If you want reliable succulents for your landscape or container garden, you won’t go wrong with these award winning varieties.


Portulaca

Portulaca High Noon Yellow did great in mixed container trials at the Ohio State University trials at the Chadwick Arboretum.

Yubi Summer Joy Scarlet portulaca also did well in trials. It was among the top five performers at the Oklahoma State University field trials in Oklahoma City during 2007. Plants in the Yubi series are varieties of Portulaca oleracea. The species are low growing. In fact, they have ground hugging stems that tend to cascade over the edges of the pot or spread over the ground. The leaves and stems can have tinges of red or purple. Compared to other types of portulacas, the Yubis have thick foliage that is spaced much farther apart.

In Texas at the Dallas Arboretum, the Portulaca Hot Shot series proved to be a top performer. In the 2007 container trials at Ohio State University, Hot Shot Salmon Portulaca was named a winner.


Back Bay Daisy

Mezoo Trailing Red is a variety of the back bay daisy (Dorotheanthus spp.) This variety performed beautifully at Pennsylvania State University trials in Landis. Considered one of the most unusual varieties, this is known as living stone and tricolor mesembryanthemum. Native to South Africa, this has variegated foliage, pendant stems, and small vivid red blooms. Preferring full sun, it is not picky about pH. It is low growing, and adapted to adversity.


Ice Plant

Red Mountain ice plant (Delosperma dyeri Psold) was named a 2007 Plant Select winner in Colorado. This program names top varieties for the High Plains and Mountains regions. Recommended for zones five through eight, this is a perennial. Typically used as a ground-cover, it is spring blooming. The flowers are red.


Euphorbia Diamond Frost

Euphorbia Diamond Frost was among the top performers during plant trials around the country in recent years. It first became available to gardeners in 2008.

Euphorbia Diamond Frost was named a winner in Iowa. The trials were done at the Noelridge Park Greenhouses in Cedar Rapids. This was part of the city’s park departments.

This variety also performed well in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the Burden Center trials. It tied with Callie Deep Yellow Calibrachoa as the top winner at Penn State University trials.

Euphorbia Diamond Frost can be grown both indoors and outdoors. The plant is 1½ to two feet tall. It’s small, fluffy. white blooms are always an asset. For outdoor planters, it is often combined with other summer flowers, such as geraniums. It is also popular as an indoor flowering plant for the winter.