Looking for the Perfect Tabletop Centerpiece?

When planning a centerpiece to place on the patio table consider a drought proof one, unless you live in an area such as the rainforest. Full sun and very good drainage are both main elements of creating a centerpiece full of drought proof or tolerant plants. Some good plants for this centerpiece that are drought proof or drought tolerant are Sedum angelina, Sedum lydium, Sedum Hispanic Purple Form, Sempervivum Mrs. Guiseppi, Sempervivum momentous and Sempervivum Rubikon.

Sedum angelina will grow three to six inches tall and should be placed in the container around the edge so that it will be allowed to spill over the edges. During the summer months this plant will have needle-like leaves that are golden-yellow in color, but as the weather turns cooler, these leaves will change and have a reddish-orange tinge to them. Also, in early summer there will be yellow flowers on stalks that are six to eight inches in height.

Sedum lydium will grow to about four inches tall, which makes it one of the smaller plants chosen for this drought proof table centerpiece and should be placed in the planter where it will be easy to enjoy. During the summer months the tiny emerald green leaves of this plant will be bronzy red. In the spring there will be flowers that range in colors from white to light pink.

Sedum Hispania "Purple Form" will grow to about six inches tall and can be placed in the center of the planter. During the summer months the foliage of this plant will be blue and will change to a deeper blue with purple hues as the temperatures get cooler. In the late summer there will be star shaped flowers that are pink on the plant.

Sempervivum Mrs. Guiseppi is one of the many 'Hens and chicks' type of succulent plants. This plant has two inch rosettes that are blue-green with tips that are purple and pointed along with pink flowers. The blue-green color will remain year round, making it a very pretty plant to add to the centerpiece.

Sempervivum momentous is another of the 'hen and chicks' type of succulent plants. This plant appears to have cob-webs on its two inch rosettes. The colors of this plant will remain year round also.

Sempervivum Rubikon is yet another of the 'hen and chicks' type succulent plants. This plant has bright red rosettes that also keep their color year round. Three year old rosettes will have to be replaced as they will bloom and die.

All six of these plants recommended to be put in a centerpiece are generally considered to be easy to grow and are evergreen, meaning that they will not die back. This is good in that the centerpiece will be pleasing to the eye year round. Full sun, well-drained soil and very little watering are all things that make these plants perfect for the patio table.