A multitude of indigenous and exotic succulents glow in the last rays of the sun setting over the Karoo. Cacti, aloes, dasylirions, yuccas and euphorbias grow happily together. In the right foreground, the totem pole cactus, a monstrose form of Pachycereus schottii, frames the picture. (EF)
The spiky-leaf margined Dasylirion wheeleri, known as sotol in its native Mexico and southern USA, has bluish leaves that are carried in large, feathery, ball-shaped rosettes. The tall inflorescence carries thousands of small, straw-coloured flowers in worm-like clusters. FIVE GOLDEN RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING
REDESIGN – Group plants with specific water requirements; reduce the size of your lawn. REPLACE – Remove struggling, high-maintenance, thirsty plants and replace them with easy to manage, water-thrifty plants that are indigenous to your area. Growing succulents is an in-tune approach to modern-day outdoor living. RECYCLE – Turn kitchen waste and other organic material into compost and, when ready, add it to your garden beds. The importance of soil health cannot be over-emphasised. The general rule is: meagre soil = weak plants. REUSE – Use rejected hardscaping materials in your garden. It adds interest and keeps trash away from landfills. As far as possible, recycle grey water for use in your garden. REVISE – Change your ideas; green living must extend to your outdoors. Creating a specific garden look is rewarding, but the real achievement is when it turns into a way of life.
A large selection of columnar cacti. Echinopsis chiloensis has shining white flowers that attract night-flying foragers. (EF)
The big, white flowers of Echinopsis schickendantzii overarch several smaller cacti.
The bright crimson flowers of Cleistocactus baumanii are perfectly adapted for bird pollination.
Mexico meets the Karoo. Columnar cacti reach skyward, with a typical Karoo koppie in the distance. (EF)
Euphorbia milii has bright red flowers and is a useful, shrubby ground cover.
A large bed of closely planted specimens of the barrel-shaped Ferocactus pilosus with its reddish spines and yellowish flowers.
Close-ups of the flowers and reddish spines of the species.
Despite the harsh Karoo climate, sensible irrigation makes it possible to grow subtropical plants, like the wild strelitzia, Strelitzia nicolai, which here emerges among a host of different cactus species. The spiky leaves of a giant Agave americana var. americana appear among those of the strelitzia.
In Obesa Gardens, the deliberate use of bold foliage colours, such as the grey-whites of Cotyledon orbiculata and blues of Senecio crassulaefolius, gives the beds a strong personality and sense of immediacy.
In the summer months, Hesperaloe parviflora carries red, fleshy flowers that resemble those of the Old World aloes. Its leaves are adorned with whitish marginal threads. The horizontal disposition of the upper half of the leaves can be cleverly juxtaposed against the vertical lines of a multitude of columnar cacti with which they combine well. After flowering, the thick inflorescence stalk of Agave vilmoriniana is covered with small, perfectly formed plantlets. The gracefully recurved leaves gave rise to its common name, octopus agave.
The white-grey leaves of the Mexican Pachyphytum oviferum are shaped like doves’ eggs. When planted closely together, this species makes a useful ground cover in an arid climate. The noorsdoring, Euphorbia caerulescens, is surprisingly easy to cultivate and makes a perfect specimen plant in tubs on patios or in rockeries. It is restricted to the eastern Karoo, where it occurs in vast numbers, especially around the town of Jansenville. It forms clumps consisting of several erect stems armed with short, sharp spines along their margins.
The spineless, monstrose, stems of Pachycereus schottii (centre and left) resemble molten wax. (EF)
Take care when negotiating paths in Obesa Gardens, as spiky leaves and trunks can be found all over the beds.
These homesteads, painted in exuberant colours, form part of Obesa Lodge and are situated opposite the Gardens. The bright colours are offset perfectly against the natural Karoo landscape. Throughout the town, interest is added by creating a rustic mood that is in keeping with modern trends toward textured layering. (EF)
Welcome shade is cast by a large specimen of Spathodea campanulata, the African tulip tree or flame tree, from tropical Africa.
Trees give structure to a garden. A massive specimen of Yucca valida towers over Obesa Gardens. (EF)
A hybrid between two cactus species, an Espostoa and a Weberbaurocereus, carries a furry pseudocephalium or densely woolly ‘head’. Flowers are produced from these hairy tufts.
Planted en masse Echeveria agavoides, a light green-leaved succulent from the New World, grows well as a ground cover. Cacti and succulents complement an eye-catching rock sculpture. (EF)
In the winter months Aloe ferox, bitter aloe or Karoo-aalwyn, sets the veld alight with its bright orange, candelabrastyle inflorescence. The species occurs over large parts of both the Great and Little Karoo regions. The white-flowered form, pictured here, is very rare.
