Succulents

An excess of succulents is a common feature of millennials.

"What kind of plants do you grow?" "I really love succulents. I have a few different varieties that I take care of."

The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest ecosystem in the park. Eighty percent of the park is desert. Animals like jackrabbits, roadrunner birds and mule deer live in the Chihuahuan. Many cactus and yucca species thrive. These are succulent plants. Most succulents have thick, heavy leaves that store water. Cacti store water in their stems.

The U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington is a living plant museum, filled with the colors and scents of some 65,000 plants. In its greenhouse and outdoor gardens are orchids, cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants, bromeliads, cycads and ferns. And for much of this year, more than 75 paintings, photographs and illustrations showcasing key flora from America's national parks are on display, too.

Succulents usually live in dry, hot environments and have special adaptations to survive long periods of drought.