Agave & Succulents


Hardy agaves and cold-tolerant succulents for UK gravel gardens, sun-baked patios and container schemes. Architectural rosettes and drought-proof structure for the sunniest, driest corners of the garden.

5 products

    5 products
    Agave stricta 'Nana' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Dwarf Hedgehog Agave

    Agave stricta 'Nana'

    £10.99
    1
    Aeonium nigrum Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Aeonium

    Aeonium nigrum

    £13.99
    1
    Aeonium arboreum 'Velours' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Dark Purple Aeonium 'Velours'

    Aeonium arboreum 'Velours'

    £12.99
    1
    Agave 'Shaka Zulu' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Agave 'Shaka Zulu'

    £26.99
    1
    Aeonium tabuliforme Variegated Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Dinner Plate Aeonium

    Aeonium tabuliforme Variegated

    £16.99
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Hardy Agave & Succulents

    Are agaves hardy in the UK?

    Some are, most famously Agave montana, A. parryi and A. ovatifolia, all of which handle temperatures below minus 15 degrees provided drainage is razor-sharp. The real killer of Agave in the UK is not cold but winter wet: a rosette sitting in soggy soil rots before the frost gets it. Get drainage right (grit, gravel, a raised bed if needed) and you can grow architectural rosettes outdoors year-round in most of Britain. Cold-hardy Sempervivum and low-growing Sedum work alongside them at ground level. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for hardy agave and succulents

    • Position: Full sun. The hotter and drier, the better. A south-facing wall or raised gravel bed is ideal.
    • Soil: Razor-sharp drainage is non-negotiable. Plant in a mound of half native soil, half sharp horticultural grit. In pots, use a cactus and succulent compost with extra pumice.
    • Hardiness: Species-specific. Agave montana and parryi are RHS H5 with dry conditions. Less hardy species (H3 to H4) are best in pots you can move under cover.
    • Watering: Water sparingly through summer. Never water in winter. Rain provides more than enough moisture from October to March.
    • Winter care: A pane of glass or clear roof panel above prized specimens keeps winter rain off crowns without blocking light. Container agaves can be moved into an unheated porch or cold greenhouse.

    Explore the hardy agave range

    Agaves pair naturally with drought-tolerant plants, full-sun plants and ornamental grasses in a gravel scheme. See the full Hardy Exotics range for hot, dry companions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Some are surprisingly hardy, coping with frost as long as they stay dry, while others are tender and best moved under cover in winter. Wet is more dangerous than cold, so sharp drainage is the key. Each plant is labelled with its hardiness.

    Yes, pots suit them perfectly, providing the sharp drainage they love and making them easy to move under cover in winter. Use a gritty, free-draining compost and water sparingly, letting the compost dry out between waterings.

    Far less than most plants. Through summer, water only when the soil has dried out, and in winter keep them almost dry, especially if they are outdoors. Overwatering and winter wet are the main causes of problems.

    Very free-draining soil is essential. In the ground, dig in plenty of grit and add a gravel mulch around the neck of the plant. In pots, use a gritty, open compost so water drains away quickly.

    Hardy types mainly need to be kept dry rather than warm, so a rain shelter or raising pots off the ground helps. More tender succulents should be moved into a frost-free greenhouse, porch or windowsill over winter.

    Agave and hardy succulents for a sun-baked look

    For a hot, dry, Mediterranean feel, nothing beats agave and succulents. Their bold rosettes, sculptural shapes and silvery or blue-green tones bring a striking architectural quality to sunny spots, and many are tougher than they look, coping with cold as long as they stay dry. This collection focuses on agave and the hardier succulents that earn a place in a UK garden.

    Perfect for pots, patios and sunny balconies

    Succulents and pots were made for each other. A single agave in a good container is a ready-made sculpture for a sunny patio, doorstep or balcony, and the free-draining conditions a pot provides are exactly what these plants want. They thrive on a little neglect, shrugging off the odd missed watering, which makes them ideal for busy city gardeners.

    Gravel gardens and dry borders

    In the ground, agave and succulents are the stars of a gravel garden or a hot, dry border. Plant them into very free-draining soil, mulch with gravel to keep the necks dry, and combine them with grasses and other drought-tolerant plants for a low-water, low-effort scheme that looks good all summer.

    Drainage and winter care

    The golden rule is drainage. Most hardy succulents will take surprising cold as long as they are not sitting wet, so grit up the soil, raise pots off the ground in winter and keep the rosettes dry. In very cold or wet areas, move tender types under cover or give them a rain shelter.