Types of Succulents
For the Garden & Home
Types of Succulents
Succulents are one of the trendiest plants both for the home and for California gardens for good reason. They hold water in their leaves or stems making them easy-care and drought tolerant. Beyond simplicity, there are thousands of succulent varieties to choose from in an array of colors, textures, and forms making it easy to find one that captures your attention and is worthy of adding to your plant collection.
Each family of succulents has its own unique personality and style. Have fun finding your succulent style.
Aeonium
Aeonium Light Preference
Aeonium succulents prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they like some shade.
- Aeonium arborescens nigrum 'Zwartkop'
- Aeonium arboreum atropurpureum (Black Rose)
- Aeonium 'Kiwi'
- Aeonium urbicum (Salad Bowl)
Aloe
Aloe Light Preference
Aloe succulents prefer bright, indirect sun both in the landscape and when grown as a houseplant. Its skin is tender and burns quite easily from the sun.
- Aloe aristata 'Magic'
- Aloe vera 'Grey'
- Aloe vera 'Medicine Plant
Crassula
There's a crassula species for every area of the garden from ground covers, trailing species perfect for hanging baskets to large shrubs each with its own unique form, color and size. The most popular species is the jade plant (Crassula ovata). Crassula can be spotted with leaves that grow symmetrical in pair.
Crassula Light Preference
Crassula prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they like some shade.
- Crassula arborescens
- Crassula arborescens 'Bora'
- Crassula arborescens 'Curly Green'
- Crassula capitella 'Campfire'
- Crassula corymbulosa (Red Pagoda)
- Crassula muscosa (Princess Pine)
- Crassula orbicularis var. rosularis
- Crassula ovata (Jade plant)
- Crassula ovata 'Baby'
- Crassula ovata 'Compacta'
- Crassula ovata 'Hobbit'
- Crassula ovata 'Horntree'
- Crassula ovata 'Horntree Tricolor'
- Crassula ovata 'Medium'
- Crassula ovata minor (Mini Green)
- Crassula ovata 'New Sunset'
- Crassula ovata 'Sunset'
- Crassula 'Platyphylla'
- Crassula radicans (Large Red Carpet Stonecrop)
- Crassula swaziensis 'Moneymaker'
Echeveria
Echeveria Light Preference
Echeveria prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they like some shade.
- Echeveria (dark purple)
- Echeveria (dark red)
- Echeveria affinis 'Black Knight'
- Echeveria agavoides
- Echeveria agavoides 'Gilva'
- Echeveria agavoides 'Red Tips'
- Echeveria apus
- Echeveria benitsukasa
- Echeveria canadian
- Echeveria echoc
- Echeveria elegans (green)
- Echeveria elegans 'Grijs Rood & Gray Red'
- Echeveria gibbiflora 'Perle von Nurnberg'
- Echeveria 'Grosso'
- Echeveria 'Hookeri'
- Echeveria 'Hookeri'
- Echeveria hybrid Haagai 'Tolimanesis'
- Echeveria 'Lilac Wonder'
- Echeveria lilacina (Ghost Echeveria)
- Echeveria 'Linda'
- Echeveria mensah
- Echeveria 'Mexicano'
- Echeveria 'Mira'
- Echeveria 'Miranda'
- Echeveria moranii
- Echeveria 'Orion'
- Echeveria parva
- Echeveria prolifica
- Echeveria pulidonis
- Echeveria 'Purple Pearl of Nurnberg'
- Echeveria runyonii 'Pink Edge'
- Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'
- Echeveria scheideckeri
- Echeveria secunda 'Clara'
- Echeveria shaviana 'Blue'
- Echeveria shaviana 'Green'
- Echeveria shaviana 'Pink Frills'
- Echeveria 'Silver Queen'
- Echeveria subsessilis (Peacock Echeveria)
Gasteria
Gasteria Light Preference
Unlike most succulents, gasteria prefer dapped sun to partial shade. They are easily scorched by the summer sun. If the leaves turn white or yellow, it's showing you its getting too much sun.
