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Succulent Container Garden Plans
Double Dish Succulent Garden

Serve a big helping of succulents with this dish garden within a dish garden. The double-container system ensures excellent drainage because the inner pot sits on pebbles. The spreading shoots of pale sedum and pachyveria echo the stiff arching leaves of the variegated century plant. Artificial coral adds a decorative touch.

A. Pachyveria spp. -- 1
B. Pale sedum (Sedum sediforme) -- 2
C. Artificial coral
D. Variegated century plant (Agave americana 'Mediopicta') -- 1
E. Cobweb houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum) -- 1
F. Queen Victoria agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) -- 1

Sculpture on a Pedestal

Play up the artful qualities of succulents in simple displays. Place your potted garden on overturned pots to grab attention with bold plant forms. This garden planted in an urn rests on a square upside down black pot.

A. Dwarf century plant (Agave desmettiana) -- 1
B. Ice plant (Lampranthus deltoides) -- 3
C. Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')-- 3


Fiery Forces

A trio of creeping sedum and two varieties of hen-and-chicks makes an attractive low-growing grouping in this triangular metal container. When the sedum blooms yellow, the combo glows with warmth. These succulents are hardy to Zone 4, so you could leave this container garden outdoors in most regions. All are spreading groundcovers that will eventually creep over the edges of the container.

A. Creeping sedum (Sedum sarmentosum) -- 1
B. Firebird hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum 'Firebird') -- 1
C. Glowing Embers hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum 'Glowing Embers') -- 1


Urning their Keep

Pink blooms of 'Brilliant' showy sedum echo the pinkish purple cast of 'Perle von Nurnberg' echeveria while string of beads tumbles over the edge of this urn. These plants fill the classic roles of thriller (showy sedum), filler (echeveria), and spiller (string of beads).

A. Brilliant showy sedum (Sedum spectabile 'Brilliant') -- 1
B. Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' -- 4
C. Echeveria shaviana -- 2
D. String of beads (Senecio rowleyanus) -- 1

Tray Bien

This attention-grabbing tray of unusual echeverias, kalanchoe, and silver squill derives its showiness from variegated leaves and sculptural foliage. Most of the plants are rosette formers, so a flat saucer provides just the right scale for a spectacular display.

A. Echeveria 'Mauna Loa' -- 1
B. Graptoveria acaulis -- 2
C. Echeveria lilacina -- 1
D. Silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) --1
E. Paddle plant (Kalanchoe luciae) -- 1

Hanging in the Balance

A salvaged metal plant stand creates the impression of the scales of justice when outfitted with trailing succulents. The Madagascar senecio is related to string of beads, and burro's tail is in the same family as groundcover sedums. If pieces break off, root them to start new plants.

A. Madagascar senecio (Senecio antandroi) -- 1
B. Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) -- 1

Accessorize with Concrete

Concrete serves as the unifying element in this collection of succulents. Each grows in its own pot, but by grouping them, a dramatic display results. The neutral grays and blacks of the containers allow the plants to star. A matching concrete sphere extends the theme.

A. Kalanchoe 'Flapjacks' -- 1
B. Sedum 'Matrona' -- 2
C. Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos spp.) -- 1
D. Sticks on Fire euphorbia (Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire') -- 1
E. Canary Island aeonium (Aeonium canariensis) -- 1

Step It Up

Soften sun-baked entry steps with containers of succulents. Group several pots together to lead visitor's eyes up the staircase to the entry. Unify the collection by repeating a plant in each container. Echeveria fills that role here. Include some trailing types, such as burro's tail, which cascades down the edge of the step.

A. Zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) -- 1
B. Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) -- 1
C. Echeveria elegans -- 2
D. Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) -- 1

Crazy Quilt Container Combo

Silvery blue foliage is a good indicator of plants that require little moisture to thrive. Plants in this shallow bowl echo the container's blue color. Stiff, grasslike stemless senecio and variegated Kamchatka sedum add vertical elements among the low-growing groundcovers.

A. Variegated Kamchatka sedum (Sedum kamtschaticum variegatum) -- 1
B. Jungle Fire hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum 'Jungle Fire') -- 1
C. Echeveria elegans -- 1
D. Sedum lydium -- 1
E. Stemless senecio (Senecio acaulis) -- 1


Masterful Mix

This dish garden contains both familiar and unique succulents. Some, such as the silver jade and warty panda plant, are close relatives of the more common green jade and panda plant. Medicinal aloe is renowned for its ability to soothe burns. Black mondo grass is usually considered a groundcover rather than a succulent, but because it has low water needs, it works well in the mix.

A. Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis) -- 1
B. Harpoon daisy (Senecio cuneatus) -- 1
C. Moonstones (Pachyphytum oviferum) -- 1
D. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') -- 1
E. Silver dollar jade (Crassula arborescens) -- 1
F. Warty panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) -- 1
G. Medicinal aloe (Aloe vera) -- 1

Vintage Appeal

Surround a large-leaf succulent with a ring of rosette-forming ones for a quick container fix. Mulch with dried sheet moss for a decorative touch. (Keep the moss dry so that it doesn't cause the succulents to develop stem rot.) This vintage pedestal and bowl provide the perfect backdrop to the plants.

A. Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) -- 7
B. Echeveria shaviana 'Mexican Hens' -- 1
C. Paddle plant (Kalanchoe luciae) -- 1
D. Lola echeveria (Echeveria 'Lola') -- 6


Ring of Rosettes

This combination of rosette-forming succulents makes a simple but elegant statement. Washed river rocks act as decorative mulch that echoes the bluish gray leaves of the echeveria. The strong lines of the metal grill provide contrast with the rounded forms of the plants and the container.

A. Echeveria elegans -- 1
B. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) -- 1
C. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum marmoratum) -- 1
D. Aeonium 'Kiwi' -- 1
E. Hairy houseleek (Sempervivum ciliatum) -- 1

Two-Tiered Tapestry

Place a pot in a pot to gain height and drama. In this example, a small container of variegated century plant rises several inches above the level of the main matching pot. The small pot nestles in one corner of the large one, creating a riserlike effect. Large chunks of broken aquamarine glass fill gaps between the succulents.

A. Opal century plant (Agave americana 'Opal') -- 1
B. Pachyveria spp. -- 2
C. Echeveria shaviana 'Mexican Hens' -- 1
D. Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) -- 1
E. Echeveria agavoides -- 1
F. Graptoveria 'Margaret Reppin' -- 1
G. Echeveria 'Afterglow' -- 1
H. Echeveria imbricata -- 2
I. Senecio mandraliscae -- 2

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