Hey everyone! I'm working on enhancing the plant life around my school, and I'm looking for outdoor succulents that thrive in London's climate. The area I'm dealing with has super fast-draining soil, making it pretty arid for plants. I've already planted some drought-resistant fruit trees and shrubs. However, I need suggestions for larger growing succulents or cacti that can provide good ground coverage. We rarely get frost or snow, and I often see succulents thriving in other nearby gardens. I'm also curious if my stonecrop can be kept outdoors year-round. Any advice on hardy succulents suitable for this kind of environment?
3 Answers
Sempervivum, often known as houseleeks, works great in the UK. Aeonium might be okay too, but I’ve seen agave and echeveria doing well in places like Cornwall, though London’s climate is a bit different. Checking out the RHS and BCSS websites for a list of succulents that do well in the UK can also be helpful. Would love to hear how your outdoor gardening goes! Good luck!
I agree with the others about sempervivum and agave. I'd be a bit cautious with aeoniums since they can be a bit pricey. Your stonecrop should do fine outdoors, especially if you let it acclimatize outside during the summer and autumn. Since you’re creating a garden at school, think about adding some alpines like saxifrage, which pairs nicely with succulents. Ornamental grasses could also thrive there as they are drought-tolerant!
You should definitely consider growing some agave! I have a variety of Opuntia that survives freezing winters here in Poland, so that might work for you too. They’re pretty resilient!