Designing with Succulents

by Debra Lee Baldwin

Overview

“Designing with Succulents is inspiring, practical, and complete—a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherworldly beauties.” —Kathleen N. Brenzel, Sunset

Succulents offer dazzling possibilities and require very little maintenance to remain lush and alluring year-round. No one knows them better than the Queen of Succulents, Debra Lee Baldwin. This new, completely revised edition of her bestselling classic is a design compendium that is as practical as it is inspirational. Designing with Succulents shares design and cultivation basics, hundreds of succulent plant recommendations, and 50 companion plant profiles. Lavishly illustrated with 400 photographs, you’ll find everything you need to visualize, create, and nurture a thriving, water-smart succulent garden.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604697087
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/23/2017
Edition description:	Second Edition, Revised
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	190,001
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Debra Lee Baldwin, an award-winning photojournalist, is widely hailed as the “Queen of Succulents.” She helped launched the gardening world’s interest in succulents with her first book, Designing with Succulents, and with her two other books Succulent Container Gardens and Succulents Simplified. Baldwin’s own half-acre garden has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset, San Diego Home and Garden, and other publications.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction
Succulent describes any plant that survives drought by storing water in its leaves, stems, or roots. These plants were far from my mind when I began gardening in my early thirties. Because I wanted big, bold, beautiful flowers, I planted cannas and rose bushes, despite the fact that in southern California (USDA zone 9) rain falls minimally and mostly in February, the soil lacks nutrients, and inland temperatures range from 25 to 105°F. From spring through fall, such plants continually need mulching, fertilizing, pruning, spraying, irrigating, and deadheading.

As a garden photojournalist, I was influenced by editors, design professionals, colleagues, homeowners, and horticulturists who believed that gardening is an endeavor that ought to suit the region. It was my job to communicate via words and photos why certain residential outdoor environments were innovative and appealing—not only visually but also practically. As I strove to entertain and enlighten the gardening public, I became inspired myself.

One midwinter, when my garden consisted of pruned and naked rose bushes, cannas with frost-burned leaves, and perennials that had been cut to the ground, I visited the garden of horticulturist Patrick Anderson midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Despite its poor soil and lack of irrigation, his garden was lush and colorful. It was the first time I had seen large aloes in a garden setting. The ensuing article reflected my fascination: “Fleshy green monsters in Patrick Anderson’s Fallbrook garden look like they might snap him up if he turns his back,” it began. “They’re giant succulents, and Anderson’s half-acre hillside showcases hundreds of unusual ones.” I described aloes that “pierce the sky like exotic torchbearers, hot orange against cool blue,” and agaves that “sprawl like squids, or explode upward like fistfuls of knives.”

I noticed how two or three varieties of succulents selected for shape, color, and texture create elegant and eye-catching vignettes. Succulents with curved or undulating leaves suggest motion, which makes any garden more interesting. Moreover, like seashells and snowflakes, succulent foliage forms patterns that illustrate nature’s innate geometry and that are mesmerizing when repeated. I soon learned firsthand that in a warm, dry climate, succulents and similarly low-water perennials make sense economically, aesthetically, and ecologically.

Aeonium arboreum and A. haworthii, Agave americana ‘Marginata’, and Bulbine frutescens proved trouble-free—as did the aloes, sedums, senecios, kalanchoes, and graptopetalums that followed. I found succulents easy to propagate and appealing wherever I put them. I began hunting gardens that showcased succulents and over the years have discovered them throughout the West and as far away as Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New England. This book, the result, offers numerous alternatives to traditional lawn-and-flowerbed landscapes, shows what’s possible when succulents shine as primary garden elements, and explains how to cultivate these versatile plants in the ground and in containers.

It’s an exciting time to be a succulent aficionado; numerous ornamental hybrids have recently been released or are in production. In years to come, watch for named cultivars with greater heat and cold tolerance, longer bloom cycles, multicolored flowers, disease resistance, and leaves that are vividly hued, variegated, or textured.

Succulent gardens far and wide
Succulents range from tall trees to ground covers with rice-size leaves. Among their native habitats are South American jungles, California’s coastal cliffs, high-elevation mountains in Africa, and arid Arizona plains. In cultivation, they look good alongside meandering pathways, in formal settings with geometric lines, in rock gardens, and in pots on patios, balconies, and rooftops—to name a few of many possible settings.

