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Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants
With their colorful leaves, sculptural shapes, and simple care, succulents are beautiful yet forgiving plants for pots. If grown in containers, these dry-climate jewels—which include but are not limited to cacti—can be brought indoors in winter and so can thrive anywhere in the world.
In this inspiring compendium, the popular author of Designing with Succulents provides everything beginners and experienced gardeners need to know to create stunning container displays of exceptionally waterwise plants. The extensive palette includes delicate sedums, frilly echeverias, cascading senecios, edgy agaves, and fat-trunked beaucarneas, to name just a few. Easy-to-follow, expert tips explain soil mixes, overwintering, propagation, and more.
Define your individual style as you effectively combine patterns, colors, textures, and forms. Discover how top designers interpret the dramatic options, in ideas ranging from exquisite plant-and-pot combinations to extraordinary topiaries and bonsai. Expand your repertoire with plump-leaved plants that resemble pebbles, stars, and undersea creatures. Short on space? Create vertical gardens and hanging baskets, and use daisylike rosettes in wall displays.
Each of the more than 300 photographs offers an inspiring idea. A-to-Z descriptions cover 350 of the best succulents, plus companion plants. Whether your goal is a gorgeous potted garden for a sunny windowsill or outdoor living area—or simply making great gifts—this is a comprehensive primer for creating vibrant, living works of art.
In this inspiring compendium, the popular author of Designing with Succulents provides everything beginners and experienced gardeners need to know to create stunning container displays of exceptionally waterwise plants. The extensive palette includes delicate sedums, frilly echeverias, cascading senecios, edgy agaves, and fat-trunked beaucarneas, to name just a few. Easy-to-follow, expert tips explain soil mixes, overwintering, propagation, and more.
Define your individual style as you effectively combine patterns, colors, textures, and forms. Discover how top designers interpret the dramatic options, in ideas ranging from exquisite plant-and-pot combinations to extraordinary topiaries and bonsai. Expand your repertoire with plump-leaved plants that resemble pebbles, stars, and undersea creatures. Short on space? Create vertical gardens and hanging baskets, and use daisylike rosettes in wall displays.
Each of the more than 300 photographs offers an inspiring idea. A-to-Z descriptions cover 350 of the best succulents, plus companion plants. Whether your goal is a gorgeous potted garden for a sunny windowsill or outdoor living area—or simply making great gifts—this is a comprehensive primer for creating vibrant, living works of art.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 4, 2011
I started a little bit with succulents last year. I wish I had read this book first. Very good, very informative, and answered so many of my questions.
July 27, 2020
Gorgeous illustrations. Not exactly what I expected because a good portion of the book was dedicated in how to arrange plants and pots together (and every one was stunning, and with an explanation of why they visually worked.) The last part of the book was great information about various and numerous succulents. Highly recommend.
Did Not Finish
August 6, 2022A few weeks ago I attended a workshop on propagating succulents. The teacher recommended Debra Lee Baldwin’s books, website and YouTube videos as the best resources for learning about succulents. This is a gorgeous book, beautifully designed and packed with information and color photos. I looked through, but didn’t read enough of the text to consider it “read.” I’m more focused on outdoor gardening, but there certainly were a lot of inspirational photos and ideas here.
July 3, 2013
nonfiction/gardening. Valuable info about types of cacti and succulents (for those that have a lot of mystery acquisitions), HOW TO PROPAGATE AND CARE FOR THEM, and tons of inspiration for creating lovely arrangements (and accompanying advice on when you'll likely need to re-pot said arrangements).
December 3, 2016
Lots of text. Does not contain advice for buying succulents online or advice on where to get succulents, which would be online less you live near a major population center. Covers designing with succulents, care, propagation, soils, watering.. succulents for particular colors flowers, spaces and heights. Different container ideas. Has a gallery of different succulents. Lots of quotes and references to other sources and photos from other sources rather than the author's garden and experience. I had mixed feelings about this. Though she did have some personal shared experiences, I wondered if she was getting some of her material outside because she didn't have experience with those plants or techniques. I don't know. Still lots of helpful ideas for using succulents in containers. But, won't be the only succulents book I consult.
May 21, 2017
This book was "OK" but there are lots better ones out there, even by this author.
May 14, 2018
Nice reference and I learned a lot. This book is heavier on design than on cultivation, and full of lovely pictures. It also contains a plant guide and plenty of reference materials.
March 28, 2019
A 248 page book with beautiful examples of different succulent containers.
Towards the end of the book there is information on planting, care and propagation which I found very helpful.
