Checking out OC Succulents, Irvine, CA

We're in Southern California for daughter #2's freshman orientation at University of California Irvine. When traveling with family, plant-related interests aren't at the top of my agenda, but I still try to squeeze in what I can.

Fortunately, the family sleeps late and many nurseries open early. Case in point: OC Succulents (OC stands for Orange County). It has three locations, one each in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. Primarily a wholesale nursery, it's open to the public as well. As you can see below, it's not a fancy “destination” with elegant displays and a nice cafe, but rather the kind of place where landscapers go with their trucks to buy big plants for landscaping jobs.

While the plants on tables are fairly organized, the larger ones on the ground are in no discernible order. Not that it bothers me—quite the contrary, it gives me an opportunity to explore, just in case something weird and unusual is hiding in plain sight.

The OC Succulents location in Irvine is quite close to the hotel where we're staying, and they open at 7 a.m. I was there a quarter after 7, and I was pleasantly surprised to see I wasn't the only customer. In addition to some landscapers, there even were a few retail clients picking out echeverias and other softer succulents. I'm always happy to see other dedicated succulent enthusiasts out early!

The photos in this post aren't in any particular order, but they show the wide variety of plants this nursery carries. All pictures were taken outside except for three. They're from inside the large greenhouse, which is home to small succulents (2-4" pots) as well as a huge selection of houseplants in all sizes.

Here is what caught my eye:

Apparently driftwood is a hot commodity

Not cheap either

And this is what you can do with your investment-grade driftwood

If I lived in a frost-free climate, the first plant I'd get is a large variegated Euphorbia ammak 

Some people think it looks odd, but I love the milky green color

This gave me a chuckle: a massive Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' for $595. Yes, it comes with dozens of pups, but even if you start with only one small plant, pretty quickly you'll have more pups than you know what to do with.

Instant impact

Not-so-instant impact, but much, much cheaper. All you need is patience.

Sand-blasted driftwood

Cholla skeleton pieces for tillandsias and such

Even a selection of rocks for top dressing

And an endless variety of echeverias and similar soft-leaved succulents

Inside the greenhouse:

Inside the greenhouse, I was surprised to find a few Cryptanthus, also known as earth stars. It's a genus of bromeliads native to Brazil. I bought two of the 2" pots you see on the left for $2.95 each. 

OC Succulents also has a large selection of sansevierias. I really like these compact Sansevieria hahnii types and got two ($5.95).

I almost missed a large outside area adjacent to the far end of the parking lot. This is where the boxed specimens are.

No prices, but multiple hundreds of dollars, I'm sure

Possibly the largest variegated Euphorbia tirucalli I've seen. In cooler weather, it's a vibrant reddish pink.

Lots of 5 gallon plants as well

Agaves everywhere

Nothing really rare but still a good place to start for landscaping projects

Mexican fence post cactus (Pachycereus marginatus)

Aloe buhrii, 15 gallon, $150

Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee'

Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light'

Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light'

Kalanchoe thyrsifolia

Unlabeled Aeonium forming particularly dense clumps

I still don't know how I feel about ruffled echeverias...

...but massed together like that, the visual impact is undeniable

A particularly white form of Cotyledon orbiculata

Dudleya brittonii

For more information on OC Succulents, including locations and hours, visit their website.

On the way back our hotel, I spotted a Lowe's and made a quick stop. Nothing remarkable in the way of plants, but the landscaping in the parking lot screams Southern California:

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