Types of Succulents

Succulents include thousands of plants that store water in specialized leaves, stems, roots, or other tissues. They occur across many unrelated plant families and range from tiny groundcovers to massive columnar cacti, branching shrubs, rosette-forming agaves, tree-like aloes, and unusual caudiciform plants.

Use this directory to search the major types of succulents represented in the Xerophyte.Garden plant database.

 

So… what Is a Succulent?

The word succulent does not refer to a botanical family or formal taxonomic group. Instead, it describes plants that have evolved specialized water-storage tissues that help them survive periods of limited water. Because this adaptation evolved independently many times, succulent plants can occur across numerous unrelated plant families.

DID YOU KNOW? All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.

Xerophyte.Garden also documents other xerophytes and drought-adapted plants that may not meet every definition of a succulent.

 

Cacti

Cacti belong to the plant family Cactaceae. They include globular, columnar, trailing, climbing, shrubby, tree-like, and pad-forming species. Popular cactus groups include Mammillaria and Opuntia.

 

Agaves

Agaves are primarily rosette-forming plants native to the Americas. Many have thick, rigid leaves with terminal spines and are exceptionally tolerant of drought. Find plants such as Agave parryi var. truncata, commonly known as Artichoke Agave.

 

Aloes

Aloes range from tiny clustering succulents to large shrubs and tree-like species. Most have fleshy leaves arranged in rosettes and produce distinctive flowering stalks. The genus includes hundreds of species native primarily to Africa, Madagascar, and surrounding regions.

 

Euphorbias

Euphorbia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants and contains many succulent species. Some succulent euphorbias closely resemble cacti because they independently evolved similar shapes for surviving dry environments. Despite their appearance, euphorbias and cacti belong to completely different plant families.

 

Haworthias and Haworthiopsis

Haworthia and Haworthiopsis include mostly compact succulents native to southern Africa. Many have patterned, textured, translucent, striped, or heavily armored leaves. Examples in the database include Haworthiopsis coarctata and Haworthiopsis reinwardtii.

 

Sedums

Sedum is a large group commonly known as stonecrops. Species range from miniature mat-forming plants to trailing succulents, groundcovers, container plants, and upright perennials. Search plants such as Blue Spruce Stonecrop, Corsican Stonecrop, and other Sedum species in the database.

 

Kalanchoes

Kalanchoe includes succulent herbs, shrubs, flowering houseplants, fuzzy-leaved species, and unusual plants capable of producing plantlets along their leaf margins. Examples include Copper Spoons, Lavender Scallops, and Kalanchoe millotii.

 

Crassulas

Crassula includes hundreds of succulent species ranging from tiny stacked-leaf plants to branching shrubs. One of the best-known members of the genus is the Jade Plant, but the group contains an enormous variety of leaf shapes, colors, and growth forms.

 

Echeverias

Echeveria contains primarily rosette-forming succulents native to Mexico, Central America, and portions of South America. Species and cultivars are especially popular for their symmetrical growth and wide range of leaf colors, textures, and forms.

 

Aeoniums

Aeoniums are rosette-forming succulents native primarily to the Canary Islands and nearby regions. Many grow on branching stems and can eventually form substantial shrubs.

 

Sempervivums

Sempervivum species are cold-hardy rosette succulents commonly called hens and chicks. They reproduce by producing offsets around the parent rosette and include numerous species, hybrids, and cultivars.

 

Other Types of Succulents

The groups above represent only a small portion of succulent diversity – that’s what makes this so fun and interesting! Other important succulent and xerophytic groups include:

  • Adromischus
  • Adenium
  • Aloinopsis
  • Beaucarnea
  • Conophytum
  • Cotyledon
  • Curio
  • Dasylirion
  • Delosperma
  • Dudleya
  • Faucaria
  • Fenestraria
  • Gasteria
  • Graptopetalum
  • Lithops
  • Monanthes
  • Othonna
  • Pachyphytum
  • Portulacaria
  • Sansevieria and Dracaena
  • Senecio
  • Stapelia
  • Tylecodon
  • Yucca

Additional genera and plant groups will be added as the Xerophyte.Garden database expands.

 

Succulents by Growth Form

Succulents can also be grouped according to the way they grow.

  • Rosette-forming succulents
  • Columnar succulents
  • Globular succulents
  • Trailing succulents
  • Groundcover succulents
  • Climbing succulents
  • Clumping succulents
  • Shrub-like succulents
  • Tree-like succulents
  • Caudiciform plants

 

Succulents by Growing Conditions

Plants can also be found according to the environments in which they grow best.

  • Full-sun succulents
  • Indoor succulents
  • Outdoor succulents
  • Cold-hardy succulents
  • Heat-tolerant succulents
  • Shade-tolerant succulents
  • Drought-tolerant succulents

 

Succulents by Characteristics

Other useful ways to search the database include:

  • Flowering succulents
  • Spiny succulents
  • Fuzzy succulents
  • Variegated succulents
  • Colorful succulents
  • Fast-growing succulents
  • Miniature succulents
  • Large succulents
  • Pet-safe succulents
 

Have Fun Exploring the Xerophyte.Garden Online Database

Individual plant profiles may include scientific classification, common names, native range, identification characteristics, mature size, growing requirements, propagation information, toxicity information, photographs, references, and additional facts.

Our online database is continuously expanding as new plants and information are documented. If you’d like to contribute, contact us.