Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - March 04, 2008

From: Angel Fire, NM
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Succulents for 9150 feet in New Mexico
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What succulents could grow in Angel Fire, New Mexico, at an altitude of 9150 ft.in a northwestern windy exposure in rocky-ish soil? Are there any that are perennials? Thank you.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants found a few succulents that will grow in New Mexico at that elevation but they are all very small. All those listed below are perennials.

Sedum lanceolatum (spearleaf stonecrop)

Sedum wrightii (Wright's stonecrop) (a photo of Sedum wrightii)

Rhodiola integrifolia (ledge stonecrop)

Rhodiola rhodantha and R. integrifolia

Oxyria digyna (alpine mountainsorrel) (more photos of Oxyria digyna)

Claytonia megarhiza (alpine springbeauty) (more photos of Claytonia megarhiza)

Minuarta rubella (beautiful sandwort) (more photos of Minuartia rubella)

Saxifraga caespitosa (tufted alpine saxifrage) (photos of Saxifraga caespitosa)

 

From the Image Gallery


Spearleaf stonecrop
Sedum lanceolatum

Ledge stonecrop
Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia

Alpine mountainsorrel
Oxyria digyna

Alpine springbeauty
Claytonia megarhiza

More Cacti and Succulents Questions

Why are the leaves of my century plants yellowing?
June 22, 2009 - I am taking care of the Agaves (century plants) for my condo community here in Austin. They are planted in 18" or 20" pots. A couple of the plants have leaves that are yellowing around the bottom....
view the full question and answer

Scale on Agave attenuata from Melbourne, Australia
January 27, 2011 - I have an agave attenuata in a pot. It has been attacked by scales. I have been spraying it every 3-4 days at night with a chemical sold to me by the local gardening store. It's not helping and I am...
view the full question and answer

Twist-leaf Yucca flowering in Burnet County, TX.
June 16, 2015 - I recently moved to Burnet County and our property is full of twist leaf yuccas which are now blooming, but not all are blooming. Why do some twist leaf yuccas bloom and others don't? Are they m...
view the full question and answer

Large agave (century plant) flower stalk
June 17, 2008 - HI.I live in Blythe, Ca. and have a GIANT of an agave in my back yard. It is now over 40'high and is blooming. I first noticed the stock growing at Easter when it was about 12' high. It is now t...
view the full question and answer

Will cochineal insects washed from cactus plants harm adjacent Oleander?
June 11, 2015 - Will mealybugs (cochineal insects) power washed off prickly pear cactus harm adjacent oleander plants if the white fluff gets on the oleander? My neighbor asked me to power wash my prickly pears and t...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.