cold tolerant. They make ideal houseplants as they require a minimal amount of care and maintenance. The most interesting feature of Aeoniums is the almost symmetrical positioning of their fleshy leaves to make perfect rosettes. They range in … Read more