PengSucculents

George Clift’s Greenwich Market stall, PengSucculents, is ablaze with the coral reds, desert greens and eggshell creams of a seemingly endless variety of succulents. Together with his business partner, Shi Peng, George cultivates each plant by hand, then sets them in handsome, decorative pots. They’re perfect for brightening up any indoor space.

The cultivation all takes place in Cornwall, a county with a unique microclimate perfect for rearing succulents and cacti. Drought tolerant and low maintenance, these are ideal indoor plants that actually thrive on poor soil and ‘neglect’. George quickly found out that these tough little customers don’t like rich soil, fertilisers or frequent watering. Just pot them in sandy soil, give them some sun and water them infrequently, and they’ll happily brighten up desks, shelves and other indoor spaces for many years. And, while they prefer the dry air of our centrally heated homes, some varieties can also live outside.

The range of shapes on display is riveting: the fleshy leaves and stems of Peng’s succulents are designed to store water, and come covered in spines, ‘fur’, waxy petals and many other eye-catching forms. Potted together, as George often does, they can look like ‘bansai’ landscapes of miniature cacti and other desert plants. Many, like the olive-green Fenestraria aurantiaca, put out spectacular blooms in season – in this case vivid yellow stars that flower in late summer.

Doing plenty of trade from their Greenwich Market stall, and from shops in Penzance, St Ives and other Cornish beauty spots, PengSucculents also offers landscaping and outdoor arrangements. Blending rocks, succulents and other plants into harmonious wholes, their bespoke gardens really are works of art. And just like their indoor plants, their landscaped creations are low-maintenance and drought resistant, making them as sustainable as they are beautiful.

George and Shi Peng put a lot of love into their bespoke creations, always made with only the healthiest, most vibrant specimens from each planting. They’re always delighted to turn customers’ visions into reality, whether that’s a whole garden or a single pot of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (also known as flaming Katy) to brighten up a bathroom. Hiring out spectacular displays of potted succulents for weddings, conferences, funerals and other events is another service they offer. The advantage of brightening up an occasion with their succulents, George says, is that it’s entirely sustainable and fuss-free.

Greenwich Market is an essential part of the business at PengSucculents. George, who grew up in the borough, has a powerful connection to the Market, and always wanted to trade there. That desire became reality in 2016, when PengSucculents opened its first weekend stall.

While the Market’s history and year-round flow of local and international visitors are important to him it’s the trading community that really makes it special to George. Let’s hope that, like his colourful, resilient little plants, he’s here at the Market for many years to come!