Succulents (Various)

Succulents Plant Features

Succulents are some of the trendiest plants around. You often see them featured in magazines, blogs, and everywhere else (including Pinterest). It's no wonder why: Succulents offer a wonderful array of colors and textures. Plus, they're easy to grow indoors and out!

Succulent houseplants are popular plants for window sills, bright desks, and other indoor spaces where you can show them off. We're especially fond of succulents grown on living walls! As houseplants, succulents thrive in just about any container, so look for the perfect pot to play off the plant's fun colors or interesting textures. Or go bold and group a collection of your favorite succulent houseplants together in a big basin!

Outdoors, succulents are perfect for landscapes and container gardens. Most succulents are from warm-weather areas, and make for great perennials in frost-free regions. Gardeners in the North can enjoy succulents outdoors in container gardens, or treat them as high-class annuals you replace every year.

Some of the more common groups of succulents include Agave, Aloe, Crassula, Echeveria, Gasteria, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Ledebouria, Portulacaria, and Senecio.

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Succulents Growing Instructions

Grow succulent houseplants in the brightest spot you have. They love a sunny window sill, but also thrive under bright artificial light, making them ideal accents for your desk at work or school.

Outdoors, most succulents need a spot with at least a half day of sun. Typically, the more, the better -- especially if you want to enjoy the plants' colors to their best effect.

Because succulents store water in their leaves, they don't need to be watered very frequently. Once every couple of weeks -- or less -- may suffice, depending on the variety, the size of the pot, and the amount of light and temperature it gets.

Most succulents are pretty slow growing, especially as houseplants, so you typically don't need to worry about pruning them. But you can fertilize succulents if you want for faster growth. Spring and summer are the best time to fertilize them; you can use any general-purpose fertilizer. Follow the directions on the packaging to make sure you apply the right amount.

Note: While they're beautiful and easy-care plants, succulents are not intended for human or animal consumption.

Get tips for planting succulents (and cacti)

Light

Indoors: High light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Blue

Green

Orange

Pink

Purple

Red

Silver

Variegated

White
Special Features

Colorful foliage

Deer/rabbit resistant

Purifies the air

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Succulents

Cactus
Cacti are natural partners for low-water succulents and can provide fun textural and color contrasts.

Dischidia
Indoors, easy-care dischidia is a perfect partner for succulents.

Our favorite varieties

Aloe 'Bright Star'

Bright Star aloe features gray-green leaves flushed with pink and bold reddish-orange edges. It grows about 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Aloe 'Cha Cha'

This hybrid shows off silvery-green leaves delightfully decorated in silver spots. It grows 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Aloe 'Christmas Carol'

Add color to sunny outdoor spaces or bright windowsills with Christmas Carol aloe. It has gray-green leaves boldly edged in reddish-orange. It grows 6-10 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Agave salmiana

Agave salmiana var. ferox

This agave features lance-shaped leaves tipped with sharp brown spines. It's a slow-grower that can eventually get quite large; to 4 feet or more! Zones 7-10

Aloe nobilis

Aloe nobilis (also called gold tooth aloe) is a showstopper with big green leaves splashed with white. It grows 16 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11 outdoors as a perennial

Aloe aristata

A delightful succulent, this is also called lace allow, and features rich green leaves with white spots. It stays pretty small -- only about 6 inches. Zones 8-10

Aloe 'Minibelle'

Minibelle aloe is an adorable, easy-care variety that offers textural green leaves and white speckles. It grows only 10 inches tall and 16 inches across. Zones 10-11 outdoors

Aloe brevifolia

A fun aloe with bright orange flowers and gray-green leaves, this variety gets about 2 feet across. Zones 9-10

Aloe 'Sunrise'

Add bright color to your succulent collection with Sunrise aloe. This variety features orange-red variegation on its gray-green foliage. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Aloe juvenna

Also called tiger tooth aloe, this is an easy-care succulent that shows off bright green leaves spotted in white and edged in light-green spines. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Aloe Walmsley's Variegated

Aloe 'Walmsley's Variegated'

Walmsley's Variegated is a whimsical variety that, as its name suggests, has leaves variegated with light green and cream. It's easy to grow and lovely. Walmsley's Variegated aloe grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Crassula argentea

One of the most popular succulents, jade plant develops a tree-like form over time and can grow several feet tall. It has dark green leaves and white flowers. Zone 10

Crassula 'Campfire'

Crassula capitella 'Campfire'

Campfire jade plant earns its name from the brilliant orange-red color the leaves take on during periods of cool weather. It can reach 3 feet across and thrives in part shade. Zone 10

