Gardening Houseplants Types of Houseplants

31 Types of Succulents Worth Growing

Donkey's Tail (Sedum morganianum)

Moonstone Images / Getty Images

Many of the more than 10,000 different types of succulents live up to their reputation of being low-maintenance plants, though some succulents need more care and are a bit more finicky to grow than others.

Here are 31 popular types of succulents, both houseplants and outdoor plants, that are easy to care for. Succulents grown as houseplants should be planted in potting mix specially formulated for succulents, or cacti, palms, and citrus trees, or in light, fast-draining indoor potting mix. If plants are typically also grown outdoors, information about hardiness zones and soil needs are included in the listings below.

Tip

If you are unsure which succulent will do well in your indoor or outdoor space, read more about how much light succulents need, or how to pick out grow lights for succulents

  • 01 of 31

    Jade Plant

    Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

    OlgaMiltsova / Getty Images

    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

    Silver Dollar Plant (Crassula arborescens)

    HHelene / Getty Images

    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

    Donkey's Tail (Sedum morganianum)

    Moonstone Images / Getty Images

    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

    Mexican Snowballs (Echeveria elegans)

    Warunporn Thangthongtip / Getty Images

    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'

    Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg'

    panida wijitpanya / Getty Images

    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

    String of Pearls

    String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)

    Dima Berlin / Getty Images

    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

    Candelabra Cactus (Euphorbia ingens)

    hanohiki / Getty Images

    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

    Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

    Malcolm / Getty Images

    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

    Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

    Carlina Teteris Getty Images

    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 (Aloe barbadensis miller)
    • Light: Bright natural light
    • Water Needs: Water regularly except during dormancy
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  • 10 of 31

    Christmas Cactus

    Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)

    Rosmarie Wirz / Getty Images

    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 (Schlumbergera buckleyi)
    • 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

    Chocolate Soldier Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

    TatianaMironenko / Getty Images

    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

    Flapjack (Kalanchoe luciae)

    Nahhan / Getty Images

    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, growing 1 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

    Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)

    Veena Nair / Getty Images

    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

    Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

    SzB / Getty Images

    The tuft of strappy green leaves emerging from a bulbous stem makes 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

    Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

    Adam Yee / Getty Images

    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

    Zebra Haworthia's (Haworthia fasciata)

    WhiteLacePhotography / Getty Images

    The thick dark green leaves with horizontal white stripes gave this houseplant plant its name. Like most Haworthias, this is a small plant, reaching only 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

    Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana)

    Michele Cipriano / Getty Images

    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

    Pink Quill (Tillandsia cyanea)

    Tatiana Terekhina / Getty Images

    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

    Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

    seven75 / Getty Images

    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

    Jelly Bean Succulents (Sedum rubrotinctum)

    Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images

    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

    Living Stones (Lithops)

    kazumi miyamoto / Getty Images

    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

    Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)

    Maksims Grigorjevs / Getty Images

    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

    Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)

    sigurcamp / Getty Images

    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

    Propeller Plant (Senecio crassissimus)

    DESIGNOSAURUS / Getty Images

    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

    Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'

    By Eve Livesey / Getty Images

    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

    Angelina Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')

    speakingtomato / Getty Images

    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
    Continue to 27 of 31 below
  • 27 of 31

    Hardy Ice Plant

    Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi)

    Dee Carpenter Photography / Getty Images

    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
    Continue to 28 of 31 below
  • 28 of 31

    Eastern Prickly Pear

    Eastern Prickly Pear (Opunitia humifusa)

    douglascraig / Getty Images

    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
    Continue to 29 of 31 below
  • 29 of 31

    Giant Chalk Dudleya

    Giant Chalk Dudleya (Dudleya brittonii)

     zhuclear / Getty Images

    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

    Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboretum)

    Sundry Photography / Getty Images

    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

    African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona)

    Shapla Khatun / Getty Images

    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
FAQ
  • What are the most common succulents?

    Succulents are very popular plants to start with because of their undemanding care. The most common types of succulents for indoors are aloe vera, snake plant, mother of thousands, jade plant, string of pearls, and agave. Common outdoor succulents in the landscape include agave, stonecrop (Sedum), hens and chicks, echeveria, and kalanchoe.

  • How often do I need to water a succulent?

    The frequency of watering depends on the type of succulent, the sun exposure, whether it’s an indoor or outdoor plant, and other factors. It is unfortunately tempting to overwater a succulent. To avoid this, follow the rule of thumb for watering succulents and let the soil dry out to a certain degree between waterings. Learn how to read the signs when your succulent needs water.

  • Which succulents are the easiest to take care of?

    Aloe vera, jade plant, hens and chicks, and the snake plant have a reputation for being especially easy to care for but there are many other no-fuss succulents. Generally, succulents that are grown for their foliage are easier to care for than succulents that are grown for their flowers.

  • Is it difficult to take care of succulents?

    Succulents are so popular just because they require minimal care. They are very forgiving if you forget to water them. they need very little fertilizer and infrequent repotting, and they tolerate dry indoor environments in which the leaves of other plants turn brown. And even if a succulent shows signs of stress, it can often be revived.

 

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  1. Jade plant. ASPCA.

  2. Chinese Jade. ASPCA.

  3. Pencil Cactus. ASPCA.

  4. Toxic Plants. University of California.

  5. Crown of Thorns. Pet Poison Helpline.

  6. Aloe. ASPCA.

  7. Kalanchoe. ASPCA.

  8. Snake Plant. ASPCA.