Succulents Continue to Evolve: Garden Solutions Steals the Show

If you’ve ever admired an unusually compact sedum or a succulent with color that didn’t seem possible, there’s a good chance Chris Hansen bred it.

One of my favorite stops at Cultivate every year is Garden Solutions. For years, Chris has focused almost exclusively on breeding better sedums and succulents — and the results speak for themselves.

The display that caught my attention first. Instead of sprawling or flopping the way many sedums eventually do, these selections stay compact and dense — five distinct colors, all holding the same neat habit. That makes them perfect for:

• ✓ Patio containers
• ✓ Succulent bowls
• ✓ Rock gardens
• ✓ Small-space landscapes

Expect to start seeing these paired with annuals and perennials at garden centers in the coming spring.

One standout introduction was this selection from the Sun Sparkler series. The silvery-blue foliage is unlike most sedums currently on the market, and it should provide outstanding contrast in mixed succulent plantings — blue is still the rarest color in this category.

A newly introduced Sinocrassula that drew a steady crowd. Its dramatic, sculptural texture makes it an ideal centerpiece for succulent bowls and collector planters — the kind of plant people point at before they read the tag.

Bottom line: succulents have moved far beyond simple houseplants. The newest breeding is producing plants that are more colorful, more compact, and more design-oriented than ever — and I think gardeners are going to love where this category is headed.

Reference: Cultivate ’26 (AmericanHort, Columbus OH) · Schlegel Greenhouse show-floor notes