Succulents that attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators
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Pamela Noensie
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Sempervivum arachnoideum (hens and chicks) in bloom. Being monocarpic, they flower once, and after they bloom, they die. Photo: Lillian Trac
Flowers?
Yes, all succulents produce beautiful flowers—some each year, and some aloe succulents can even bloom several times a year. And these flowers can attract a wide range of beneficials--hummingbirds, bees, and many more—to our gardens. Most of the beneficials will be drawn in by the colorful flowers to feed on their nectar. But others, like the praying mantis, come to eat insects off the flowers.
If you want to add some succulents to your garden, come to the Marin Master Gardeners’ annual succulent sale on May 18, 2024 (sale details at the bottom of the page).
The following are just a few of the more than 90-plus varieties of succulents that will be available at the sale.
- Aloes growing in San Rafael in February. Photo: Alice Cason
- Aloe is a genus with hundreds of species, one of which is Blue Elf Aloe. Like most aloes, this species has thick, fleshy leaves with tubular flowers loved by hummingbirds. The spikes of orange flowers appear in winter and bloom through April in Marin. They look great in containers or planted in mass.
- Rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) is native to Chile. This succulent has stunning magenta flowers on long stems, which are often visited by carpenter bees. This plant works well in rock gardens.
- A syrphid fly on Aeonium flower. Syrphid flies are under-appreciated beneficials that feed on pollen & nectar and eat mealybugs & aphids. Lillian Trac
- Dudleya is a genus easy to grow in coastal places. Hummingbirds love the bell-shaped flowers. One native species is Catalina Island Live Forever (Dudleya hassei), which has red or yellow flowers. The foliage forms white “fingers” that turn pinkish in the dry season. It grows well in pots or rock walls, in full sun or part shade. (Dudleya farinosa is another similar native).
- Sedums. Members of the Sedum family display clusters of tiny star-shaped flowers that attract bees, birds, and butterflies. They bloom in winter, spring, and fall. Some plants are short groundcovers, while others, like the Sedum Autumn Joy, are taller plants.
A praying mantis hanging upside down on blue chalk sticks (Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae) that has yellow flowers. Photo: Lillian TracThe sale will be held at the San Rafael Falkirk Cultural Center Demonstrations Gardens, 1408 Mission Avenue, on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 am to 12 noon. Marin Master Gardener Succulent Sale
For information on planting succulents, see the UC Marin Master Gardener YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrABCo3C2Rs