Succulents create a living picture

A framed box of easy to maintain, colourful succulents makes a stunning natural artwork, which changes as it grows

With their thick, fleshy, sap-filled leaves and rainbow colours, succulents are both easy to care for and attractive to look at. They come in a variety of shapes, from rosettes to trailing flat-leaved varieties, and require no pruning and little watering, as well as staying relatively pest free. Their shallow root systems and small size make succulents ideal for adding greenery and visual interest to the home, particularly if creating a vertical wall hanging. A simple wooden container is made from a seed tray and covering of mesh, with lengths of wood to create a frame and add depth. Once filled with compost, a varied selection of succulents are planted within the wire grid to hold them in place. The living arrangement can be attached to a wall or simply laid flat to display on a table.

A similar tray to the one pictured can be made by cutting a piece of wire mesh to fit on top of a seed tray and nailing four lengths of wood along each edge to secure it in place.