Debra Lee Baldwin’s become the leading advocate for these gorgeous, easy-to-grow plants, and it’s easy to see why. Her photographs are crisp, colorful and modern, and her writing is just infused with enthusiasm and love for her topic.
I confess that until a few years ago, I thought of succulents as kind of old-fashioned, because I’d seen them used in such stale ways. However, Baldwin smashes those stereotypes with new ways of combining succulents and using them in the landscape that are fresh, sustainable and fun. Her use of color and textural contrasts blows me away, and I love the keen eye she takes in pairing succulents to their perfect pots.
If, like me, you are new to growing succulents and need a primer on their varying textures, colors and care needs, there’s an extensive section on each type of succulent that she recommends for container planting, along with photos and design tips on how to use them effectively.
She covers the flower-like Echeverias and Aeoniums, the vining Hoyas and rosary vines, the paddlelike Kalanchoes (pronounced “Kah-lan-KOH-ee” – thanks, Debra!), and the minimalist living stones (Lithops and others). There are also some wonderful tips for which plants pair well with succulents, in terms of having similar water needs and looking good together.
I particularly loved the little cheat sheet in the back that provides a fast reference for anyone trying to create their own succulent container design. With categories like “fillers and cascaders”, “succulents for height”, and all the color categories listed, you can quickly flip to the back for ideas in creating your own succulent plantings.
I’m mostly an in-the-ground, landscape gardener just because I find it hard to remember to water containers every day. But with the lovely plants she recommends, I’ve even felt confident creating a few container plantings that are low-maintenance and have low water needs. I’m also totally inspired by the holiday decorations, living wreaths, topiaries and other floral-like displays she profiles.
Since reading this book, I’ve found that gardening with succulents is one of the easiest ways of making new gardening friends. Succulents divide and root easily, so as soon as you admire someone’s pot of Echeverias, be prepared to be sent home with some snips and divisions for your own garden. Then, of course, you’re waiting impatiently for your own succulents to fill in so you can share the joy with someone else.
Here’s the video trailer for the book:
Want to learn more about designing with succulents?
Debra’s part of the blogging team over at Gardening Gone Wild, and has a number of fantastic resources and succulent products (including to-die-for t-shirts!) at her home website.
You can buy her books directly from her website, and if you order from Debra, you’ll get a personalized, signed bookplate illustrated with her artwork.
Check out a few of my favorite of her blog posts over at Gardening Gone Wild:
14 responses to “Book Review: Succulent Container Gardens”
Easily one of my top 3 gardening books of all time! And definitely my #1 succulent book! Great review, Gen!
Rebecca, I agree! After reading this one, I am dying to get my hands on her other succulent book!
When I eventually get some more space will have to check this book out to grow some native succulents. Thanks for the review and recommendation.
I’m glad, Mike! Debra profiles such a wide variety of succulents that I’m sure you’ll find some to love.
Mike, Don’t wait! This book is TDF.
This book looks amazing. I think it will give even me the courage to try container gardening.
Once I moved to Denver, succulents quickly became my passion. I’m a ‘container girl’ so I grabbed this book as soon as I saw the title. Debra is my Succulent Guru, and a heck of a photographer, too! Great review, Gen… BTW, I missed the correct pronunciation of Kalanchoe. I’m so embarrassed, thanks for the heads-up!
Sheila, I know, I’ve totally been saying it wrong, too! We can thank Debra for helping us look more professional, hey? 🙂
Gosh, just went over and checked out your site, and your container designs are just stunning! Seriously gorgeous. It’s no wonder you’ve been in Fine Gardening multiple times, and as the container design challenge winner too! Color me impressed.
Thanks, Gen. I’m glad you like my containers. Have you see the current FG, with the 2010 Challenge win? It’s not on my website yet, but she’s pretty sweet 😉 It’s always so much fun when a plan comes together!
…and just so you know, I’m a big fan of your writing. Rebecca Sweet put me on track to ‘meet’ other designers, and my head is bursting with new ideas! Aren’t we darn lucky to be able to be outside, working on what we love? Life doesn’t get much better!
WHOA!!! Sheila, no, I haven’t seen it yet. (OK, pause while I go dig out my issue from my truck) Wow! I am so impressed!That is amazing, I love how you paired the planting to the pot so perfectly.
Thank you so much for saying such sweet things. I think meeting other designers is an awesome plan. Are you on Twitter and Facebook yet? There are a lot of gardeners in both places connecting in really fun ways. The interaction has definitely improved my designing and writing. I just feel so enlivened when I read about something fresh another person has done.
If you start a blog someday, definitely let me know! I want to follow what you’re up to, for sure!
Just keep me laughing, Genevieve. Your videos are more than fun…
From my perspective, we only get better when we see what’s out there, and I thank you and all of your friends for making me a better designer.
Gen, Like you, I am not an avid container gardener but I did plant a very small succulent container garden last summer (I used only cold-hardy ones) after seeing so much positive press about Debra’s book. My little succulent garden was so easy to take care of since it didn’t need a lot of watering and I ended up planting the succulents right in my garden in the fall. While it’s still too early to tell if any of the plants actually made through the wicked winter we had here in CT, I will most likely plant another succulent garden this season and use a few more plants Debra recommends.
Debbie, yes – I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed gardening with succulents. Their variety of shapes, colors and sizes were really fun, and what a relief and pleasure it was to have beautiful plants that didn’t need much from me during the busy growing season!
Debra Lee Baldwin’s first book got me to see gardening as an art form, and her second book ended up being even better than the first! It’s so much fun learning from her. 🙂