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

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.

A clump-forming succulent, red yucca has arching, leathery, linear foliage rising to between 2 and 3 feet tall. Dark olive-green leaves with no thorns or spines are sparsely covered with fibrous strands along the margins. Deep coral pink flowers with golden yellow throats crowd the length of the stalks that reach three feet or more. Foliage has a reddish bronze hue during winter's chill for year-round interest.

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.