It was a suggestion, not an order....

I've never grown sempervivums or had any grand luck with sedums.

Should this thread have been there instead?

If so, you can possibly get it moved?

No need - just - you asked about cold hardy succulents so I suggested you visit that forum since that is what they grow. You are welcome to discuss anything here... they just know more about cold hardy succulents there!

Oh, ok ~ thanks, I'll look around over there.

This was what I was thinking of when I asked about links that lists types of succulents and the minimum temps.

http://austincss.com/Cold%20Ha...

I like the link Kristi! and I do think Hetty is correct that you'll find some info in that forum

Great link, Kristi.

Kristi ~ Thanks for that link! Helpful to see that one doesn't need to "resort to Sempervivums" (sorry, semp people out there! ) if one wants to cultivate Cold Hardy Succulents.
Bev P.S. I have a 12 ft X 3 ft raised bed of only sempervivum plants!

Bev! Sounds like its time for you to expand out into other cold succulents/Alpine plants!!! They're out there, but if you're not in those cold zones it can be tricky! I do love my semps (and its a new love - only since last March, how and why, I couldn't tell you - so many of them look like lotus flowers or something, I love the ones that have a good symmetry, at least that's how it began ) I also just love succulents! I visited southern CA a couple of years ago and saw all these huge succulents in peoples yards and gardens, and they didn't even seem like they were working that hard and keeping them, and it was winter and I got home to chilly wet Seattle and I said "I need the warmth of some succulents" I have tender and cold succulents, I joined this website in November...its been fun, and oh so dangerous!! The semp folks are a terrible influence for someone like myself that already has a weakness
Cheers

The semp folks are a terrible influence for someone like myself that already has a weakness

Yes, now that I understand... lol

I've been doing some reading and am not sure how well they will endure the hot dry summer temps we enjoy. I'm thinking it will take me lots of research to get hooked on trying them.

The link I posted above tells me that the aloes I planted may not endure extended freezing temps which we do occasionally receive.

That link and this one both have encouraged me to try adding more succulents to my bed this next summer.
http://www.new-mexico.cactus-s...
Incidentally, it also includes the Sempervivums and Sedums.

A succulent bed will probably never be lush but it will be quite carefree.

Does anyone here have an idea how to make Hesperaloe parvaflora deliver blooms?

Well, one thing I see wrong with that cool list. It's for Texas.
I am wondering whether Texas and Romania don't have completely different ideas of "hardy".
We have rains (it's been raining for 2 days now) and before that we had 25 cm snow (which of course also thawed into the ground - so, lots of WATER in winter.
Unless I can really work on a way to keep them dry, no way I can even try.

Well, I DID try.
The "common" Agave (I call it common, cause everyone around here seems to have it - grows big, makes lots of pups) died last winter.
Agave neomexicana - I got a small one under this name, did great in somewhat sandy soil...but the roots were almost completely rotten (I transplanted it in a small pot till next spring when I need to figure out a small desert for it)
Hesperaloe parviflora ( one year old seedlings) died last winter - not sure it was the cold or the water in the ground. I got a new batch in small pots in the house, will see where I can plant them.
Last summer I got two Opuntia pads, they never really kicked off (let alone, bloom) but they are still alive.
I also have this Delosperma that does nicely.
http://s87.photobucket.com/alb...

Bev, where are you in Nor Cal? I was in Redding for 17 years.

I am zone 7a and my Hesperaloe parviflora is thriving in its very large container. But it did sit out there for a year or two looking small and grumpy. It did nothing. I didn't know if it would thrive or not. Now it has taken off. It is on the west side in the afternoon sun which can be blazing here at times and burn plants. I don't pay much attention to it and rarely water it.

We are sligtly warmer than your zone, Calin. They moved us from zone 6b to 7a this year on the USDA zone map. I think you may be right about everyone's definition of "hardy". That's where the rub comes in quite often.

