Prickly matter: boss of succulent society quits in row over sourcing of plants

A row has blown up in the UK’s leading succulent society over the practice of snatching desirable specimens from the wild , with the chairperson now resigning in protest over the behaviour of his fellow enthusiasts.

- Helena Horton

Succulents have been at the forefront of the rising popularity of pot plants in recent years; they’re both hardy and attractive . A succulent won the Royal Horticultural Society plant of the year award in 2022, while the plants have also become wildly popular in Asian countries, leading to a massive increase in demand.

But the drought-tolerant plants are often taken from the wild. South Africa is home to a third of the world’s succulent species, and a huge number of plants come from there, according to scientists. There is also a growing succulent-smuggling crisis in California, which hosts some rare types.

Some countries have taken drastic action, such as Mexico, where it is now illegal to take cacti out of the country .

Dr Gregory Bulmer, who chaired the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS) since 2022, has said he can no longer remain in post because of the promotion of succulents dug up from their native habitats.

Bulmer had introduced a new policy requiring that plants which had been “removed from habitat ” – taken from the wild – not be exhibited or given prizes at BCSS shows.