Glossary of Succulent Terms

A cactus is a succulent plant with a thick, fleshy stem, no leaves, with areoles that usually produce spines and dramatic flowers. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.

A caudex is a stem, usually referring to a distinctive, swollen stem or even aboveground roots from which new growth arises.

Chlorophyll is the pigment in plants that gives them their green color. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, so the plant can photosynthesize light, water and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen. All life on Earth depends upon photosynthesis, which requires chlorophyll.

Chlorosis describes the yellowing of leaf tissue due to a deficiency of chlorophyll.

Ciliate hairs form a fringe of tiny hairs along the margin of leaves. All Sempervivum and some Aeonium have ciliate hairs.

Coco coir is a natural byproduct of harvesting coconuts. It is the coarse fiber removed from the outer coconut husks. An exceptional soil amendment, it both holds and releases moisture well and lasts longer than peat moss.

Cold hardy refers to a plants ability to survive the cold, typically below freezing temperatures. Some succulents are so cold hardy, they can survive temperatures of -30°F (-34.4°C)!

Crested succulents and cacti exhibit unusual folding and undulating growth along a single line. Crested growth results from an injury or genetic defect at the apical meristem where new growth forms.

Cristata is a Latin word meaning crested. It is part of the scientific name of any crested succulent. For instance, this cactus is a Mammillaria elongate cristata ‘Copper King’.

Cryoprotectants are specialized proteins some plants and animals produce that prevent moisture within their cell walls from freezing. In cold-hardy succulents, these are often colorful pigments.

A cultivar is a plant that has been cultivated and produced by selective breeding.