Wonderful leaf shape as well as pleasing colour makes Echeveria ‘Blue Curl’ a stand out succulent, ideal for contrast among plants with small or narrow foliage. In a pot it’s sensational, the curly leaves shown off to perfection when lifted above their surroundings. Because it’s drought tolerant it’s a stress free plant for a pot, grateful if watered during dry spells but forgiving if paid no attention at all. What it does need is good drainage, sun, and protection from anything more than very light frosts. Where frosts are a bit heavier a little protection afforded by tucking Echeveria ‘Blue Curl’ up against a wall of the house or shed where the eaves provide overhead protection can provide effective frost protection.

So what’s a good way of using Echeveria ‘Blue Curl’ in the garden? There are many options, from mingling it with other succulents to incorporating it into a textural garden where the emphasis is on foliage. In a beach garden it has the right look for combining with driftwood or gravel paths and is superb among blue grey, ground covering Pimelea prostrata or the little blue native grass Festuca coxii.

Emphasise its distinctive, bold look by contrasting it with shapely plants, such as wiry stemmed Corokias or the new and fascinating ‘Twisted Sister’ flax, which is a compact grower with broad, light green foliage with an orange edge and a a fascinating, slightly twisted style of growth.

For a bold statement, plant several Echeveria ‘Blue Curl’ as a surrounding for silver foliaged Astelia ‘Silver Spear’ which is like an elegant, silvery flax. This combination works as well in a large container as it does in the garden. Another good looking, low maintenance, all year interest idea for a pot is combining ‘Blue Curl’ with other succulents in a range of leaf colours and shapes. For contrast, add a plant or two of black mondo grass, Ophiopogon ‘Black Dragon’, and you will see why foliage can sometimes take the place of flowers.