Knowledgebase
outdoor succulents #922595
Asked December 02, 2025, 11:37 AM EST
Garrett County Maryland
Expert Response
If the site is very sunny, Prickly-pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) is recorded from Allegany County, though should be cold-hardy enough for Garrett. They flower best in sun, but will tolerate partial shade, as long as the soil doesn't stay too moist.
Allegheny Stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephioides) grows wild in western Maryland, and is a compact perennial that prefers sunny sites with rocky soils. It is somewhat similar to the non-native or hybrid ornamental Sedum varieties like the widely-grown 'Autumn Joy'.
For a semi-shaded site, Woodland Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is a good choice and it occurs in many Maryland counties, including our western region. It's ground-hugging, but tends not to form a solid carpet of foliage like some other groundcover perennials.
Adam's-Needle Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is very drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant enough to be grown in western MD; it's native throughout our region and grows wild across much of our state. It's not a fleshy succulent the way Sedum and Opuntia are, but it still takes very little maintenance and thrives in sunny sites (tolerant of part shade) with good drainage. Cultivars exist with cream/yellow-banded leaves if you wanted more color.
Non-native options include several species/cultivars of Ice Plant (Delosperma), other Sedums (just avoid Sedum sarmentosum, which can be weedy, although it's generally not sold locally anyway), or other species that are not technically succulents but which have low maintenance needs, especially when grown in conditions that ideally suit them. (That's the case for many native plants.) Examples of native species for sites with gritty, rocky soil and excellent drainage include Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata), Early Saxifrage (Micranthes virginiensis), American Alumroot (Heuchera americana), Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Wild Pink (Silene caroliniana) and Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).
Miri
On Dec 2, 2025, at 4:59 PM, Ask Extension wrote: