The selected agaves and aloes showcase a fraction of the diverse succulents that thrive in a desert garden. These choices have been thoughtfully made, taking into account their common availability attheGarden'splantsaleandlocal nurseries, along with their impressive ability to withstand heat anddrought.
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Withprolongedsummertemperatures soaringabove110ºF,it'svitaltodetermine whichplantscanthriveintheseextreme conditions.Inrecentsummers,many succulents,suchasagavesandaloes, havestruggledduringtheheat.To successfullycultivatethesesucculents, it’sessentialtocreateashadecanopy formanyofthem.
Agavesandaloescreatestunninglandscapes throughouttheyear.Theirdistinctiveshapes, sizes,leafdesignsandcolorsstandout,even whenthebloomsofotherplantshavewithered. Thesedependableplantsensureavisually captivatingdisplayallyearlong.
Theseplantshavetheremarkableabilityto retainwaterintheirleaves,makingtheman effectivesolutionforconservingwaterand reducingyourwateringexpenses.Whilethey requirewaterduringtheinitialcoupleofyears afterplantingandneedtobehydratedduring dryspells,theywillultimatelycontributeto savingsonyourwaterbillinthelongrun.For detailedinstructionsonwatering,besureto exploretheGardeningGuides.
Ifyouhaveestablishedtreesorshrubs,planting aloesandagavesbeneaththemisafantastic option.However,ifyourtreesandshrubsarenot yettallenoughtocreateashadedcanopy,you mayneedtouseshadeclothfortemporary coverduringthesummermonths.
Agavesvarysignificantlyinsize,ranging fromsmallvarietiestoimpressive specimensthatcangrowupto10feettall. Itiscrucialtoconsidertheirproper placement,especiallyforthosethatwill growlargeovertime.Additionally,manyof theseplantsfeaturesharpteethanda terminalspine,soitisimportanttoprovide themwithamplespacewhenplanted nearareasofhumanactivity.
Astunningvariegatedvarietythat servesasaneye-catchingfocal pointinthegarden.Italsothrives asacontainerplant.3'talland 3'wide.Partialtofilteredsunlight.
Aresilientagaveperfectfordesert gardens,itthrivesinhigh temperatures.Usuallymeasuring18 inchesinheightandwidth,it generatesoffsetsthatcreate sizableclusters.Fulltopartial sunlight.
AGAVE MURPHEYI
Anativeagavethatflourishes effortlesslyindesertlandscapes. Althoughithasaslowgrowthrate, itrequiresminimalcareand maintenance.5'talland5'wide. Fulltopartialsunlight.
Selectingtherightagaveforits particularenvironmentis essential.Whilemanyvarieties canthriveinfullsunlight,most prefersomeafternoonshade, especiallyduringthesummer months.Ideally,agavesshould beplacedinaneastern exposureorplantedbeneatha treeforoptimalconditions.
AGAVE OCAHUI
Thissucculentisanexcellent choiceforgroupings.Itfeaturesa tight,compactshapethatformsa roundedsilhouetteanddoesnot produceoffsets.3'talland3'wide. Fulltopartialsunlight.
GuidelinesforPlanting AgavesandAloes
Thisdelightfulagavefeatures wide,powder-blueleaves elegantlyarrangedtocreatea beautifulrosette.Overtime,it producesoffsets.21/2'talland 21/2widePartialtofiltered sunlight.
AGAVE ‘BLUE GLOW’
Anexcellentchoiceforasmall gardenorforuseindecorative containers.Thisplantcanstand aloneorbegroupedtogetherfora stunningvisualimpact.21/2'tall and3'wide.Partialtofiltered sunlight.
Checkoutthisvideoforhelpful tipsontherightplanting methods. Ensurethatthebaseofthe leavessitsslightlyabovethe existingsoillevel. Avoidaddingsoftmaterials likecomposttothebackfillsoil; thiscancausetheplantto settletoolowovertime, leadingtowateraccumulation inthecrownandpotentialrot. It’sacceptabletoremovethe pottingsoilfromagavesand aloespriortoplanting.
Forfurtherdetailsoncaringfor agaves,clickheretodownload theDesertGardeningGuideon Agaves.
Aloescomeinawiderangeofheights, rangingfromjustafewinchestoastall as20feet.Theycanbeshapedto resembleeithersmalltreesorlowgrowingclusters.Similartoagaves, manyaloesfeaturesharpedgesontheir leaves,socarefulconsiderationis essentialwhenselectingtheideal locationforthem.
HowcanIchoose therightaloe?
ALOE ACULEATA
Thissolitary,stemlessaloeboasts teethalongtheedgesofboththetop andundersideofitsleaves.It producesabranchingflowerthat showcasesstunningbi-colored bloomsinorangeandyellow.2'tall and2'wide.Partialtofilteredsunlight.
Thistree-likealoeshowcasesa robust,peelingtrunkthataddstoits distinctlook.Yellowflowersbloomin latefall,althoughitcantakeaslong as10yearsforthemtofirstappear.10' talland10'wide.Partialtofiltered sunlight.
ALOE MARLOTHII
Thistree-likealoeservesasastriking focalpoint,whetherplantedinthe groundordisplayedincontainers.In latefall,itburstsintovibrantorange flowersatopabranchedflowering stalk.4'talland3'wide.Partialto filteredsunlight.
Likeagaves,mostaloes thrivebestwithan easternexposureor filteredlight, particularlyinlow desertconditions. Furthermore,it's essentialtoremember thatcertainaloes producenumerous offshootsorpups, whichmayneed consistent maintenancetocontrol theirspread.
Atree-likealoethatcanvaryin size,featuringasmallerformwitha densercanopy,oftenutilizedfor bonsaicultivation.10'talland 4'wide.Partialtofilteredsunlight.
ALOE TOMENTOSA
Thisaloestandsoutfromothers,as itbloomsinthesummer,while mostaloestypicallyflowerinlate falltowinter.Itfeaturessturdy, lime-greenleavesandissolitary. 2-3'talland4'wide.Partialto filteredsunlight.
ALOE ‘BLUE ELF’
Apetitealoethatmakesastriking impactinanylandscapewithits vibrant,deepredflowers.Idealfor compactspacesorcontainer gardening.8"talland12"wide.Full topartialsunlight.
TipsforCultivatingAgaves andAloes
Ifyouobservetheleaves turningyellowrapidlyduring summer,promptlycoverthe plantwithshadecloth. Pruningisn’tgenerally necessary.Ifyoumustremove thedeadleaves,gentlywiggle themuntiltheydetachfromthe plant.
Overtime,plantdebrismay accumulateintheleavesof agavesandaloes,soit’s essentialtoperiodicallyclear thisdebristopreventmoisture buildupthatcouldleadto crownrot. Formoreinformationonaloe care,clickheretodownload theDesertGardeningGuideon Aloes.
