Hey green thumbers, are you on to the hottest new floral trend happening in the Hamptons ~ Succulents! Pansies are out, and these quirky little guys are popping up in flower boxes, dinner parties centerpieces, and chic pool pots all over the East End ! KDH popped over to my designer friend Zoe Hoare’s adorable Sagaponack cottage for a little class on Succulents 101. Zoe’s one of a kind arrangements are available at English Country Antiques, and will be featured at the upcoming Madoo Conservancy benefit on Saturday, June 15th.

Zoe shares great tips and takeaways about this mysterious desert flower in her new KDHamptons Garden Diary below:

KDHamtons: Why are succulents such a big trend this summer?

Zoe Hoare: Succulents are in the cactus family, and over the last few years they have become incredibly popular both in landscaping patio pots, as a flower, or for dinner parties. There is a wide variety of species that are now available, and they have become popular with designers & stylists like me for long lasting and unusual displays of color and texture. I call them the thinking mans plant….they have a mystery about them, an unusual quality of hardiness and delicacy together.

KDHamptons: Are succulents easy, or tricky to care for?

Zoe: Easy! Succulents like lots of light, not a lot of water. That’s pretty much it. Although mine thrive on organic plant food, which you can pick up at any good nursery. Gardeners refer to plants liking, or disliking, having “wet feet”. Succulents definitely like to keep their toes dry! The greatest part about these plants is that they are quite easy to care for in pots, as long as they are in a porous soil and don’t get over watered!

KDHamptons: How often do they need to be watered ? Sun?

Zoe: Yes, they need lots of light, water once or twice a week, as long as they have good drainage. In the summer, you could water them alongside your other potted plants…..just don’t drown them.

KDHamptons: What are the names of a couple of your favorite succulents?

Zoe: I adore all types of Sedum, and Echeveria Elegans for their soft green, grey hues.

KDHamptons: We’re crazy about the vintage vessels you plant the succulents in ~ Where did you find them?

Zoe: The zinc chicken feeder [above] I found here in a thrift shop, and the piglet troughs [below], and vintage terracotta pots I find in England! I have a friend who lives in the countryside and goes to all the country auctions for me…

KDHamptons: Do succulents thrive best indoors, or outdoors? If you plant them, will they come back?

Zoe: Some varieties will come back, look for “Perennial “on the label….
I’ve done well with Semperviviums, and Sedum Cauticola. I move mine from indoors to out, and back again…if I haven’t got fresh flowers for my dinner party, I’ll line up some succulents on the table….they almost look edible!

KDHamptons: What is the average price range of your arrangements and where can readers buy?

Zoe: Depending on the arrangement and container, my pieces are from $ 25 – $ 250.00. Ill be selling the vintage vessels at Much Ado about Madoo, June 14th and 15th ~ Hope to see you there! [ please go to www.madoo.org for more information]

**To shop English Country Antiques, go to:

http://www.ecantiques.com/search.php

Stores locations: 26 Snake Hollow Rd, Bridgehampton; 631.537.0606, or 53 North Sea Road, Southampton; 631.204.0428

*Photos in this feature by Kelli Delaney Kot