To decorate your balcony or terrace, outdoor succulents are the perfect accessory to give life and brightness to your spaces. Thanks to their strange and funny shapes you can create very special green corners at a low price. Let’s find out together the best varieties and why to choose them!
Index
- Balcony succulents: characteristics and why to choose them
- Agave
- Aloe
- Astrophytum
- Cactus
- Echeveria
- Jovibarba
- Mammillaria sailmanniana
- Tiny Rebutia
- Sedum Palmeri
- Houseleek Maggiore
Succulents for balconies: characteristics and why to choose
them Everyone likes succulents, also called succulents. They are easy to care for and do not require special attention, so without too much effort you can have a tidy balcony all year round. That’s why they are black thumb proof! Their peculiarity lies in their structure which allows these plants to accumulate the water , necessary to survive, inside their leaves or stems. That’s why they need little liquid and are resistant to high temperatures . Furthermore, it is from this same singularity that the name of succulent plants derives : in fact, by storing water their tissues swell.
In choosing your own succulents for terraces , however, some important characteristics must be taken into account: the temperature, the brightness and the type of soil used. In fact, not all succulents are suitable for a low climate, but this does not mean having to give up decorating your balcony even in winter. You simply need to choose more resistant than the typical apartment ones and have a few more tricks. Here are the outdoor succulents with the best known names! Agave
Native to Mexico, Agave is a succulent plantvery easy to grow. In fact, to grow well, it needs little water and a sunny place. Its green or white rosette-shaped leaves can reach 2 to 3 meters in height when grown in pots. The best known species is the American Agave which is able to withstand low temperatures, but in case of frost it is good to cover it with a breathable sheet. Despite being among the longest-lived perennial outdoor succulents , reaching to live up to 60 years, Agave risks dying within two years if its flower blooms. The latter, in fact, can grow up to 5 meters with flowering and fragrant branches , however damaging the plant. This is why it is called by scholars “the merciless flower”. Aloe
Among thebest known outdoor succulent plants there is certainly Aloe, with more than one hundred species characterized by pointed leaves at the apex and in the shape of a rosette. The best known of all is Aloe Vera , a succulent plant for both outdoor and indoor use, famous for its beneficial properties. From its leaves, in fact, a refreshing and anti-inflammatory gelatinous substance is obtained. For it to grow well, this plant should be placed in dry soil and placed in a bright place away from the sun’s rays, except for the early morning, and sheltered in case of rain and frost. Unlike Agave, Aloe is a succulent plant with yellow, orange and red tubular flowers that can sprout several times a year. Astrophytum
With its particular star shape and the stem dotted with numerous white dots, the Astrophytum is one of the most decorative and ornamental balcony succulents, thanks above all to its yellow flower that blooms every year in spring on top of the plant. Native to Mexico, this succulent flowering plant needs well-drained soil to grow and can’t stand rain and moisture. For this reason it should be placed in a sunny, well sheltered and protected place. Cactus
With diversified shapes and sizes, cacti are native to Argentina and this term refers to an entire family made up of 3000 species and 120 genera. But only some of them can actually be identified asoutdoor succulents. The most well-known and suitable variety is certainly Trichocereus Pasacana which is able to survive even at very low temperatures that reach minus ten degrees. To grow, it needs well-drained soil and should be placed in a bright, sunny space. If well cared for, it can reach up to 10 meters. Its main feature is that it blooms on summer nights , even if only for a day or two, which makes this succulent plant with outdoor flowers one of the most beautiful. Echeveria
The Echeveria is one of the most popular terrace succulents, whose name derives from the Mexican painter Atanasio Echeverria who painted them in his pictures. It is characterized by its colors ranging from green to gray and for its red and pink bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and summer. They are very easy to grow outdoor succulents . They love the sunlight, but only during the winter. It is, in fact, able to withstand low temperatures, but if they drop below zero it is good to repair the Echeveria with a breathable cloth or move it to a more sheltered place. Jovibarba
Among the most resistant outdoor succulents is the Jovibarbawhich is divided into three different species: Jovibarba Arenaria, Jovibarba Hirta and Jovibarba Sobolifera. It is characterized by being one of the most famous balcony succulents, as it is resistant to any type of situation and climate: from the driest to the most rigid. One of its peculiarities is its ability to reproduce quickly and occupy large spaces in a short time. Furthermore, Jovibarba is a succulent plant with yellow-green flowers that bloom during spring and fall only in early autumn. Mammillaria zeilmanniana Mammillaria zeilmanniana belonging
to the cactus species and native to Central Mexicoand not only a succulent plant for a balcony, but also for an apartment. More than in height, this plant develops in width, reaching up to 5 cm in diameter and taking on a rounded and squat shape. The black and white spines that cover the entire surface are the main feature of Mammillaria zeilmanniana. To develop, this succulent plant must be grown in a calcareous soil rich in nutrients, which can help it resist even during the winter. Before watering it, it is good to test the ground to make sure it is totally dry, as it does not need too much water.. Mammillaria zeilmanniana is a succulent plant with pink and white flowers that bloom during the summer if it is well cared for and placed in a sunny place. Rebutia Minuscola
The Rebutia Minuscola has its origin in South America and is very reminiscent of bonsai plants. With its rounded shape, which does not reach great heights, it resembles the Mammillaria zeilmanniana and is perfect for decorating small spaces, but also as a succulent terrace plant. In fact, during the spring period it produces flowers of various colors ranging from red to orange to yellow and last until late autumn. Being a succulent with outdoor flowers, the Rebutia Minuscola is able to survive even in low temperatures, but if the climate becomes too harsh, it is necessary to cover it with a breathable sheet or put it in a more sheltered place. To make it bloom at its best, the ideal is to move it to a sunny place. Sedum Palmeri
With more than 600 species, Sedum has its origin in the mountains of Mexico, but it also grows in the cold climates of the Himalayas. It ranks at full capacity among the most known hanging succulents from balcony , but also among the evergreen outdoor succulents. One of the best known varieties is Sedum Palmeriwhich is well suited to the lowest and coldest temperatures and is very easy to grow. It must be placed in a well-drained soil and must not take too much water, so much so that in winter it should not be wet . Furthermore, for it to bloom it must be placed in a bright place and exposed to the sun’s rays for a few hours during the day. Sedum Palmeri is one of
the most graceful and decorative hanging succulents for outdoor use, which often protrude from window sills. In February it produces yellow flowers with important beneficial qualities, while during the month of October the characteristic rosette-shaped leaves are colored with the red typical of the autumn period. Houseleek Maggiore
The succulents with outdoor flowers Semprevivo Maggiore are constantly evolving species that change over time. Also known as Jupiter’s Beard , they are widely used in the construction industry, thanks to their insulating properties. It is an outdoor succulent plant used to decorate balconies and gardens, thanks to the fact that it resists any type of climate, making it suitable for all situations. To grow it needs well-drained soil and must be placed in a sunny place. Furthermore, it is characterized by its colors: its leaves change from red in autumn to green in winter, while its flowers take on tones from pink to lilac.