Towards the end of the book there is information on planting, care and propagation which I found very helpful.
July 29, 2019
Beautiful!
This is a beautiful book and it contains a lot of information, not just on how to grow succulents, but how to arrange them and show them for maximum effect.
This is a beautiful book and it contains a lot of information, not just on how to grow succulents, but how to arrange them and show them for maximum effect.
Read
April 8, 2022biggest takeaway is “a little whimsy goes a long way” succulent books are a delight 🪴
January 7, 2024
Beautiful pictures of so many succulents and so many creative ideas for display. Definitely a must-have book for anyone who wants to grow succulents.
July 10, 2016
After devouring Baldwin's earlier book, Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties, I immediately dug into this one which focuses more on the varieties of succulents as well as arranging them. While the previous book seems to assume readers have a garden and climate to plant their succulents, this one focuses on their arrangements in containers.
Succulents varieties are far from boring and are full of quirks. Some of the genuses that pique my interest that are highlighted here include:
*Aeoniums - leaves look like flowers and often grow on on long stems
*Crassulas - include leaves that stack into logically into beautiful box or star designs as well as plump-leafed varieties like jades
*Echeverias - Some look like succulent versions of water lilies while others look like ruffled dresses turned upside down
*Graptopetalums - like echeverias, these also look like succulent versions of water lilies, but their stems keep growing longer
*Haworthias - are reminiscent of the spikey tops of pineapples, only plumper and are often zebra-striped. There are more thick-skinned varieties as well as ones that are plumper and more translucent.
*Lithops - also known as living stones because they look like stones
*Pachyforms - look like bonsai with water-storing trunks that are either a bulbous stem or root or with fat trunks and/or limbs. The beauty of these tend to be in the strange shapes of their roots and sometimes in also in their flowers
*Sedums - these are often spread and/or hang in multiplicity
*Sempervivums - the floral-looking moms keep multiplying with little chicks or pups that trail along with them
*Stapelias - look like exotic starfish, smell like rotten meat, and attract carrion insects to pollinate for them
Other interesting species include:
*Kitten paws - looks like soft kitten paws
*Panda plant - fuzzy pettable ear-like plant
*Lepismium cruciforme - leggy purple octopus-like with tiny flowers
*Agave victoriae-reginae - looks like a green flower that opens cabbage-like with each leaf individually painted with the outline of white curtains.
*Baby's necklace - a hanging variety that looks like a tightly-strung necklace of flat heart-shaped beads tinged with wine-colored stripes and ending in an uplifted sun-seeking rosette
*Euphorbia esculenta - a medusa-headed plant
*Mother of thousands - grows baby plants around the ridges on her leaves and then drops them to regrow ... thousands
*Rat tail cactus - cascade of long, skinny rat tails
*Sedum burrito - these "donkey tails" cascade and hang like thick ropes of tightly packed grapes
*Sempervivum arachnoideum - these cobweb houseleeks look as if they're covered with cobwebs and multiply with little pups
*Senecio rowleyanus - these "strings of pearls" cascade and multiply beautifully
Plants so idiosyncratic deserve to be arranged in interesting ways. The author suggests matching pots to plants in color, size, and shape and to consider unconventional containers. The book is full of beautiful pictures of various collectors' displays. One I like a lot is in a cast-off birdbath and has large flat rocks tucked around the outer rim almost like petals of a flower. I especially like the arrangements with cascading varieties of succulents (rat tails, donkey tails, strings of pearls) and/or pups (cobweb houseleeks or sedum varieties) falling over the edges. I'm now in search of the perfect spherical container to mimic the spherical shape of my cobweb houseleeks. And I also came to realize one of my less-interesting sedums can be bonsaied.
Miniature landscapes are also intriguing to me. I've had one going in my office for a while without realizing that it's an and actual arrangement type. The idea is to place items like miniature houses and rock "boulders" together with plants that make a scene where perhaps a taller plant is the tree and shorter ones are bushes or flowers. I like the subtle ones better than the more kitschy varieties.
After reading this book, I found myself wishing I had a greenhouse for overwintering an outdoor succulent container garden. But my work windowsill will have to do for now.
Succulents varieties are far from boring and are full of quirks. Some of the genuses that pique my interest that are highlighted here include:
*Aeoniums - leaves look like flowers and often grow on on long stems
*Crassulas - include leaves that stack into logically into beautiful box or star designs as well as plump-leafed varieties like jades
*Echeverias - Some look like succulent versions of water lilies while others look like ruffled dresses turned upside down
*Graptopetalums - like echeverias, these also look like succulent versions of water lilies, but their stems keep growing longer
*Haworthias - are reminiscent of the spikey tops of pineapples, only plumper and are often zebra-striped. There are more thick-skinned varieties as well as ones that are plumper and more translucent.