Most, but not all, of the succulents included here come from areas of the world that are hot and dry and that receive minimal rainfall. These plants are best suited to USDA zones 9 and 10, although they can survive outdoors in zones 8 and 11 with adequate protection from frost, excessive heat, and moisture. This ideal
climate is found sporadically in latitudes from 20 to 40 degrees, especially in marine-influenced, nontropical areas of the U.S. South and Southwest, Mexico, Pakistan, northern India, eastern China, Taiwan, southern Japan, South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean.

Editorial Reviews

A masterly book about the creative use of succulents in modern landscapes.” —John Bagnasco, host of Garden America radio show 

“Takes the mystery out of these fascinating plants. The book is well illustrated, full of good information, and eminently readable.” —Brian Kemble, curator of the Ruth Bancroft Garden; board member of Cactus and Succulent Society of America

“Another classic with amazing photos. From images that show you what can be done, to explanations that help you do it, this is a must-have for succulent gardeners.” —Ken Altman, president of Altman Plants

“Many people know about succulents, but using them in the landscape is another matter. Designing with Succulents shows us how; it’s inspiring, practical, and complete—a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherworldly beauties.” —Kathleen N. Brenzel, Sunset

“Home gardeners as well as those looking for a ‘Zen’ book-cation of browsing gorgeous plant photographs should read (and purchase!) Designing with Succulents. Readers will be inspired by both plants and design, and take away principles and projects to incorporate more beauty into their surroundings and everyday lives.” —NYBG’s Plant Talk

“Now completely revised, this second edition of Baldwin’s classic book on succulent culture covers every topic a succulent enthusiast could ask for. Baldwin’s personal experiences illuminate every chapter, and each is profusely illustrated with excellent, informative photographs. . . . Just leafing through this book and perusing the illustrations is enough to inspire a gardener to start growing succulents, no matter how limited the space or planting circumstances.” —Choice starred review

“If you liked Debra Lee Baldwin's first edition of this book published 10 years ago, then you will definitely have to have a copy of this complete re-write, which includes several featured succulent gardens from designers and dedicated homeowners. . . . a book every succulent lover needs. . . . With hundreds of plant recommendations, as well as plenty of photographs, this is an essential resource for those designing a succulent garden.” —Garden Design Magazine

“Thanks to Baldwin’s expertise on succulents from propagation to design, beautiful photographs, and personable writing style, [Designing with Succulents] retains its well-deserved status as the bible for succulent gardeners.” —Digging 

“More than 400 engaging, colorful photographs, this is a book for the seasoned succulent aficionado or the wannabe windowsill gardener.” —Country Gardens

“The succulent bible. . . . the [new edition] goes far beyond revisions, however, to offer brand new content.” —The Designer

“A completely revised edition of this bestselling classic. . . . lavishly illustrated.” —Alpine Garden Society Journal

“Revamped.” —Booklist

“Has everything to keep the succulent lover entertained and plenty of knowledge to help a new gardener become an expert.” —Phoenix Home and Garden

“Gardeners new to these plants will find both useful information and inspiration in this book. Experienced growers of succulents also will discover motivation to explore possibilities for refining their gardens and containers, and enjoying gardening with succulents.” —The Santa Cruz Sentinel 

“The second edition of Designing with Succulents is an instant classic. It’s a must-have for any succulent lover, even if you already own the first edition.” —Succulents and More

“Helped launch worldwide interest in succulent plants.” —The Valley Roadrunner

From the Publisher

"Debra Lee Baldwin is passionate about succulents, grows them with panache in her own garden, and has tapped into a community of like-minded souls who are creating wonderful landscapes with them. She inspires us to look at succulents as living sculptures whose myriad shapes and colors create striking effects. Many people know about succulents, but using them well in the landscape is another matter. Designing with Succulents shows us how; it's inspiring, practical, and complete—a treasure for any gardener who loves these otherwordly beauties."

Sunset

"One of the charms of her book is that it is so readable, while being a practical encyclopedia of all things succulent."

Weekend Gardening

"...easy to understand writing style is user friendly to the backyard gardener, yet the breadth of information is just as appealing to the expert. Baldwin should be commended for what might be the best succulent landscaping book written to date."

Weekend Gardening - Maureen Gilmer

"One of the charms of her book is that it is so readable, while being a practical encyclopedia of all things succulent."

San Diego Union-Tribune