- Gasteria 'Durban'
- Gasteria 'Flow'
- Gasteria 'Kyaka'
- Gasteria limpopo
- Gasteria maculata
- Gasteria Mix
- Gasteria morombe
- Gasteria okavango 'Anna'
- Gasteria 'Royal Wolfgang'
Graptopetalum Hybrids
Native to Southern California, Graptopetalum is a genus of succulents with classic rosettes at the end of twisting stems perfect as a groundcover or draping out of container gardens. The most popular species of Graptopetalum is the ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense ) that has stunning gray-blue foliage.
Graptopetalum Hybrids Light Preference
Graptopetalum prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. They are less likely to sunburn than other succulents.
- Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant)
- Graptosedum 'Darley Sunshine'
- Graptosedum 'Vera Higgins'
- Graptoveria 'Bashfull'
- Graptoveria 'Debbie'
- Graptoveria 'Fred Ives'
Haworthia
The petite beauties form spiky, green rosettes with interesting stripes or veining. Growing just 3-5 inches tall a few varieties can grow up to 20 inches tall. Their preferences are similar to aloe and echeveria and while they can stand alone in a pot these succulent friends make great combinations.
Haworthia Light Preference
Haworthia succulents prefer bright, indirect sun both in the landscape and when grown as a houseplant. Its skin is tender and burns quite easily from the sun.
- Haworthia attenuata 'Valencia'
- Haworthia 'Big Band'
- Haworthia coarctata
- Haworthia cooperi
- Haworthia 'Cooperi Ice'
- Haworthia cymbiformis
- Haworthia limifolia
- Haworthia pentagona
- Haworthia reticulata
- Haworthia Retusa
- Haworthia 'Rome'
- Haworthia tessellata
Kalanchoe
While most succulents are prized for its foliage; kalanchoe are in their own class loved for their prolific, long-lasting star-shaped flowers in red, pink, white, orange, or white. Kalanchoe are pretty in the garden, make a great houseplant and are commonly used as a thoughtful gift that'll last.
Kalanchoe Light Preference
Kalanchoes like bright light and while they tolerate direct sunlight they prefer dappled sun.
- Kalanchoe marmorata (Penwiper Plant)
- Kalanchoe 'Polar Bear'
- Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Flapjacks'
- Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier'
- Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Panda Plant'
- Kalanchoe tomentosa nigrum
Sedum
There's a sedum for every outdoor or indoor garden. Choose from annuals, perennials, groundcovers, and sedum shrubs in a variety of colors ranging from mint green or grey to fiery red or bronze. They've earned the name stonecrop with their ability to thrive in various sun situations, poor soil and in drought conditions. Many species have clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom in late summer or fall that attract butterflies and other pollinators and make long-lasting cut flowers.
Sedum Light Preference
Most sedum prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they appreciate some shade.
- Sedum adolphii "Adolphy'
- Sedum clavatum 'Aurora Blue'
- Sedum lineare *
- Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'
Sempervivum
Commonly called "Hens and Chicks", sempervivum produce rosettes that produce offshoots (the chicks). In a growing season, they are typically multiple by at least four through their offset chicks. A great choice for rock gardens as they thrive in tough growing conditions. While they are grown for their foliage; many species produce star-shaped pink/purple flowers on thick, tall stalks in summer.
Sempervivum Light Preference
Sempervivum prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they appreciate some shade.
- Sempervivum 'Carmen'
- Sempervivum 'Chick Charms Appletini'
- Sempervivum 'Chick Charms Berry Blues'
- Sempervivum 'Chick Charms Cinnamon Starburst'
- Sempervivum 'Chick Charms Cranberry Cocktail'
- Sempervivum 'Red Beauty'
Senecio
This genus of succulents is a must-have for any succulent or houseplant collector or new plant parent. The trailing senecio varieties like 'String of Pearls' and 'String of Dolphins' have taken the spotlight but don't forget there are upright bushy varieties every bit as charming. Senecio foliage is green, blue, and even striped and comes in so many fun, interesting shapes.
Senecio Light Preference
Senecio prefer full sun (6+ hours) outdoors and high light indoors. In the hottest parts of summer, especially in inland California, they appreciate some shade.
- Senecio haworthii "Mont Blanc'
- Senecio peregrinus 'String of Dolphins'
- Senecio radicans 'String of Bananas'
- Senecio rowleyanus 'String of Pearls'
- Senecio serpens (Blue Chalksticks)