Dyckias' tolerance of extreme heat makes them perfect for xeriscapes. Almost all are well armored with small but nasty teeth that require careful handling. But many are worth the occasional loss of blood, especially the relatively new cultivar 'Cherry Cola', which features deep, dark burgundy foliage. Bright orange blossoms appear in summer and are a magnet for hummingbirds. Dyckias are unique in being a plantable, in-the-ground bromeliad relative.

Even those accustomed to the diversity and color of succulents are amazed by the "flowers" of black rose. They are actually burgundy-black leaves arranged in rosettes at the ends of stalklike stems. The bright yellow flowers in winter are a stunning contrast against the dark foliage. 'Zwartkop' is a wonderful backdrop plant, providing a black velvet canvas against which many companion plants shine.

This plant has a dense rosette of fleshy blue-gray leaves and produces tall, cream-colored flowers tinged with red or pink in summer.

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The spine-tipped leaves of this aloe grow in a beautiful spiral; mature plants have five rows of leaves growing either clockwise or counterclockwise. It is very hardy, but will rarely flower. A native of Lesotho, Africa, it is extremely endangered due to overcollecting.