Hans on - succulent whisperer!

Succulents thrive in the mild climate of Morrab Gardens, even surviving the occasional frost as long as they are not waterlogged. We ensure good drainage for our succulents by growing them in raised beds and by incorporating granite grit into the soil. Cormac garden apprentice Hans has been telling us about their work with the succulents.

Cormac apprentice gardener Hans has recently undertaken the maintenance and development of our succulent beds here at Morrab. This includes two areas of the garden: ‘The Bank’ besides Morrab Library and ‘The Island Beds’ down from the fountain.

a low granite wall with succulent plants cascading over the edge

The Bank has been Hans’ main focus of work. This has involved weeding, pruning and thinning out of Agapanthus to make room for and allow a clearer view of a vast selection of succulents and cacti. These have been grown and propagated with care in the greenhouses with the help of our Friends of Morrab volunteers.

succulent plants nestling on a scree surface in the bank border

The Bank is a raised bed abundantly planted with a range of succulents as well as large specimen plants. Like many species of succulents, the Lampranthus shown here have spectacularly coloured flowers.

Similar tasks have been involved in maintenance of The Island Beds, including edging the cobbles surrounding the beds and having more of a gentle weed where ground nesting wasps are present.

Keep an eye out for new botanical delights in the garden as Hans fills out the succulent beds and prepares them for a top dressing of gravel coming soon!

succulent plants nestling in scree on a raised border above a low granite wall

close up of a Agave americana succulent in a scree border

image sources: (click to expand)

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