31 Types of Succulents Worth Growing (2024)

Gardening

Houseplants

Types of Houseplants

• 01 of 31

  Jade Plant

  

  The fleshy, oval leaves and thick, woody stems of this houseplant resemble tiny tree trunks. It grows slowly, about 2 inches per year, but grows between 3 and 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Jade plants are toxic to pets.

  • Name: Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
  • Light: Bright indirect sunlight
  • Water needs: Moderate

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• 02 of 31

  Silver Dollar Plant

  

  This Crassula species is a multi-stemmed indoor shrub growing up to 4 feet tall. It has rounded blue-gray leaves with maroon edges. It is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Silver dollar plant (Crassula arborescens)
  • Light: Bright indirect light
  • Water needs: Low

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• 03 of 31

  Donkey's Tail

  

  With its rows of fleshy, tear-drop shaped blue-green leaves, this is a good choice for hanging plants indoors. It can reach trailing lengths of up to 4 feet but the average length is around 24 inches.

  • Name: Donkey's tail (Sedum morganianum)
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Water needs: Low

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• 04 of 31

  Mexican Snowballs

  

  This rosette-shaped succulent with thick, fleshy blue-green to silver-green leaves can be grown as a houseplant or as a garden plant. It grows up to 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

  • Name: Mexican snowballs (Echeveria elegans)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water needs: Low

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• 05 of 31

  Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg'

  

  It’s the striking color change that makes this echeveria hybrid so popular as a houseplant. The solitary rosette of paddle-shaped, pastel leaves has a dusty, muted grayish color in low light that turns bright purple and pink in direct sun.

  • Name: Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg'
  • Light: Bright light
  • Water needs: Low

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• 06 of 31

  See Also

  30 Types of Succulents (Identification): Pictures & Chart, 10 Most Popular Types57 Types of Succulents With Names and PicturesList of Succulent Plants from A to Z - Gardening Channel100+ Types of Succulents with Pictures & Names (Identification)

  String of Pearls

  

  For a hanging basket, either indoors or outdoors, consider this trailing Senecio variety with dangling stems of round leaves. It reaches a length of 3 to 5 feet if you let it grow.

  • Name: String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
  • USDA zone: 9-12
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 07 of 31

  Candelabra Cactus

  

  The name of this plant comes from the dark green, four-lobed stems and a columnar growth structure that branches out as the plant matures. Indoors, it reaches 8 to 10 feet in heigh, outdoors it grows to a towering 40 feet. It is toxic to humans and pets.

  • Name: Candelabra cactus (Euphorbia ingens)
  • USDA zone: 10-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water needs: Low

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• 08 of 31

  Crown of Thorns

  

  If you are looking for a succulent with almost year-round bloom, this is it. The plant has thick, bright green leaves and showy bracts in red, orange, pink, yellow, or white but also thorns. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall outdoors, and 2 feet maximum indoors. It is toxic to humans and pets.

  • Name: Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 09 of 31

  Aloe Vera

  

  Even though it may take years for it to develop its spiky flowers, the fleshy lance-shape leaves with jagged edges make this an attractive houseplant. Aloe vera grows 12 to 36 inches tall. It is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Aloe vera (Aloebarbadensis miller)
  • Light: Bright natural light
  • Water Needs: Water regularly except during dormancy

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• 10 of 31

  Christmas Cactus

  

  In cold climates, Christmas cactus is usually grown as a houseplant, but you can bring it outdoors during the summer. It has fleshy flattened leaves that are slightly serrated on each side. The vibrant flowers of this holiday plant provide a welcome splash of color during the winter.

  • Name: Christmas cactus (Schlumbergeraxbuckleyi)
  • USDA zone: 10-12
  • Light: Partial shade or diffused light
  • Soil: Loamy, moist, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Moderate

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• 11 of 31

  Chocolate Soldier Plant

  

  The pale-green leaves of this houseplant are covered with grayish-white fuzz and rimmed with chocolate brown spots.It grows up to 2 feet tall. The plant is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Chocolate soldier plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
  • Light: Bright indirect light
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 12 of 31

  Flapjack

  

  Because of the paddle- or clam-like shape of its leaves, this plant is also known as the paddle plant. It can be grown as a houseplant or outdoors, growing1 to 2 feet tall and spreading in wide rosette clusters of 2 to 3 feet. It is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Flapjack (Kalanchoe luciae)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Loamy, sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 13 of 31

  Flaming Katy

  

  Its repeated bloom is one of the reasons why this is a popular houseplant, which is on the smaller size with 6 to 18 inches in height and width. The flower clusters extend above the scallop-shaped leaves. It is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
  • Light: Bright natural light
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 14 of 31

  Ponytail Palm

  

  The tuft of strappy green leaves emerging from a bulbous stemmakes this look like a palm but it’s a succulent that can be grown outdoors or indoors, where is stays much smaller, about 6 to 8 feet in height.

  • Name: Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
  • USDA zone: 10-11
  • Light: Full sun, bright indirect light indoors
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 15 of 31

  Snake Plant

  

  Nearly indestructible is a common description used for this houseplant with stiff, sword-like leaves. It may reach up to 8 feet in height but it’s a slow grower. The plant is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
  • Light: Indirect light with some direct sun
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 16 of 31

  Zebra Haworthia

  

  See Also

  Complete Guide to Succulents: How to Plant & Care for Succulent Plants

  The thick dark green leaves with horizontal white stripes gave this houseplant plant its name. Like most Haworthias, this is a small plant, reachingonly 5 to 8 inches in height.