*Lithops - also known as living stones because they look like stones
*Pachyforms - look like bonsai with water-storing trunks that are either a bulbous stem or root or with fat trunks and/or limbs. The beauty of these tend to be in the strange shapes of their roots and sometimes in also in their flowers
*Sedums - these are often spread and/or hang in multiplicity
*Sempervivums - the floral-looking moms keep multiplying with little chicks or pups that trail along with them
*Stapelias - look like exotic starfish, smell like rotten meat, and attract carrion insects to pollinate for them
Other interesting species include:
*Kitten paws - looks like soft kitten paws
*Panda plant - fuzzy pettable ear-like plant
*Lepismium cruciforme - leggy purple octopus-like with tiny flowers
*Agave victoriae-reginae - looks like a green flower that opens cabbage-like with each leaf individually painted with the outline of white curtains.
*Baby's necklace - a hanging variety that looks like a tightly-strung necklace of flat heart-shaped beads tinged with wine-colored stripes and ending in an uplifted sun-seeking rosette
*Euphorbia esculenta - a medusa-headed plant
*Mother of thousands - grows baby plants around the ridges on her leaves and then drops them to regrow ... thousands
*Rat tail cactus - cascade of long, skinny rat tails
*Sedum burrito - these "donkey tails" cascade and hang like thick ropes of tightly packed grapes
*Sempervivum arachnoideum - these cobweb houseleeks look as if they're covered with cobwebs and multiply with little pups
*Senecio rowleyanus - these "strings of pearls" cascade and multiply beautifully
Plants so idiosyncratic deserve to be arranged in interesting ways. The author suggests matching pots to plants in color, size, and shape and to consider unconventional containers. The book is full of beautiful pictures of various collectors' displays. One I like a lot is in a cast-off birdbath and has large flat rocks tucked around the outer rim almost like petals of a flower. I especially like the arrangements with cascading varieties of succulents (rat tails, donkey tails, strings of pearls) and/or pups (cobweb houseleeks or sedum varieties) falling over the edges. I'm now in search of the perfect spherical container to mimic the spherical shape of my cobweb houseleeks. And I also came to realize one of my less-interesting sedums can be bonsaied.
Miniature landscapes are also intriguing to me. I've had one going in my office for a while without realizing that it's an and actual arrangement type. The idea is to place items like miniature houses and rock "boulders" together with plants that make a scene where perhaps a taller plant is the tree and shorter ones are bushes or flowers. I like the subtle ones better than the more kitschy varieties.
After reading this book, I found myself wishing I had a greenhouse for overwintering an outdoor succulent container garden. But my work windowsill will have to do for now.
March 3, 2017
I loooooooooove succulent plants so I found this book quite helpful. It's from 2010 tho so the design ideas are a bit old-fashioned. Or too American which might be the same. Anyhow, would still rec it to succulent plant lovers.
September 13, 2012
When I received Succulent Container Gardens by Debra Lee Baldwin I liked succulents, but now that I have read it, I absolutely love them. This is the best container gardening book I’ve found. I always pick out a plant and put it in the right size pot with no consideration to color and shape. This book helps the reader make their container gardens into works of art.
Succulent Container Gardens is divided into four parts. In part one Pairing Plants with Pots, the book shows how the shape and color of the plant and pot can compliment each other. Different pot styles are discussed, including ideas for using items around the house or thrift store finds. For a quick crash-course there is a section, Ten Quick and Easy Plant-Pot Combos.
Part 2 is Plant Palette with a description of the different kinds of succulents and their growing needs. Also included is information on the use of some nonsucculent plants as companion plants.
Part 3 is Creative Designs and Displays which shows plant groupings, hanging baskets, wreaths, stacked displays and even working with miniatures. These are some of the most beautiful succulent displays I have ever seen.
Part 4 is Planting, Care, and Propagation to make sure your plants stay healthy and prolific.
The photographs throughout the book are outstanding and numerous. They inspired me to begin planning for both indoor and outdoor displays. My favorite quote of the book is in the preface: “These are the plants that allow you to be lazy.” I highly recommend this book.
Succulent Container Gardens is divided into four parts. In part one Pairing Plants with Pots, the book shows how the shape and color of the plant and pot can compliment each other. Different pot styles are discussed, including ideas for using items around the house or thrift store finds. For a quick crash-course there is a section, Ten Quick and Easy Plant-Pot Combos.
