A succulent is a plant that can store water in its leaves, stems, or roots. You can identify succulents by their color, leaf shape, size, and overall form. It can adapt to various environments and doesn't need much care.
They come in many attractive shapes and sizes, even tiny ones for small spaces. Succulents are popular because they are low-maintenance yet interesting plants. We've put together a list of different types of succulents for you to learn about and enjoy!
The Haworthia is an eye-catching little succulent with dark green fleshy leaves adorned with creamy-white horizontal stripes. This slow-growing variety forms tight clumps instead of stretching upwards quickly. Its compact, clumping growth habit suits it well for indoor gardening.
One of its best traits is its love of bright light. A sunny windowsill providing several hours of direct sun daily is perfect for showing off its attractive striped leaf patterns.
With its unique ornamental looks, easy care needs, and preference for sunny spots, this miniature Haworthia makes an excellent, low-maintenance houseplant.
2. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant has an upright form with glossy green leaves that give it a striking appearance anywhere. It can tolerate low light levels, but grows best in medium light. Watering is infrequent - only every 2-3 weeks in low light, or slightly more often in brighter areas.
A new variety with almost black foliage is especially eye-catching and unique. With its tolerance for lower light, infrequent watering needs, and bold upright form, the ZZ plant makes an excellent, low-maintenance houseplant. The shiny leaf colors, whether green or black, add an attractive accent to indoor spaces.
The jade plant is a delightfully easy-care succulent houseplant. Its oval or rounded fleshy leaves are covered in a shiny wax coating that allows them to store water. This means the jade plant only needs infrequent watering, around once every 2 weeks.
It thrives in bright, filtered light and grows very slowly, so it can go years without needing to be repotted. Despite its small size, the jade succulent plant's compact, tree-like shape with tiny trunk and branches gives it an adorably miniature bonsai appearance.
4. Snake Plant
If you need a truly tough, neglect-proof houseplant, look no further than the snake plant. With its upright, architectural leaves, it has a striking structural form. This succulent plant types tolerate very low light conditions, though they'll grow faster in medium to bright indirect light
Their biggest advantage is their ability to go for extended periods without water - a month or more is no problem! This makes snake plants one of the most low-maintenance houseplants around.
Kalanchoes are attractive flowering plants that bloom beautifully in the middle of winter for many weeks. To enjoy their blooms, give them bright light conditions. However, getting Kalanchoes to rebloom the following year is very challenging.
So while their long-lasting winter flowers brighten up indoor spaces, once they're done blooming, it's best to compost these plants. Treat Kalanchoes as annuals - buy new ones each winter to relish in their cheery blooms again.
6. Feather Cactus
The teddy bear cactus is an adorably fuzzy plant that looks more like a cuddly plush toy than a prickly cactus. Instead of sharp spines, it's covered in soft, feathery tufts of fuzz, giving it the appearance of a fluffy baby bird.
Native to northeastern Mexico, this unique cactus forms low-growing mounded clusters of small, round offsets covered in the velvety fiber tuffs. In late summer, the cactus succulent produces tiny striped pink and white fragrant flowers.
Sedums, also known as stonecrops, are a tough and versatile group of succulent plants. They range from low-growing, spreading groundcover varieties like Lemon Coral, to upright flowering types like Autumn Joy that make excellent additions to garden beds.
There are many different sedum varieties available, with some being extremely cold-hardy and able to survive winters as far north as zone 4. Sedums are durable, low-maintenance plants.
Living stones, also called pebble plants, are bizarre little succulent plants native to Africa. They have evolved to resemble pebbles and rocks in their natural habitats. These plants hug the ground and grow extremely slowly.
To thrive, living stones need conditions mimicking their native environment. This succulents types includes about 6 hours of direct sun per day, very well-draining sandy soil, and average indoor temperatures and humidity.
9. String of Pearls
As its name suggests, the string of pearls plant has long, draping stems resembling elegant strands of pearls. This delicate, trailing succulent needs bright light to thrive, but should be placed somewhere without disturbances, as its pearl-like stems can break easily.
Its close relatives, the string of bananas and string of dolphins plants, have similarly charming, hanging stems shaped like their respective namesakes. With their gracefully spilling forms and unique bead-like foliage, string of pearls and its kin make for attractively unusual, hanging succulent displays indoors or in shaded outdoor spaces.
Known as the ice plant, this sturdy succulent groundcover produces brilliant pink or yellow flowers. It is quite cold-hardy and thrives in direct sunlight. Some varieties can tolerate cold as far north as USDA zone 5.
The ice plant spreads easily to form a dense, mat-like groundcover adorned with the showy blooms in warm months. Its vibrant flower displays and tolerance of full sun and cold temperatures make it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscaping.
11. Burro's Tail
Aptly named, the burro's tail succulent has long, trailing stems that resemble the tail of a donkey. Like its relative the string of pearls, this trailing succulent needs bright light conditions to thrive. It looks most attractive when allowed to spill over the sides of a hanging container.
With its unusual draping form resembling an animal's tail, the burro's tail makes for an interesting textural accent plant. Displayed in a hanging basket, its cascading stems create a delightfully whimsical appearance indoors or out.
