The Ultimate Guide to Growing 31 Types of Succulents

Are you looking to add some greenery to your home or garden that requires minimal maintenance? Succulents are the perfect plants for you! With over 10,000 different types of succulents to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your style and space. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 31 popular types of succulents that are easy to care for, whether you’re looking to grow them indoors or outdoors.

Introduction to Succulents

Succulents are known for their fleshy leaves, stems, or roots that store water, allowing them to thrive in arid conditions. These low-maintenance plants come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, making them a popular choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Whether you’re looking to create a lush indoor oasis or add some flair to your outdoor landscape, succulents are versatile plants that can adapt to various environments.

Tips for Succulent Care

Before we dive into the different types of succulents, here are some general care tips to keep in mind:

Use potting mix specially formulated for succulents or cacti for indoor plants.
Ensure your succulents receive adequate light, whether they are grown indoors or outdoors.
Water your succulents sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Pay attention to the specific needs of each succulent species, as they may vary.

Now, let’s explore 31 types of succulents that are worth growing:

Jade Plant

The Jade Plant features fleshy, oval leaves and thick, woody stems that resemble tiny tree trunks. This slow-growing houseplant can reach heights of 3 to 6 feet and is toxic to pets.

Name: Jade Plant
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings

Silver Dollar Plant

The Silver Dollar Plant is a multi-stemmed shrub with blue-gray leaves and maroon edges. This indoor succulent can grow up to 4 feet tall and is toxic to pets.

Name: Silver Dollar Plant
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely

Donkey’s Tail

With rows of tear-drop shaped blue-green leaves, the Donkey’s Tail is an excellent choice for hanging plants indoors. This trailing succulent can reach lengths of up to 4 feet.

Name: Donkey’s Tail
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Mexican Snowballs

The Mexican Snowballs feature rosette-shaped succulent with blue-green to silver-green leaves that can be grown as a houseplant or in the garden. This succulent can grow up to 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

Name: Mexican Snowballs
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’

The Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ is a popular houseplant known for its striking color change. This echeveria hybrid features rosettes of paddle-shaped, pastel leaves that turn bright purple and pink in direct sun.

Name: Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

String of Pearls

The String of Pearls is a trailing succulent with dangling stems of round leaves, making it perfect for hanging baskets indoors or outdoors. This succulent can reach lengths of 3 to 5 feet if left to grow.

Name: String of Pearls
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Candelabra Cactus

The Candelabra Cactus gets its name from its dark green, four-lobed stems and columnar growth structure. This succulent can reach heights of 8 to 10 feet indoors and up to 40 feet outdoors.

Name: Candelabra Cactus
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Crown of Thorns

The Crown of Thorns is a flowering succulent known for its year-round blooms and showy bracts in various colors. This succulent can grow up to 6 feet tall outdoors and 2 feet tall indoors.

Name: Crown of Thorns
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a popular houseplant known for its fleshy lance-shaped leaves and spiky flowers. This succulent can reach heights of 12 to 36 inches and is toxic to pets.

Name: Aloe Vera
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cactus is a holiday plant with fleshy flattened leaves and vibrant flowers that bloom during the winter months. This succulent can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Name: Christmas Cactus
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Chocolate Soldier Plant

The Chocolate Soldier Plant features pale-green leaves covered with grayish-white fuzz and chocolate brown spots. This succulent can grow up to 2 feet tall and is toxic to pets.

Name: Chocolate Soldier Plant
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Flapjack

The Flapjack, also known as the Paddle Plant, has paddle- or clam-like leaves that grow in rosette clusters. This succulent can reach heights of 1 to 2 feet and is toxic to pets.

Name: Flapjack
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Flaming Katy

The Flaming Katy is a popular houseplant known for its repeated blooms and flower clusters that extend above the scallop-shaped leaves. This succulent can reach heights of 6 to 18 inches and is toxic to pets.

Name: Flaming Katy
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Ponytail Palm

The Ponytail Palm features tufts of strappy green leaves emerging from a bulbous stem, resembling a palm tree. This succulent can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet outdoors and stays smaller indoors.

Name: Ponytail Palm
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Snake Plant

The Snake Plant is a nearly indestructible houseplant with stiff, sword-like leaves that can reach heights of up to 8 feet. This succulent is toxic to pets.