Part 2 is Plant Palette with a description of the different kinds of succulents and their growing needs. Also included is information on the use of some nonsucculent plants as companion plants.
Part 3 is Creative Designs and Displays which shows plant groupings, hanging baskets, wreaths, stacked displays and even working with miniatures. These are some of the most beautiful succulent displays I have ever seen.
Part 4 is Planting, Care, and Propagation to make sure your plants stay healthy and prolific.
The photographs throughout the book are outstanding and numerous. They inspired me to begin planning for both indoor and outdoor displays. My favorite quote of the book is in the preface: “These are the plants that allow you to be lazy.” I highly recommend this book.
August 27, 2016
This is an awesome book on container gardening. Ms. Baldwin accepted the challenge of demystifying succulents and how to grow them. And she did a wonderful job!
She starts off by pairing plants with various pot types and styles. From there she talks about the many types of succulents along with some companion plants to consider. At the same time, you can see colorful photos with crisp detail. If you are a visual person like me, I can't say enough good things about the importance of well-developed pictures.
She talks about displaying your plants, the proper care and, lastly, she gives you some wonderful plant lists. If you are ever considering growing this family of plants, I would tell you to consider investing in the hard copy. It is money well-spent; you will get much use from this book.
She starts off by pairing plants with various pot types and styles. From there she talks about the many types of succulents along with some companion plants to consider. At the same time, you can see colorful photos with crisp detail. If you are a visual person like me, I can't say enough good things about the importance of well-developed pictures.
She talks about displaying your plants, the proper care and, lastly, she gives you some wonderful plant lists. If you are ever considering growing this family of plants, I would tell you to consider investing in the hard copy. It is money well-spent; you will get much use from this book.
January 8, 2013
I highly recommend Debra Lee Baldwin’s Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants, a follow-up to her inspiring — if California-centric — Designing with Succulents. Beautifully illustrated with Debra’s own photographs and chock full of smart design tips and growing information, Succulent Container Gardens is a useful resource no matter where you garden because the focus is on containers, which can be protected in freeze-prone zones.
I learned much from this book, including how to match a pot to a succulent’s form or markings; how closely to space succulents in containers; what materials make good top-dressing for container plantings; how to propagate succulents; and how to create floral-style succulent arrangements.
I learned much from this book, including how to match a pot to a succulent’s form or markings; how closely to space succulents in containers; what materials make good top-dressing for container plantings; how to propagate succulents; and how to create floral-style succulent arrangements.
October 17, 2012
I bought this after having Baldwin's "Designing with Succulents' at the ready as we totally redesigned our Southern California garden with succulents. 'Succulent Container Gardens' did not disappoint. I read the last chapter first so I'd know HOW to create a viable succulent container and then started from the front and am working my way forward. Many of her designs are not the simple elegance I prefer, but all of her designs are labeled with genus, species, variety and allow me to buy and create my own style in a sustainable fashion. I highly recommend this book to beginners and advanced gardeners interested in potting up and displaying succulents!
October 1, 2010
I've always been attracted to succulents but suck with maintaining plants. This book had some great ideas for those clueless to succulent care. According to the author, they are actually one of the most forgiving plants. We'll see ...
Read
January 6, 2011Another book which helped me decide how to work in succulents into my backyard and, frankly, inside my home. The designs are very attractive, simple and accessible for families with children or pets. Valuable resource
January 13, 2017
Nice designs, but I wish there were more information about where to find some of her great pots (online....as opposed to shops in California) and some more information about care of each kind of plant.
November 13, 2013
This is what I would call "an idea book". Good ideas to get you started doing potted succulent gardens in California or Arizona. Some of the accessory decor seemed old and not taking into consideration the recent miniature or fairy garden craze.
May 17, 2010
Beautiful picture, great ideas for succulents! Loved the book!
July 29, 2010
Beautiful! Inspiring!
September 8, 2010
Gorgeous and inspiring.
August 8, 2012
This is an informative and very inspiring book to read and have as a reference book. I have it as an ebook so it is always around to dip into.
March 16, 2012
I've never been a huge fan of succulents but after reading this book I would like to give them a try. I never knew the variety there is out there.
June 16, 2012
I'm not a big fan of gardening books, but this one is absolutely gorgeous and eye-opening.
October 5, 2014
Love the photographs of the succulents as well as the gardens. Contents include plants and pots, plants, design and display, and plant care.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Reviewed from a library copy.
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September 24, 2013opl has it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews