Living walls transform Albuquerque yards into stunning vertical gardens while saving precious water. These architectural plant displays thrive in our desert climate when filled with the right succulents.
Choosing water-wise plants means you can enjoy beautiful greenery without the guilt of excessive irrigation in our drought-prone region.
1. Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum)
Star-shaped rosettes in various colors make Hens and Chicks perfect for creating patterns on living walls. They multiply without much fuss, filling empty spaces naturally.
Cold hardy down to -30°F, these tough little plants handle Albuquerque’s occasional freezes with ease. Their shallow roots work wonderfully in the limited soil of vertical gardens.
2. Stonecrop Sedum
Trailing varieties like ‘Burrito’ cascade beautifully down living walls, creating a waterfall effect of plump, blue-green leaves. Upright types add architectural interest with their sturdy stems.
Many sedums burst into starry flower displays in summer, attracting butterflies to your vertical garden. Their extreme drought tolerance means they’ll survive if you forget to water for weeks.
3. Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora)
Resembling stacks of pancakes, paddle plants add bold structure to living walls with their thick, round leaves edged in dramatic red. The striking geometric form creates focal points among smaller succulents.
Morning sun works best in Albuquerque, as afternoon heat can scorch these beauties. Their shallow root systems make them ideal candidates for the limited soil depth of vertical gardens.
4. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
Delicate strands of bead-like leaves dangle elegantly from living walls, creating a stunning curtain effect. Place these near the top of your design to maximize their dramatic trailing habit.
Partial shade prevents sunburn in Albuquerque’s intense summer heat. String of Pearls needs slightly more water than other succulents but still qualifies as low-maintenance for our desert climate.
5. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Rope-like stems covered in plump, overlapping leaves create a textural masterpiece on living walls. The blue-green color provides a cool visual contrast to Albuquerque’s warm adobe tones.
Fragile leaves detach easily, so place these where they won’t be bumped frequently. Morning sun with afternoon shade provides ideal growing conditions while protecting from our harshest summer heat.
6. Echeveria Varieties
Rose-shaped rosettes in blues, purples, pinks, and greens create living artwork on vertical gardens. Compact growth habits make echeverias perfect for filling spaces between larger specimens.
Most varieties produce dainty flower stalks in spring, adding seasonal interest. Protect from afternoon sun in Albuquerque summers and ensure good drainage to prevent root rot in these gorgeous but sometimes finicky succulents.
7. Aeonium ‘Kiwi’
Vibrant rosettes featuring yellow centers, green middles, and red edges bring a splash of sunset colors to living walls. The pinwheel pattern creates natural focal points throughout your vertical garden.
Semi-dormant in summer, ‘Kiwi’ needs strategic placement in Albuquerque yards. Eastern exposures with morning sun work beautifully, protecting these showstoppers from our intense afternoon heat while providing enough light.
8. Prickly Pear (Opuntia microdasys)
Miniature varieties of this native Southwest icon add authentic desert character to living walls. The distinctive paddle-shaped pads covered in golden glochids create interesting patterns against other succulents.
Extremely drought tolerant, prickly pears practically thrive on neglect in Albuquerque’s climate. Spring brings the bonus of bright yellow or orange flowers, followed by purple fruits that attract birds to your yard.
9. Aloe Juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe)
Spiky, striped leaves arranged in spiraling rosettes create architectural interest on living walls. Much smaller than common aloe vera, this petite variety fits perfectly in vertical garden pockets.
Orange-red tubular flowers appear on tall stalks in spring, attracting hummingbirds to your Albuquerque yard. The distinctive white teeth along leaf margins add textural detail that contrasts beautifully with smoother succulents.
10. Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)
Pale, opalescent rosettes seem to glow against darker succulents, adding dimension to living walls. The ghostly blue-gray color intensifies with more sun exposure in Albuquerque’s clear skies.
Stems grow longer over time, creating a semi-trailing habit that adds movement to vertical displays. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, ghost plants thrive in our region’s low humidity and require minimal irrigation.