Name: Snake Plant
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Zebra Haworthia

The Zebra Haworthia is a small houseplant with thick dark green leaves and horizontal white stripes. This succulent reaches heights of 5 to 8 inches.

Name: Zebra Haworthia
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Mother of Thousands

The Mother of Thousands is named for the baby plantlets that grow along the edges of its serrated leaves. This succulent can reach mature sizes of up to 3 feet and is toxic to pets.

Name: Mother of Thousands
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Pink Quill

The Pink Quill is a small houseplant that grows up to 10 inches tall and features long-lasting pink bracts that resemble ink quills. This succulent can be grown in a pot or as an air plant.

Name: Pink Quill
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Ghost Plant

The Ghost Plant is a low-growing succulent with whiteish-grey pointed leaves and trailing rosette form. This succulent can reach heights of 6 to 12 inches and changes color based on sun exposure.

Name: Ghost Plant
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Jelly Bean Succulents

The Jelly Bean Succulents are low-growing sedum native to Mexico, perfect for potted houseplants. This groundcover succulent sprawls when planted outdoors.

Name: Jelly Bean Succulents
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Living Stones

Living Stones are ground-hugging succulents from Africa that grow extremely slowly. In warm climates, they can be grown outdoors, while in cold climates, they can be planted in pots and brought indoors for the winter.

Name: Living Stones
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Hens and Chicks

Hens and Chicks are one of the hardiest succulents that can be planted outdoors in various climate ranges. They also make excellent potting plants and do not need to be brought indoors for the winter.

Name: Hens and Chicks
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Parry’s Agave

Parry’s Agave is a clump-forming succulent with slate gray-bluish rosettes that can grow up to 3 feet in height. This succulent produces a tall flower stalk that reaches up to 20 feet.

Name: Parry’s Agave
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Propeller Plant

The Propeller Plant is a Senecio variety that can handle some frost and features bluish, flattened leaves on an upright plant. This succulent grows 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.

Name: Propeller Plant
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Autumn Joy Stonecrop

The Autumn Joy Stonecrop, previously classified as Sedum, is a popular succulent for landscaping with gray-green, rounded, succulent-like leaves. This succulent grows up to 2 feet tall and blooms in late summer to fall.

Name: Autumn Joy Stonecrop
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Angelina Stonecrop

The Angelina Stonecrop is a groundcover sedum that forms a low-growing mat with tiny yellow flowers throughout the summer. This succulent turns orange rust color in the fall.

Name: Angelina Stonecrop
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Hardy Ice Plant

The Hardy Ice Plant is a cold-hardy succulent with magenta flowers that grows 3 to 6 inches tall. Despite its name, this ice plant is well-suited for warm climates.

Name: Hardy Ice Plant
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Eastern Prickly Pear

The Eastern Prickly Pear is a sprawling, ground-hugging cactus with yellow flowers and an orange or red center. This hardy succulent can grow up to 12 inches tall and wide.

Name: Eastern Prickly Pear
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Giant Chalk Dudleya

The Giant Chalk Dudleya features a whitish blue-green rosette with a vibrant red stalk and bright yellow flowers when in bloom. This non-branching succulent can reach 12 to 18 inches wide.

Name: Giant Chalk Dudleya
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Tree Aeonium

The Tree Aeonium features bright green rosettes on a branching stem, resembling a shrub more than a tree. This succulent can grow up to 6 feet outdoors in warm climates and 3 feet in containers indoors.

Name: Tree Aeonium
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

African Milk Tree

The African Milk Tree is a lush succulent known for its vigorous growth of 1 to 2 feet per year. While it can be grown as a houseplant, outdoor settings work best for this plant, which is toxic to humans and pets.

Name: African Milk Tree
USDA zone: Varies
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water needs: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

Succulents are incredibly popular plants due to their unique appearance and undemanding care requirements. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner plant parent, succulents are a fantastic addition to any home or garden. With a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to choose from, you’re sure to find a succulent that suits your style and space.

Remember to water your succulents sparingly, provide them with adequate light, and pay attention to their specific needs to ensure they thrive and flourish. With proper care and attention, succulents can bring beauty and life to any environment, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere for you to enjoy.

So why wait? Start your succulent collection today and watch as these beautiful plants transform your home and garden into a lush and vibrant oasis of greenery and tranquility. Happy planting!