Succulent, cacti and everything else

That succulent sparked two loves – with Bronwyn and Russell now raising three daughters, and Bronwyn busy with her a blooming gardening business. 

Bronwyn has no idea how many succulents, cacti, aloe and agave varieties she has at home – but said it was definitely north of 500, and possibly closer to 800. 

With the three girls, Ruby, six, Tessa, four, and Maisy, two-and-a-half, Bronwyn said she decided she needed something to do with her time that was “kid-friendly”, and began collecting succulents. 

Eventually she ended up with such a large array that friends began asking for bits, and she thought it was time to make the hobby a viable venture.

“It was mostly so I can make a bit so I can afford to buy more,” she laughed.

“I love gardening, so it was just a natural progression.”

Bronwyn has her own private collection which she continues to grow, and said as they “have their babies”, she then propagates from there.

Her succulents are now available at Theodore Home and Garden, a store with a heavy focus on local products.

“Every week I take two or three trays in and they’re gone in a day,” Bronwyn said.

“I’m just trying to keep up with demand at the moment, there’s people driving from a lot of places to go to Theodore to look at them.

“They are like my family so it’s hard to let them go – now I am sounding like a crazy succulent lady – but it’s nice.” 

Her favourite is the Echeveria agavoides Romeo, but she said she loves all Echeverias for their bright colours.

“I’ve got a lady at the minute who wants to do succulent favours for her wedding, so I’m growing trays and trays and trays of them so she can do that,” Bronwyn said.

“I’m thinking about having an open day soon so people can come and have a look and learn a bit about them.”

At home at Frogs Hollow, Russell and Bronwyn run a commercial cattle herd on 610 hectares.