  • Name: Zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata)
  • Light: Bright light near an east- or west-facing window
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 17 of 31

  Mother of Thousands

  

  If you grow this plant, which got its name from the many baby plantlets that grow along the edges of its serrated leaves, as a houseplant, you might not see it bloom. Outdoors, it develops dangling pinkish-gray flowers after a few years. The mature size is 3 feet. The plant is toxic to pets.

  • Name: Mother of thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full sun, partial shade outdoors, indirect light indoors
  • Soil: Well-drained
  • Water Needs: Needs regular watering

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• 18 of 31

  Pink Quill

  

  This small houseplant—it only grows 10 inches tall—can be grown in a pot or as an air plant. Its large, long-lasting, showy pink bracts resemble ink quills. They start out pink and turn green over time.

  • Name: Pink quill (Tillandsia cyanea)
  • Light: Partial sun in east or west-facing window
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 19 of 31

  Ghost Plant

  

  In a warm climate, you can grow this low-growing succulent outdoors, otherwise as a potted houseplant. It has whiteish-grey pointed leaves and trailing rosette form, 6 to 12 inches tall. The rosettes take a blue-gray hue in partial shade or a pinkish-yellow tone in full sun.

  • Name: Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full to partial sun, south- or east-facing window
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 20 of 31

  Jelly Bean Succulents

  

  When grown as a potted houseplant, this cute low-growing sedum that is native to Mexico is more contained than outdoors where it sprawls so it can be planted as a groundcover.

  • Name: Jelly bean succulents (Sedum rubrotinctum)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 21 of 31

  Living Stones

  

  In warm climates, these ground-hugging succulents from Africa can be grown outdoors. In cold climates, plant them in pots so you bring them indoors for the winter. There are many different types of living stones, which all grow extremely slowly.

  • Name: Living stones (Lithops spp.)
  • USDA zone: 10-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 22 of 31

  Hens and Chicks

  

  One of the hardiest succulents, hens and chicks can be planted outdoors in a wide climate range. They also make good potting plants, but there is no need to bring them indoors for the winter.

  • Name: Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
  • USDA zone: 3-11
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 23 of 31

  Parry’s Agave

  

  This handsome agave for outdoor settings has slate gray-bluish rosettes. It has a clump-forming growth habit and grows up to 3 feet in height. The flower stalk reaches up to 20 feet in height.

  • Name: Parry’s agave (Agave parryi)
  • USDA zone: 7-10
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, loamy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Moderate

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• 24 of 31

  Propeller Plant

  

  While other Senecio varieties are not cold-hardy, this type is able to handle some frost.It has bluish, flattened leaves on an upright plant that grows 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.

  • Name: Propeller plant (Senecio crassissimus)
  • USDA zone: 10-11
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 25 of 31

  Autumn Joy Stonecrop

  

  One of the most popular sedums for landscaping, this stonecrop (which was previously classified as a sedum) has gray-green, rounded, succulent-like leaves. The plant, which grows up to 2 feet tall, blooms in the late summer to fall with tiny, pink, star-shaped flowers.

  • Name: Autumn Joy stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephium ‘Autumn Joy’)
  • USDA zone: 3-9
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 26 of 31

  Angelina Stonecrop

  

  This groundcover sedum forms a low-growing mat with tiny yellow flowers throughout the summer.In the fall, the foliage turns an orange rust color. It can be grown in containers but it does not need to be overwintered indoors.

  • Name: Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')
  • USDA zone: 5-9
  • Light: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained
  • Water Needs: Moderate

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• 27 of 31

  Hardy Ice Plant

  

  The name is a bit misleading—most ice plants are warm-climate perennials. Hardy ice plant is a species at the more cold-hardy end of the spectrum. It grows only 3 to 6 inches tall and has magenta flowers.

  • Name: Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi)
  • USDA zone: 6-10
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 28 of 31

  Eastern Prickly Pear

  

  One of the most popular prickly pear species for outdoors is also one of the hardiest. Eastern prickly pear is a sprawling, ground-hugging cactus that grows up to 12 inches tall and wide. It produces yellow flowers with an orange or red center from May through July.

  • Name: Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa)
  • USDA zone: 4-9
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 29 of 31

  Giant Chalk Dudleya

  

  The 12- to 18-inch wide, whitish blue-green rosette is an eye catcher in any landscape. This is a non-branching Dudleya variety that produces a tall, vibrant red stalk and bright yellow flowers when in bloom.

  • Name: Giant chalk dudleya (Dudleya brittonii)
  • USDA zone: 9-10
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Sandy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low

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• 30 of 31

  Tree Aeonium

  

  With its bright green rosettes on a branching stem, the growth habit of this tall succulent is more like a shrub than a tree. In a warm climate, you can plant it outdoors where it will grow to about 6 feet. In colder climate, plant it in a container and overwinter it indoors. Potted plants max out at a height of about 3 feet.

  • Name: Tree aeonium (Aeonium arboretum)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil: Sandy loam, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Moderate

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• 31 of 31

  African Milk Tree

  

  Although you can grow it as a houseplant, due to its vigorous growth (1 to 2 feet per year), an outdoor setting works better for this lush plant. It is toxic to humans and pets.

  • Name: African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona)
  • USDA zone: 9-11
  • Light: Partial sun
  • Soil: Loamy, well-drained
  • Water Needs: Low