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Definition: Coming from the latin word succus meaning juicy, the dictionary defines succulent as “1.Full of juice or sap; juicy.2. Botany Having thick, fleshy, water-storing leaves or stems.”
 As the name Succulent implies, they are handsomely textured, thickset plants. The leaves and stem are generally quite fleshy, which coupled with its perfectly symmetrical, rosette growth pattern, produces a plant with strong architectural elements. You will find succulents growing on rock outcroppings soaked every day by the ocean’s spray, clinging to rocks at alpine altitudes, and in deserts, where their form efficiently manages the storage of water. The succulent structure displays characteristics that reduce water loss, such as waxy coatings on leaves and stems, fewer stomata than occur on other plants, and stout, rounded stems that minimize surface area. Environmentally they grow in clusters sending out pups, stacking on top of each other, growing outward in ever increasing circles creating a strong structural profile.
Succulents naturally grow in every shade of green. Toss in some of green’s complement red, in all its varying shades from rose pink to burgundy, along with ivory and succulents provide a very wide palette of colors to choose from. There are also beautiful blooms available, like the lovely rusty-red blooms of the aloe, or citrus-green shades of the Kalanchoe blossom. Blooms add texture and color to the design and the best part is they won’t die after blooming as their living counterparts do.
For the most part faux succulents do not require styling so they are ready to design with right out of the box. Any time a rosette form is used in a design it creates a focal point. Because of this, the easiest way to design with succulents is potting them one species per pot, mixing sizes for interest.
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