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Great Design Plant: Slipper Plant
Unthirsty succulent looks great all year and offers an unexpected surprise in fall
For home gardeners who love the idea of xeriscaping but think that cacti and agave are your only options for lowering water consumption, think again. The slipper plant (Pedilanthus macrocarpus) is not only a sustainable gardening godsend, it also conveniently propagates through cuttings. Consider this plant as the gift that keeps on giving.
“One of the plants we have a hard time not using is Pedilanthus macrocarpus,” says Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design. “It is a fantastic looking succulent, looks great-year round, and is perfect for massing in narrow planting areas or featuring in raised planters.” And with a beautiful fall-blooming flower to boot, we're just about to see the slipper plant at its annual prime.
“One of the plants we have a hard time not using is Pedilanthus macrocarpus,” says Kathryn Prideaux of Prideaux Design. “It is a fantastic looking succulent, looks great-year round, and is perfect for massing in narrow planting areas or featuring in raised planters.” And with a beautiful fall-blooming flower to boot, we're just about to see the slipper plant at its annual prime.
by Prideaux Design
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Botanical name: Pedilanthus macrocarpus (syn. Euphorbia lomelii)
Common names: Slipper plant, lady’s slipper
USDA zones: 9-10
Water requirement: Water monthly or as needed
Sun requirement: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: 3'-6’ tall x 3'-6' wide (clumps)
Growth rate: Slow
Environmental benefits/concerns: Drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; can cause skin irritation; white sap poisonous if ingested
Common names: Slipper plant, lady’s slipper
USDA zones: 9-10
Water requirement: Water monthly or as needed
Sun requirement: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: 3'-6’ tall x 3'-6' wide (clumps)
Growth rate: Slow
Environmental benefits/concerns: Drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; can cause skin irritation; white sap poisonous if ingested
by Prideaux Design
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Distinguishing traits. This ‘desert bamboo’, as Prideaux has aptly nicknamed it, grows in a clumped mass of ½" thick tapered stems. The stems are coated in a vegetable wax, a survival method for locking in what little moisture a desert would offer, giving the plant a solid, almost plastic-like appearance.
While the bright green stems of this perennial succulent remain bare for most parts of the year, fall and spring usher in showstopping orange blossoms from which the slipper plant gains its name. In fall, when many plants are beginning to lose their leaves, the small bright bursts of golden orange are an unexpected surprise in the landscape, signaling the change of the seasons.
While the bright green stems of this perennial succulent remain bare for most parts of the year, fall and spring usher in showstopping orange blossoms from which the slipper plant gains its name. In fall, when many plants are beginning to lose their leaves, the small bright bursts of golden orange are an unexpected surprise in the landscape, signaling the change of the seasons.
by Prideaux Design
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How to use it. Showcase the slipper plant by treating it as a piece of living sculpture in your landscape. A clean planting plan highlights its quirky, undulating stems.
Create your own desert modern landscape with linear plantings of the slipper plant in a bed of gravel. If minimalist gardening isn’t quite your idea of an inviting landscape, consider using the slipper plant as a potted accent piece. Container gardening is a great way to reveal your personal design style and tie your garden decor with the overall theme of your home.
Create your own desert modern landscape with linear plantings of the slipper plant in a bed of gravel. If minimalist gardening isn’t quite your idea of an inviting landscape, consider using the slipper plant as a potted accent piece. Container gardening is a great way to reveal your personal design style and tie your garden decor with the overall theme of your home.
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by Prideaux Design
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| Before you plant. Native to the deserts of Mexico, the slipper plant is extremely tolerant of heat and hardy to around 22 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a climate with extreme winters, your best bet for the plant’s survival is to limit the use of this specimen to portable planters and bring it inside for the season as soon as the temperature begins to drop. Keep the soil well-drained, and your Pedilanthus will make for a great house plant until spring. Next: See Pedilanthus in an inspiring desert landscape More: Great Design Plant: Bald Cypress Great Design Plant: New Zealand Wind Grass |
Comments
Becky Harris So pretty and architectural - I'm loving these plant lessons Annie!
20 months ago · Like
lynnrww I've been told that these plants are very dangerous to dogs. :(
20 months ago · Like
Annie Thornton Hi @lynnrww, it's true that the sap of these plants can be dangerous to pets and can also make people sick. It's wise to know all potential risks associated with a plant before you plant. Consider planting these where the pooch can't reach or pass on this plant for your house.
20 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Oct. 25, 2011.
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