How does Crassula perforata 'string of buttons' and Lampranthus deltoides 'ice plant' grow. I thought they would look good together if the 'ice plant' doesn't grow to aggressively and the 'string of buttons' would hang.I have been told the 'string of buttons' will grow straight up but i read it can be grown in a hanging basket.I am having to grow it in mostly shade and just bright light,any direct sun burns it.The 'ice plant' seems to burn just as easily so they are growing next to each other under a tree with dapple sun.



I need 3 plants at the least to fill this oval shaped pot,i have a key lime that i could put in the middle.I just don't know if the 'ice plant' would out grow/grow over it??

I welcome all/any idea's & advice!!

@jojoe Hi jojoe!!

I have also what you refer to as "ice plant" (Lampranthus blandus) and from what I have seen so far, this plant is rigid, grows straight up and out (some branching) and can crowd out anything that is small and close to the soil. The crassula will grow up and when the branch gets tall enough, it may arch a little but something low can be grown underneath.

My method for chosing companions for already chosen foundation plants (your ice plant and your crassula) is to have an inventory of different plants sitting alongside your oval pot as you decide what to plant. Then just place each one into the pot temporarily to see if color or texture compliments the two foundation plants. Recommendations can be made galore but it's really what you find pleasant to look at in your pot and what you think goes that is most important. Of course, take into consideration plants with similar needs as your chosen foundation plants.

Since these two plants grow up and one does grow sideways too (the Lampranthus), I would try to have on hand some plants that are roundish or rosette in shape to balance the tallness of your plants. When you find you have your base plants chosen that give structure to your planting, then look for softer, flowing, clustering, or spreading plants on top of soil to fill in the empty spaces below the tall plants.

Here's some plantings I've done to illustrate my points. Hope some of this helps. If anything, it may help you to decide what you don't want. Remember, it is most important to choose plants with similar needs so that the planting can be treated as one unit to maintain.
This was really a collection of echeveria and what could go with them to add more color and texture. I wanted the full look right away for 'instant gratification':


Here's a planting that started with the senecio as the focus plant and what I could squeeze in with it to have a backdrop and then something that would contrast with its long spindley arms, so I added a sedum clavatum with its chubby leaves and rounded edges, but also a kalanchoe with its rounded leaves but delicate stems.


This is the first planting with Lampranthus

Lovely arrangements.

webesemps,
What kind of mesh is that in your first planter (keeping the soil and such from falling out of the sides)?

Planto

Thanks Hetty!

Planto, it's black window screening that one can buy as a roll at BB stores.

Oh, nice. I'll have to remember that for future use.

Planto

Looks very lovely but I prefer my plants separate in their own pots. But I do love to look at those beautiful creations. Then take home and split apart. Then my wife comes in and hits me. Oh well. Most plants seem to fight each other for space and sun after awhile. In the garden it is a different story.
Stush

Stush2019 said: Most plants seem to fight each other for space and sun after awhile. In the garden it is a different story.
Stush

So true, Care! ...especially regarding the "space" thing. I got into container gardening, (never putting anything in the ground), because I moved so much. Even in the house now with backyard and front yard, I have been hesitant to plant into the yard thinking that any minute I may have to move and take my planted containers with me (I've lived in 3 different states in last 4 years).
Hope your arm or head has recovered since you last got hit...

@webesemps Thanks for all the advice!!

Since you already have my 2 new plants ,how much sun have you found they can take? When i first got them they got sunburned even though i put them in partial shade.We are having a very warm spring actually i think we totally skipped spring it's been in the 90's for weeks,my plants went out in March.
The plants didn't have a period of time to adjust to being outside before it got very hot and all the plants in any amount of sun got a little burned,they seem to be adjusting now. I put the 2 new ones behind some other larger plants for more shade and they look a lot better. I would hate to not give them enough sun but i don't want them to get to badly sunburned trying to see what they like.Nothing can take direct sun here but i can take them out from behind the pots shading them if they need more sun.

P.S. your planters are beautiful, i found a new nursery not to far from me and i may need to go pay them another visit.

@webesemps
It took alot of going back & forth between the photo's to finally see the difference in the 2 plants but i do agree with you.My plant was labeled wrong. The blandus has more of a smooth leave and the deltoides has 3 sided with little points coming off of it.I noticed some of the pictures in the data base are even mixed up.Those 2 look so much alike but i couldn't any other difference besides maybe one spread more or is more of a ground cover.I wish they would grow outside here but every now & then it will get to cold.

@jojoe Jojoe, you are right...the two lampranthus seem to differ in growth pattern, ground cover spread vs upright branch-y shrub. But I have seen some ground cover that has had more height than I would expect in a ground cover. I wonder whether your L. deltoids is more the ground cover. Mine looks to be more the branch-y type with noticeable pink stems between leaf clusters. I can see how it could be ground cover if it was allowed to grow in large space. I have mine in afternoon sun but it is in patio that is surrounded by 3 walls so afternoon exposure might not be as extensive.

Here's pic of it in bloom:

Lovely picture - database??

Yes, Ma'am, Hetty!

Jojoe, if you have this succulent called anacampseros rufescens, it initially mounds, but can also trail as it extends/spreads. The stems are thicker so it can hang. Has nice blooms too, and can take full sun.

@webesemps
I'm having a hard time with the difference in the deltoide & blandus. Bev your photo's show a plant with points on the leaves and mine has smooth leaves. I need to do some research and rethink the plants going in the planter.
Here's a more recent photo of my plant


@Tarev, I do like that plant unfortunately i don't have it but my sedum adolphii grows close to the same way but i have it in another planter. As i said i need to rethink this planter and take a trip to the nursery.This new nursery i found the Sedum limelight & lizard there last year.

That would work too! Just snip and add to your new planter That is the ease with most succulents, you can easily snip and stick to another container especially with the temps getting warmer now.

Jojoe, I think they are slightly different; one might be more of a high ground cover and the other just a little taller. I think their needs are probably pretty similar and their looks are definitely so if we are having such a hard time telling them apart. You gotta admit, they have a distinctive cool-in-color look and so you gotta use it in a planter somewhere!! Have fun!

Does anyone else have any opinions on the difference in the Lampranthus 'deltoides' and 'blandus'?

I do agree the Lampranthus does have that blueish-gray color and the unusual shaped leaves. I must use it somewhere,the difference in the 2 seems to be a slight difference in the leaves as well as one is more of a ground cover and the other grows more compact,as far as i can tell.

@dutchlady1I believe my photo in the data base may be under the wrong one.
It was labeled lampranthus 'deltoides' ice plant/"Vygie" violet-lavendar, when i purchased it. Any idea's if this correct or not.


I had to move it after i noticed it was beginning to get a little sunburned.