Crassula marginata 'Variegata'

One of the most colorful succulents around, this variety (also called calico kitten because of its coloration) shows off gray-green leaves edged in pink and ivory. It stays low --- less than a foot tall. Zone 10

Crassula tetragona

Crassula tetragona is an easy-care, low-water succulent that almost looks like a pine tree seedling. It offers leaves that like fat needles and an upright shape. Crassula tetragona grows about 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Zone 10

Crassula falcata

Crassula falcata is an adorable succulent with fleshy, flattened blue-gray leaves and clusters of reddish flowers in full sun. It grows 24 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Crassula 'Coral'

Coral jade plant features interesting green foliage that gives it the look of an undersea creature. It's an eye-catching houseplant for bright spots or outdoors in sunny places. Coral jade grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11 as a perennial

Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'

Topsy Turvy is a fun little variety that has gray-green leaves with a bit of a curl to them, giving the plant an exceptional look. It grows 10 inches tall and wide. Zones 9-10

Echeveria elegans

A small succulent, Echeveria elegans grows about a foot across and has beautiful blue-gray leaves in tight clusters. Indoors it's an excellent houseplant; outdoors it's a fun groundcover in frost-free areas and a wonderful addition to container gardens. Zone 10

Echeveria colorata

You'll love Echeveria colorata! It brings silvery blue-green foliage (often with pink tips or edges) and clusters of pink flowers. Superb in container gardens, it grows 8 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Echeveria lilacina

Also called ghost echeveria, and named for its intense silvery-blue color, this delightful succulent offers coral-pink blooms. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zone 10

Echeveria peacockii

Peacock echeveria is a showy variety that offers silvery leaves in compact clusters (to 8 inches wide or so) and red-orange flowers. Zone 10

Echeveria agavoides

Echeveria agavoides is a delightful mounding succulent that has green foliage with red tips. It grows 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Zones 10-11

Echeveria glauca

Echeveria secunda var. glauca

Echeveria secunda var. glauca grows in a pretty rosette of silvery-blue foliage. Its red flowers are held on tall stems that dance above the leaves. This succulent grows 10 inches tall and wide. Zones 9-11

Echeveria 'Black Prince'

Black Prince echeveria is a stunning succulent with rich purple-green foliage. Like many purple succulents, you get the best color in full sun. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11 as a perennial

Echeveria setosa

Also called firecracker echeveria, this variety offers softly hairy gray-green leaves and bright clusters of flowers on tall stems that dangle above the foliage. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Echeveria pulvinata

Echeveria pulvinata is unique because of its fuzzy gray-green leaves. Slow-growing and easy care, it reaches 8 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Echeveria shaviana

Perhaps the most dramatic echeveria we grow, E. shaviana has gracefully ruffled silvery-blue foliage. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia fasciata

Also called zebra haworthia, it derives that moniker from the bold white bands that run horizontally across its dark green leaves. This is a classic succulent houseplant and is easy to grow indoors or out. Zone 10

Haworthia retusa

Haworthia retusa is a low-growing, mounding species that shows off triangle-shaped leaves variegated with light green stripes. It grows 4 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia acuminata

Haworthia acuminata is a slow-growing, small succulent that has translucent light green leaves. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia 'Big Band'

Big Band haworthia is an easy-care indoor or outdoor succulent that has thick dark green leaves broadly striped in white. It grows 8 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia coarctata

Haworthia coarctata is an upright growing species that has dark green leaves variegated with white. It grows 8 inches tall. Zones 10-11

Haworthia v. concolor

Concolor haworthia is a tidy, slow-growing succulent that brings delightful contrast with its dark green leaves and liberal white speckling. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia 'Enon'

Easy-care and slow-growing, 'Enon' haworthia is a must for bright windowsills and dry terrariums. It grows 4 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia glauca

Haworthia glauca is an upright-growing species with dark blue-green leaves. Like other haworthias, it likes a bright spot and well-drained soil or potting mix. It grows 8 inches tall. Zones 10-11

Haworthia limifolia

Haworthia limifolia is a slow-growing selection with mid-green leaves that have a unique texture that contrasts other succulents. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11 outdoors

Haworthia pumila

Haworthia pumila is a small, tidy species with dark green leaves decorated with rough knobs. It grows 6 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Haworthia reinwardtii

Haworthia reinwardtii is closely related to H. coarctata and looks similar, though it often has more white variegation. It grows 8 inches tall. Zones 10-11

Kalanchoe 'Chocolate Solider'

Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Solider'

Chocolate Soldier panda plant has soft, fuzzy, coppery-gray new growth. It can grow 2 feet tall outdoors. Zone 10

Kalanchoe tomentosa

A lovely succulent indoors or out, panda plant has fuzzy gray leaves, often edged in dots of dark brown. It can grow 2 feet tall outdoors; panda plant stays smaller as a houseplant. Zone 10

Kalanchoe farinacea

Kalanchoe farinacea bears silvery-gray-green leaves and clusters of reddish-pink flowers. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Fantastic Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe 'Fantastic'

Fantastic kalanchoe is a patented flapjacks variety that shows off red, cream, and yellow variegation in its large leaves. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 9-10

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata'

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata' is a colorful succulent that has gray-green leaves variegated with shades of cream, pink, and white. It grows 18 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora

Also called flapjacks, this a bold succulent has paddle-like leaves sometimes edged in red or purple. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 9-10

Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'

Variegated baby jade plant offers delightful red-purple stems and small round white-variegated leaves. When young, it's a good groundcover; as it matures, it often develops more of a bonsai look. Zone 10

Portulacaria afra

Also called elephant bush or baby jade, this succulent is a shrubby plant with dark green leaves and red-flushed stems. It can grow 2 feet tall in time. Zone 10

Senecio ficoides

Senecio ficoides is a delightful succulent that grows upright and has narrow, finger-like leaves in a lovely shade of silvery blue. Zone 10

Senecio vitalis

Senecio vitalis is an interesting succulent that has long, narrow powder-blue foliage that almost looks like pine needles. It grows 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide. Zone 10

Ledebouria socialis

Ledebouria socialis, also called silver squill or Scilla violacea, bears silvery leaves variegated with green spots. It thrives in sun or shade and grows 8 inches tall or wide. Zones 10-11

Senecio kleinia

Senecio kleinia, also called Senecio neriifolia, is a dramatic shrubby succulent that has gray-green leaves and structural stems. It grows 4 feet tall and wide over time. Zones 10-11

Lavender Steps

Senecio crassissimus

Lavender steps, also sometimes called propeller plant, is an easy-care succulent that features flat, gray-green leaves often edged in purple. It can grow 24 inches (60 cm) tall.

Agave desmettiana 'Variegata'

Also called variegated smooth agave, this palnt is perfect for container gardens. A slow-grower, it features soft blue-green leaves edged in golden-yellow. As a perennial, it can grow 5 feet tall and wide; as an annual, it typically stays about 18 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Gasteria brevifolia

Gasteria brevifolia (also called ox tongue) is an extra-tough succulent that has rough, textured, dark green leaves variegated with white spots. It can grow 6 or 8 inches across. Zone 10

Gasteria fuscopunctata

Gasteria fuscopunctata is a slow-growing succulent with green leaves speckled in white. It can grow 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 10-11

Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana

This diminutive variety shows off small, dark green leaves spotted in light green. It prefers part shade and thrives as a houseplant. Zone 10

Augrabies Hills Albuca

Albuca 'Augrabies Hills'

Augrabies Hills Albuca is a tidy little succulent that has grassy leaves sprouting from a thick bulb. It produces green-and-white flowers. It grows 8 inches (20 centimeters) tall and wide.

White Spiderwort

Tradescantia sillamontana

Closely related to inch plant, this easy-care succulent features fleshy leaves covered in soft, silky white hairs. These hairs help prevent water loss in its desert habitat and keep it safe from animals that may nibble. Zone 10.

Life Saver Plant

Huernia zebrina

This easy-care succulent looks like a little cactus when it's growing, and becomes a conversation piece when it blooms. It shows off yellow, star-shaped flowers with a shiny red raised ring in the center that looks like someone affixed a piece of Life Savers candy to the center. It grows about 6 inches tall and wide. Zone 10

Crinkle-Leaf Plant

Adromischus cristatus

When it's young, crinkle-leaf plant has short, stubby leaves. But as this succulent houseplant grows, it forms a rose-like shape with wavy leaves that give it an under-the-sea look. Zone 10

Pinktip Succulent

Anacampseros rufescens

This small succulent stays about 4 inches tall and shows off green leaves flushed with pinkish-purple. Zone 10

Euphorbia trigona

Sometimes grouped with cacti, Euphorbia trigona is also called African milk tree. It's a fun succulent that has three-angled stems studded with rows of leaves. It can grow 48 inches tall. Zone 10

Euphorbia tortilis

Euphorbia tortilis is an unusual cactus-like succulent that has bizarre, twisted new growth. It eventually can grow to become tree-like. Zone 10