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succulents
Don’t let their rough exteriors fool you; like all plants, succulents can put on quite a show.
To our Low Country eyes — accustomed to southern live oaks draped with Spanish
moss, spikey palmettos and lush, leafy gardens — succulents may appear exotic, yet
many are native to the region. With increasingly busy schedules (and hotter and drier
summers, it seems) there could hardly be an easier group of plants to grow in the gardens.
Many plants grow along the coast, but sea oats aren’t the only plants known for their
resiliency and durability. Adding stability and beauty to the dunes, Spanish bayonets
(Yucca aloifolia) thrive despite heat, dryness, salt and sandy soil. All succulents are
survivors; in fact, they have to be. Their native lands are places of hot sun, searing
summer heat and little water from the heavens. They are tough out of necessity.
by JEFF MINNICH
photography by ALLISON POTTER
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