The thimble cactus, a types of cactus succulent, gets its name from its unique shape - it looks like tiny green thimbles stacked on top of each other! This small, cylindrical cactus has a covering of interwoven white spines giving it a fuzzy appearance.
In spring or summer, yellow flowers appear among the spiny stems. The thimble cactus tends to grow in clusters and propagates very easily. During the cooler months, tiny cream-colored blooms may also emerge.
13. Hens and Chicks
Hens and chicks, also known as sempervivum, are classic low-growing succulent plants that were likely found in your grandma's garden. They are extremely cold-hardy and thrive in direct sunlight.
These semi-evergreen succulents get their whimsical name from their growth habit. The main rosette plant is called the "hen", while numerous tiny offsets or "chicks" form around the base over time.
The Christmas cactus is a long-lived plant that delights with beautiful blooms around the Christmas holidays. For it to rebloom yearly, it needs bright, indirect light and complete darkness each fall.
Interestingly, it's very similar to the Thanksgiving cactus and the Easter cactus which blooms in spring. To avoid confusion, retailers often generically label them all as "holiday cacti." No matter which "holiday" variety, these flowering plants enliven homes during the winter months.
15. Ric Rac Cactus
The Ric Rac Cactus, also called Fishbone or Zig-Zag cactus, is an eccentric epiphytic plant that grows on other plants or trees in the wild. Its bizarre, cartoon-like appearance with a zig-zagging shape makes it uniquely eye-catching.
Despite its odd looks, it can bloom fragrant flowers in fall when conditions are ideal. This quirky cactus makes a wonderful, low-maintenance houseplant that's a standout in any space.
Great for beginners or those wanting something special, the Ric Rac cactus checks many boxes - it's easy to care for, forgiving, pet-safe, and an air-purifier.
Agave is a spiky succulent plant that can be grown outdoors in warm climates or in containers indoors. It needs plenty of bright, direct sunlight or grow lights. Some varieties like Victoria Reginae Variegated have interesting leaf markings.
Agaves are succulents with large, thick leaves ending in sharp tips. There are over 250 agave species, ranging from massive 10-foot-tall plants to smaller dish-sized varieties. A few types have soft, spineless leaves. Agaves do best in rocky, sandy, well-draining soil in full sun locations.
17. Euphorbia
Euphorbias are hardy, low-maintenance perennial plants known for their vibrant foliage and unique flowers. They make excellent additions to garden borders, rock gardens, and meadows. This large plant genus, which includes the poinsettia, produces a milky sap that can irritate the skin.
While some euphorbias are suitable for outdoor landscaping, others like the coral-like 'Sticks on Fire' thrive as indoor potted plants. With over 2,000 varieties available, you're bound to find a euphorbia that flourishes in your climate zone.
The String of Hearts plant has unique vines that trail down. It looks nice in hanging baskets or on shelves by windows. The plant is easy to care for, especially in warm weather. It lives long and grows fast. Once mature, its vines can hang down 12 feet. In cooler seasons, it goes dormant and slows growth.
Another name for it is Rosary Vine. This charming, vining plant has tiny, red-tinged, heart-shaped leaves. Like other succulent plants, it needs bright, indirect sunlight. The plant keeps its green leaves all year round. Its trailing vines make it an attractive indoor plant.
19. Irish Bouquet
This succulent has adorable little clusters of rosette shapes that make it irresistible to grow. It needs plenty of bright light to thrive well. Overwatering this plant can be a big problem. The 'Irish Bouquet' variety is a visually striking succulent with a unique rosette growth form.
Its rosettes are made of dense, spoon-shaped leaves in shades of green, cream, and pink. The leaves are tightly clustered together, forming a beautiful bouquet-like shape. Typically, this variety grows to around 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) tall and wide.
The Old Lady cactus is a succulent desert plant from the cactus family. It can make a unique decoration for your home or garden. This cactus has a round stem up to 3.5 inches (9cm) tall and wide. Its light green stem is covered in white fuzzy fluff.
The plant has hairy white bristles up to 4 cm long coming from its sections. It has around 30 white spines radiating out and 1-4 central spines with red tips that fall off as it ages. The Old Lady cactus produces purple flowers and red fruits. Its round, fluffy appearance gives it an endearing "old lady" look.
21. Peperomia
Peperomia, one of the types of succulent plants, is a big group of decorative tropical plants with over 1,500 different species. They are originally from Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean islands. Peperomia plants like the watermelon peperomia and baby rubber plant have many varieties with different leaf sizes and colors.
Most have thick, fleshy leaves that help them survive with little water. All peperomia plants are easy to care for, grow slowly, and can be planted any time of year. Despite their tropical origins, these hardy plants don't need much maintenance.
Portulaca flowers close up at night and open again in the morning. Its thick, succulent leaves and bright colors look tropical. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are drawn to its showy flowers. This slow-spreading, low-maintenance plant does well even in very hot, dry summers.
Portulaca looks stunning in hanging baskets on porches or spilling over walls and paths. You can plant it and barely water it thanks to its low needs. Add portulaca to your garden in late spring for repeated blooms from spring through fall. With its vibrant blooms and easy care, it's a great low-water flowering plant.
