Welcome to my passion and love for succulents. I’m Diana Schoeman, owner and initiator of Succulents Online. Our farm is situated in the North West Province of South Africa where, in 2012, my deep love for succulents began.
A never ending journey of learning has ensued. I enrolled in a 2 year Gardening and Horticulture Course through Intec College and upon completion, dived straight into a 4 year horticulture diploma course through the Blackford Centre’s Distance Learning programs in the UK.
I have been growing and propagating succulents for 10 years for the local wholesale market. Finally, due to the expansion of our nursery’s and a healthy selection of common and unique plants, we are able to supply the general public via our website Succulents Online.
I believe we are so fortunate to be in South Africa with the diversity of succulent origins exceeding 45% of the global range.
Stem succulents like Euphorbia and Stapeliad are sometimes mistaken for a cactus. Evolving species either had to depend on their stems or roots as their major storage organ, others developed fleshy leaves.
Most leaf succulents, consist of fleshy leaves borne on thin, fleshy stems. Of the six major families the most predominant leaf succulents are the; Asphodelaceae, Crassulaceae and Mesembryanthemaceae.
Spines and hairs offer protective shading to the succulent. Spines also act as "dew points", ensuring that the dewdrops fall onto the soil for the plant to absorb moisture.
Many cacti and succulents spread their roots over a large area to absorb maximum quantity of moisture.
The word cactus is derived from the Greek word "kaktos" which means a (kind of prickly plant).
An Epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant but not parasitically.
Genus is a group of closely related plants. For example in a plants scientific name such as Euphorbia canatiensis - "Euphorbia" is the genus.
A hybrid is a plant created by cross-polinating two different species or varieties, indicated by the symbol "x" in a plant's name.
The natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism. The term "habitat" summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area.
Variegated refers to the leaves marked with multiple colours.
This is part of a plant's scientific name denoting a distinct varient of the main species, as in Sedum hirsutum subsp. beaticum
This refers to the part of a plant's name that indicates a slight variation in the species' structure, e.g. Caputia scaposa var. scaposa
This is the period from spring to early fall during which cacti and many-though not all succulents are actively growing, depends on the species and origin of the specific species.
Most cacti and succulents have distinct seasons of growth, followed by a period of slower growth or dormancy, dictated by the fluctuating temperature and light levels the plants would receive in their natural habitat.
Southern Africa has presented the world with a considerable number of succulents which are globally popular in domestic and amenity gardens(any planting within a public space, amenity space means indoor or outdoor space.
Some succulents’ popularity is increasing in horticulture, among several other factors and is now considered under threat of extinction.
PLEASE THINK TWICE BEFORE REMOVING ANY SUCCULENT FROM THE WILD, IT IS THERE FOR A PURPOSE NOT TO BE DESTROYED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. RATHER PURCHASE FROM REPUTABLE SELLERS.
