DROUGHT TOLERANT SUCCULENTS AND CACTI FOR HIGH ALTITUDES

The interest and focus on drought tolerant, xeric plants has been greatly increasing in the past few years given the drought concerns in the U.S west coast and southwest regions. Santa Fe, New Mexico has a particularly unique climate given our high altitude location and relatively cold winters for a desert region. Therefore, knowing which cacti and succulents thrive best in our area can be challenging.

A great thing about cacti and succulents? Their ability to survive with very little water. We always recommend watering new plants in order to let them get established, however cacti and succulents can usually be weaned quite easily from irrigation.

Ditch the lawn! Cacti and succulents can also be used to create lovely gardens with a base of gravel and decorative accent rocks.

Here are some of our favorite high altitude cacti and succulents for Santa Fe, NM.

1. Ice Plant - these hardy, flowering perennials create a lovely ground cover that is very tolerant to cold and drought conditions. Ice plants are an excellent option for rock gardens.

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2. Yucca - this perennial shrub is extremely hardy, and with its lovely white blooms, makes it a great choice for our high desert region.

3. Sedum - a cold tolerant and hardy succulent that forms an attractive ground cover. There are many colorful varieties to choose from.

4. Agave - an attractive perennial succulent that is well adapted to a dry, desert climate.