Stenocereus griseus is sharply contrasted against the Karoo sky. FACT BOX ADDRESS: Obesa Wholesale Nursery: Bresler Street, GraaffReinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. CONTACT: +27 (0)83 446-8687 OPENING HOURS: 08:30–16:30 BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round; Graaff-Reinet can be very hot in midsummer. COST: No entrance fee. ATTRACTIONS: Over 7000 cacti, succulents and other plants on display; plant sales. FACILITIES: None in the Garden. ACCESSIBILITY: Some paths are narrow and paved with stone chips. INFORMATION: http://www.obesanursery.com; email: [email protected]
With the spiky leaves of Agave salmiana var. salmiana stretching skyward in the foreground, the view stretches out over the Mediterranean Sea. SOIL IMPROVEMENT Never, never, never neglect the soil; even if succulents are only established in small pockets created among rocks. Add compost whenever possible.
The combination of sculptures, succulents and cacti is perfectly appropriate in Eze, and in keeping with the Mediterranean surroundings. The South African leaf succulent, Carpobrotus edulis, has become established and, ultimately invasive, along the coastal areas of southern France, including in the Eze area, as well as further afield in the Mediterranean.
This artificially created hybrid between Denmoza rhodacantha and Cleistocactus icosagonus has striking, bright red, curved flowers that carry pink pollen on stamens barely exserted beyond the tips. Bird pollination of cacti is not common, but the flowers of this hybrid are perfectly adapted to accommodate the beaks of feathered visitors. The thin, elongated stems topple over as they grow taller, creating an interesting bushy shrub. Ask anyone about the countryside in the south of France and you are bound to be reminded of the spectacular mountain ranges, from the Pyrenees in the southwest to the Alps in the east. Mention will – no, must – also be made of the fields of fragrant lavender in shades of purple and deep blue, the vineyards, olive trees and the remaining patches of summerdesiccated, dense, evergreen shrubland called macchia (maquis in French). Spread throughout this dreamy landscape are picturesque villages and timeless towns. Nestled between Nice, one of the most vibrant cities of southern France, and the principality of Monaco, one encounters the Jardin Exotique d’Eze. The Garden is situated on a hillside, over 400m above sea level, with a rolling and rising landscape on one side, and an unbelievable view over the Mediterranean on the other. Narrow paths lead to the topmost
parts of the Garden where, during the summer months, there are days when not even a gentle breeze disturbs the air. Stately olive trees, Olea europaea subsp. europaea, dot the landscape of southern France. They are usually beautifully manicured to ensure a good crop of olives for the table or for pressing into oil. Since most cultivated olive trees have small, trimmed canopies, they are perfect for interplanting with succulents that appreciate bright, but filtered, light.
Olives have a taste that is best described as a mixture of bitter, sweet, piquant and savoury. Groves of olive trees are found throughout the Mediterranean. First-time visitors to the Jardin Exotique d’Eze are invariably in awe of this fascinating place, perched atop cliffs where a medieval castle sat precariously until the mid-17th century. It’s a fairly steep climb up from the village, along a brick and cobblestone path lined with numerous specialist shops and eateries, all of which seem to be chiselled from the rock face. From its humble beginnings after World War II, when René Gianton, the mayor of Eze, decided to create the Garden with the assistance of Jean Gastaud, the designer of the Jardin Exotique de Monaco, the Jardin Exotique d’Eze has morphed into an eclectic, structured garden whose short winding paths reveal a collection of robust, yet charming succulents. It is not until you get beyond the entrance gate and reach the edge of the white cliff that the Garden’s magnificent setting can be taken in. The land slopes steeply upwards, then abruptly downwards, towards benches where visitors can sit and gaze out over the Mediterranean. Up here, plantings of intermingled succulents seem to drift above the terracotta roofs of the buildings below. The Garden is set out in a very specific type of horticultural minimalism, in which strikingly beautiful architectural plants
are combined with hardscaping items to make a dramatic, sweepingly confrontational statement. What makes this minimalism so special here is that not only is the Garden planted in an exciting succulent style, but its natural setting gives it a distinctly relaxed atmosphere. Indeed, the beautiful views are an integral part of this Garden’s success. The climate of the French Riviera makes it easy to grow succulents outdoors. At the Jardin Exotique d’Eze, the designers have been inspired to take the concept of a traditional botanical garden to another level, planting exuberant collections of succulents instead of regular flowering plants and making this Garden a timeless classic that has been created with admirable attention to detail by generations of true lovers of fat-bodied and fat-leaved plants. These nearhanging gardens on the cliffs do well because a succession of innovators could visualise the design and effectively ‘see’ the end product. A delightful species of statice, Armeria leucocephala subsp. pubescens (sometimes referred to as Statice pubescens), grows on the cliffs below Eze. This form has pinkish blue flowers, and tough leathery leaves that are well adapted to salty sea spray. PLANT BORDERS AND BEDS A border is a bed that abuts a path, lawn, courtyard, conservatory or greenhouse – in fact, any structure in a garden,
even a house. In the connectivity age of instant global communication, indulging in thoughtfully designing a garden bed, large or small, is acquiring significant cachet, especially for the green-minded gardener. Succulents can be interpreted in a modern, contemporary way. Here a specimen of Agave victoriaereginae (centre, in a hanging pot) forms part of a window display in the coastal resort city of Nice, near Eze. (EF) In silhouette: these young specimens of the normally cliff-dwelling Aloe hardyi have been planted in small containers and displayed on a garden wall.
Furcraea parmentieri is an excellent addition to any garden. Its growth form is reminiscent of a single-stemmed aloe, as it also carries a dense crown of leaves subtended by a skirt of dry leaves. This species dies after flowering which, fortunately, takes over a decade. After the flowers have been shed, they are replaced by bulbils that resemble small, slightly elongated marbles. Each of these will grow into a new plant.
The leaves of Yucca aloifolia become infused with a reddish hue when it suffers water stress. The lantern-shaped flowers are carried in dense clusters in a candelabra-shaped inflorescence.
The barrel-shaped Ferocactus pilosus, with its hair-like bristles, is framed by the droopy-branched, tree-like inflorescence of Furcraea parmentieri.
Yucca elephantipes and Aloe striatula (here sporting yellow flowers arranged in dense inflorescences) are two succulent stalwarts that go well together. Dagger-shaped yucca leaves are carried erectly, while the aloe leaves are recurved. CLIFFS AND ROCKS The weathered limestone mountains that are a distinctive feature of southern France can appear to be both timeless and imposing. Whether encountered as a traditional building material or as a natural cliff face, there is something almost imperceptibly mellow about rugged, aged rocks. Succulents tend to flourish where life-giving moisture accumulates and where the cliffs and rock faces provide protection from the harsh rays of the sun.
The ribs of the columnar bodies of Trichocereus pasacana are armed with feathery-looking, but sharp, spines. In time, these stately plants will dwarf the plants that grow around them. The ceramic-like plant labels used in Le Jardin d’Eze have an old world charm. WHAT IS MACCHIA? Globally, areas that experience dry summers and mild, wet winters are called Mediterranean; it is not only the coastal
regions of southern Europe that are referred to by this term. Macchia, (maquis in French) meaning thicket, is a vegetation type that occurs around the Mediterranean Basin. It consists of dense evergreen shrublands, with species such as Quercus ilex (holly oak), Erica arborea (tree heather), Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) and Myrtus communis (myrtle) occurring there in vast numbers. Historically, the name maquis was adopted by various guerrilla movements, the most famous being the Maquis of the French Resistance during World War II, because the dense shrubland provided a good hiding place. The crimson red flowers of Cleistocactus samaipatanus shimmer and shine in the impossibly bright Mediterranean sun.
Umbilicus rupestris, the navelwort, is indigenous to Mediterranean Europe. This little succulent flowers in spring, towards the end of the wet season. Here it grows in the lichen-covered trunk of an olive tree (to which the bright green, new-growth leaves in the image belong).
Umbilicus rupestris grows happily in rock cracks and amongst boulders. The flowers of the species are rather dull-coloured and carried in short, erect racemes. The stem segments of the tree cactus, Consolea picardae, are sometimes somewhat banana-shaped. The flower buds of this species, which is commonly grown around Eze, have a reddish appearance, but the open flowers are yellow.
The emerging flowers of Opuntia quitensis are an attractive shade of red, which is here perfectly offset against a white rock.
The tree spurge, Euphorbia dendroides, which is indigenous to the Mediterranean Basin, from the Iberian Peninsula to Egypt, is non-succulent. Its leaves take on a beautiful reddish hue in summer. FACT BOX ADDRESS: Le Jardin Exotique d’Eze (Eze Botanical Garden): 20 rue du Château d’Eze, Eze Village 06360, Riviera, Côte d’Azur, France. (The medieval hilltop village of Eze is situated on the road between Nice and Monaco, on the French Riviera.) CONTACT: 00 33 (0)4 93 41 10 30 OPENING HOURS: Open daily, all year round; times vary with seasons. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round; some plants may be covered in winter to protect against frost.
COST: Entrance fee charged; reduced fee for students and groups of ten or more. ATTRACTIONS: Magnificent views, statues, castle ruins, cliff walks. FACILITIES: Only in the town. ACCESSIBILITY: Steep paths, steps and uneven surfaces.
A rectangular lily pond is framed in red and white flowers, with the Mediterranean Sea beckoning in the background.
When bold, over-scaled plants are required to accessorise a garden, agaves or century plants, such as the magnificent blue-leaved Agave franzosinii, provide clean lines and shapes and introduce a sense of opulent luxury. The Jardin Botanique ‘Les Cèdres’ was created for the love of plants. Perched on a promontory overlooking Villefranche, at Saint-Jean-CapFerrat, this private paradise is one of the horticultural gems of the French Riviera. There are many words that can be used to describe Les Cèdres: opulent, glamorous, uncompromising, indulgent, eclectic; but also timeless, traditional and peaceful. Taken together, they demonstrate that, when plants are grouped in a manner that brings out their best features and shows them off to advantage, the result is magical. King Leopold II of Belgium acquired the property in 1904 and the name ‘Les Cèdres’ was given to a villa on the estate. After he passed away in 1909, the property changed hands a few times until 1924, when it was purchased by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle, inventor of the liqueur Grand Marnier. Alexandre’s son, Julien, was a natural historian, botanist and horticulturist who played a major role in developing the Garden into what it is today: a botanical wonderland spread across 14 hectares (34 acres). Since
his death, in 1976, the Garden has been owned by the Société des Produits Marnier-Lapostolle. THE RIGHT SCALE When designing and planting up a garden, it is important to consider scale. In a large garden, big plants (or plants that grow big) can be used to break up the space into distinct areas. But remember that selectively leaving open vistas in large gardens is also a design feature. If you have the luxury of spacious beds and planting areas – therefore a big canvas to ‘paint’ on – there is no need to fill every nook and cranny. Les Cèdres is more of a landscape than a garden and, on the Côte d’Azur, panache and style have always inspired landscape design. In many respects, Les Cèdres evokes a bygone era: one where gentleman botanists travelled abroad to collect live material that was taken home, to be lovingly tended and displayed for the benefit of the collector and his guests. This private botanical garden has a timeless quality. The mild Mediterranean air and the unique light of this region give it a glimmer and a sense of space. Walking along its meandering paths is to feel at one with nature. Here, the observant wanderer is confronted with, and often surprised by, the diversity of the flora on display. As well as succulents, there are magnificent collections of orchids, palms, cycads, water lilies, philodendrons, bamboos, climbers, aroids, and much, much more. Taking a stroll through the grounds of Les Cèdres, one moves, almost imperceptibly, from formal beds to natural vegetation, exposing visitors to cultivated plants in the well-tended beds and borders as well as to the indigenous Mediterranean flora.
A beautiful statue in the courtyard near the Mexican Garden at Les Cèdres. Part of Les Cèdres has been transformed into a flowing space that consists of a network of greenhouses and cold frames, many of which are home to densely kept succulents. Year-round interest is provided by linking these ‘outdoor rooms’ with the meandering paths.
In one of the cold frames, the bright red flowers of Aloe squarrosa contrast vividly against the green backdrop provided by the small, dense leafy rosettes. Les Cèdres is constantly changing. The hardscaping provides a stable backbone for the companion plantings but, as the seasons come and go, there is always different material in bloom or sporting striking foliage. The landscape design uses symmetry and repetition to create an harmonious environment, and this is supported by the plantings, which have a simple splendour about them. Although gardening trends change – most trends last for two to five years – glamorous plantings will always be in vogue. Plants provide ‘bling’ to a garden in many ways: mass displays of flowers (mesembs, vygies); spectacularly robust foliage or plant bodies (agaves, cacti); imposing heights, girths or shapes (baobab, kapok trees, cyphostemmas); or shimmering, shiny or hairy textures that combine easily with other material (bromeliads, carrion flowers, kalanchoes). Evaluated against these criteria, there are several succulents that qualify as ‘glamorous’. Just think of the overgrown egg cup shape of the canopy of the leafless Euphorbia ingens (candelabra euphorbia, naboom); the flaming candles of Aloe ferox (karoo or bitter aloe) and Aloe arborescens (krantz aloe) pointing skywards in winter; the molten candle wax-appearance of the
trunk of Tylecodon paniculatus (butter tree, botterboom) with its peeling, flaky bark; or Aloe dichotoma (quiver tree) with its ball-shaped canopy perched on a cone-shaped trunk that is adorned with razor sharp, yellow and white longitudinal flakes. When it comes to garden glamour, succulent lovers are spoilt for choice and in few places is this more dramatically on display than at Les Cèdres. This bromeliad, Dyckia marnier-lapostollei, was named for Julien Marnier-Lapostolle, who significantly developed Les Cèdres. The orange flowers are carried on thin, erect inflorescences.
When the mild-climate Brazilian species, Chorisia speciosa, is in flower, it displays masses of pink flowers on often leafless branches.