Known as Mother of Thousands, Mexican Hat Plant 'Jaws of Life' (Kalanchoe diagremontiana). This is the plant for "brown thumbs" It has been found growing from aspalt. It will melt after the first freeze and comes back by spreading thousands of seeds.
Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus, meaning "fierce or wild cactus,"are always cylindrical or barrel shaped and are usually among the largest cacti of the North American deserts. All members of this genus have prominent ribs and are fiercely armed with heavy spines. In some species, one or more central spines are curved like a fishhook, accounting for the common name Fishhook Barrel Cactus. Barrel Cactus flowers always grow at the top of the plant. They bear no spines and only a few scales. Fruits become fleshy and often juicy when mature, but are not usually considered edible.
Pencil Cactus
The pencil cactus, also known as a milk bush, is not really a cactus at all. This non-cactus is actually a tropical plant native to Africa and India, and in the plant world it is a part of the Euphorbia family. Successfully growing a pencil cactus is no different that growing any other tropical plant. In fact, this particular plant is quite easy to grow because it does not require much care at all. The basics – good soil, a bit of water and sunlight – will pretty much cover the basic needs of this plant. One of the best features of the milk bush plant is how easy it is to grow and keep. It is an extremely low maintenance plant, barely even requiring watering.
Bulbine
Bulbine has been named by leading US plant propagators to be a colorful, easy-to-grow, adaptable plant that’s appropriate for growing in containers. As a result, this once-forgotten beauty has now joined the ranks of more than 400 Proven Selections marketed for home garden use. Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant.
Agave
These form a large rosette of up to 6ft across. The pale bluish leaves have wickedly spined margins and prominent apical spines.
Red Yucca
Red yucca (which is not a yucca) is a stalwart in the landscapes of Texas and the southwest. Its dark green rosette of long, thin leaves rising fountain-like from the base provides an unusual sculptural accent, its long spikes of pink to red to coral bell-shaped flowers last from May through October, and it is exceedingly tough, tolerating extreme heat and cold and needing no attention or supplemental irrigation once established, although many people remove the dried flower stalks in the fall. Unlike yucca, the leaves are not spine-tipped, and have fibrous threads along the edges. Red yucca is native to Central and Western Texas. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.
Ocotillo
The Ocotillo is abundant in the Southwest because the soil is well drained on rocky slopes, mesas, out washed plains and desert grasslands. The ocotillo is deciduous, drought tolerant shrub. From its root crown it grows stems that can be any where from 9 to 30 feet tall. These stems grow in an "S" like pattern making the shrub look like an inverted funnel. The stems are covered with spines that can be 1.5 inches long. The leaves of the shrub are thick and leather like and grow several times in the growing season depending on the amount of rainwater available. The leaves are narrow 2-inch ovals, which can sprout within 3 day of a rainfall. The leaves turn brown and fall off when water is scarce. When the leaves die the stalk and part of the steam become woody and form spines. In the spring the Ocotillo produces flowers, which are tube like and bright red. The flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch in size with 5 lobes curled into 10-inch clusters. They can be seen from March to June and even later depending on rainfall. The Ocotillo can be leafless for a long time, because the roots are deep and do not get much water.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a rather easy to grow plant. It can be grown indoors almost anywhere and outdoors in select climates. Aloe vera plants are prized for the gel substance inside their leaves which is used for many types of medicinal purposes (medicinal aloe vera). Growing aloe vera plants can be something anyone can do and it lets a person keep an aloe plant on hand for whenever they need a little aloe vera gel. Aloe vera are grown naturally in Africa and the Mediterranean, so they are used to a warm growing climate. In areas that experience cold winters aloe vera can be kept as a houseplant or in a pot outside that is brought inside during the cold months. There are almost 250 species of aloe vera, but generally all have the same look. Aloe vera is green, which can vary from dark to a yellowish-green. Some aloe have white markings on them as well. If kept in a warm environment aloe can even produce yellow or orange flowers, but this is rare for aloe plants that are kept inhouse. Taking care of aloe vera plant is quite simple. They do not need a large amount of care and if a person forgets to water them it is actually a good thing for this plant. Aloe vera needs soil that is well drained, like a light mix of part potting soil and another medium. It should be kept in a sunny location when inside and in sun or partial sun outside. The main problem with growing aloe is usually over watering. It is easy to tell when the plant has had too much water as it becomes dull in color and the leaves become very soft. If this happens the plant should be allowed to dry out and then watered lightly. This should cure the problem.
Echeveria Prolifica
Miniature rosettes to 3cm across, offsetting profusely to form an excellent ground cover. Silvery green leaves. Yellow flowers. Sun/part sun.
Sedum Sexangulare
Deep green tiny needle shaped leaves mass to form a dense ground cover. Starry yellow flowers. Sun/part sun.
Sedum Adolphy
Sedum Gold Mound
Soft needle-shaped lime-green leaves form dense mounds with starry yellow flowers in spring. Excellent ground cover or hanging pot specimen. Sun/part sun.