I also have a large number of Semps. I like them as well. They are planted here, there and everywhere. My Sedums are one of my cold-hardy loves. I highly recommend 'S. takesimense', if you come acome across it. Wasn't easy to find here.

I grow some of my Opuntias against the brick wall. I just lay the pads on the ground and leave them alone to root and grow here. The one in the picture is O. humifusa. Beautiful blooms. I'm hoping ot make jelly from the fruits when I am able to harvest enough of them.

Calin ~ I agree on the plants that are listed for an appropriate area and absolutely agree on some areas being more suitable for succulents in ground.

I feel that I am bending some of those rules by providing a fast draining raised bed for these plants. The bed is located up against a wall and built out of rock so it should help retain more heat. It is also located under the roof line so is more sheltered from drenching winter rains.

Our area is hot in summer, can get incredibly cold in winter with occasional snows. Most of our annual rainfall is received in winter. Cold and wet are the kiss of death for most succulents. So that is my experiment.

I think the links to Texas and New Mexico succulents is simply a suggestion for those types of succulents (and cacti) that will be more or less hardy. The final test will be how they perform under our own growing circumstances.

I really like the photo of your rock garden blooming Delosperma. I get carried away looking through all your blooming photos ~ very pretty!

If you want to create a more arid bed for outdoor succulents, I would try to incorporate small rocks, pebbles or crushed gravel into a raised bed. That should prevent the soil from staying soggy. I have seen that done here for herbs that don't like to have wet feet and it should also work for succulents.

Odd but I find succulents need to be dry, dry, dry before a hard freeze yet it is recommended to water the lush plants before freezes. All plants are individuals.

Tee ~ beautiful photos! I am really drawn to the beautiful colors on the sempervivums. Do they retain that color year around or only from the cold like some succulents?

I have found the Hesperaloe parviflora is cold hardy (when kept dry). I have one that I started from seed and it is sooooo slow growing. I got discouraged and bought another in a larger container. Both are in this raised bed but I would love to inspire blooms. Has yours ever bloomed for you?

Now on the Cacti ~ I'll only admire them from afar. I don't like thorns/stickers much after living in Arizona. In fact, if that pretty agave lived with me, I'd be grooming those wicked spines with a nail clipper. lol

Looking through the sempervivum photos I realize my sister in law in Kansas City had given me some. She called them Hen n Chicks. They didn't survive my east TX care. Not sure which one they were or why they met their demise...

Thanks. Most of the Semps' coloring changes throughout the year.

I hear that. I have gotten a pad of a thornless Opuntia (O. ellisana) going pretty well. It has three new pads already. Most likey I will replace some of those with this thornless variety. There are too many to snip and the glochids are even more numerous (and almost more wicked, IMHO). Besides, nobody needs to be in that area below our back windows anyway. Should a thief come along and fall into them, well, poetic justice. They got what they deserved.

Tee ~ I live in Santa Rosa, an hour and a half from SFrancisco. But I just moved couple of years ago from New Mexico and so the list that Kristi provided listed pretty much the usual suspects you can count on to survive cold temps. But I am more the semp and echeveria and sedum type so most of the non semps were inside a greenhouse year round (cause the problem outdoors during the nice weather were the thirsty rodents).
Loved the pic of the laid down Opuntia pads and their new growth. It wasn't until I lived in New Mexico that I found out that cactus can be part of breakfast or lunch and used to make jelly.
Kristi ~ when I worked at a nursery in NewMexico, I met folks from Texas that said they had vacation houses in New Mexico to do their gardening!

Kristi, i get it now. Sounds alot like what i have going on. the weather sounds similar to here. probably can be hotter and colder and sunnier during the summer. anyway i can grow (succulents)
fred ives
chalk sticks
miniature joshua tree
Autumn Joy
Pacific Stonecrop

SEDUM reflexum
more i dont know names of

It is very important to let them dry out regular. The rain wont hurt them but a week long rain storm with temps in the low 30's will.