10 Cold-Hardy Succulents for Year-Round Garden Interest

Cold temperatures don't mean a bare winter garden. These 10 succulents handle low temperatures—many down to 0 °F or even –20 °F—adding texture and color when other plants are dormant. All look great year-round but especially shine in the cool season.

Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Native to Texas and northern Mexico. Graceful mounds of evergreen, grass-like foliage. 5‑ft coral flower stalks (also creamy yellow, dark red) attract hummingbirds in spring/summer. Thrives in full sun, ground or containers.
Hardiness: Zone 5 (–20 °F / –29 °C)
Water: Drought-tolerant; deep water every 3 weeks in summer, monthly spring/fall, rain in winter; low desert: twice monthly spring–fall.
Light: Full sun best; tolerates light shade.
Size: 3–4 ft wide, 3 ft tall (5 ft in flower).
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.

Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)

Native to mountains of Central/Southern Europe and Mediterranean islands. Mother "hen" produces baby "chicks"—countless color, shape, size variations. Great groundcover for rock gardens, stone walls, containers. Bring indoors in rainy winters. Water only when soil completely dry.
Hardiness: Zones 4–9 (–30 °F / –34 °C)
Water: Infrequent; let soil dry out.
Light: Full sun to filtered shade.
Size: Rosettes ½–6 in wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.

Texas Sotol (Dasylirion texanum)

Native to Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. Deep green, spiky leaves fan into a semi-spherical shape. Mature plants may send up a 10–15 ft flower spike with white hummingbird-attracting blooms. Plant in groups for impact. Common sotol (D. wheeleri) is a gray-blue alternative.
Hardiness: Zone 5 (–20 °F / –29 °C)
Water: Drought-tolerant; monthly spring–fall; low desert: twice monthly spring–fall, monthly winter.
Light: Full sun.
Size: 5 ft tall and wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun.

Parry's Agave (Agave parryi)

Native to AZ, NM, TX, northern Mexico. Ornamental rosette resembles an artichoke. 'Artichoke agave' (var. truncata) has gray-blue leaves with maroon teeth, hardy to 10 °F. Var. couesii hardy to 0 °F. Ssp. neomexicana hardy to –20 °F. Plant in groups of three with blue grama grass or as a specimen by a boulder. Great container plant.
Hardiness: Zones 5–9 (10 °F to –20 °F depending on variety)
Water: Low; monthly in summer; low desert: twice monthly summer.
Light: Full sun to filtered shade.
Size: 1.5–3 ft tall and wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.

Thompson's Yucca (Yucca thompsoniana)

Native to western TX and Chihuahua/Coahuila, Mexico. Iconic tree-like form; single stem when young, branching with age. Blue-gray rosette leaves on upper stem; older leaves turn tan, covering stem. White flower clusters in late spring.
Hardiness: Zones 5–9 (–20 °F / –29 °C)
Water: Low.
Light: Full sun.
Size: 10 ft tall, 3 ft wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun.

Upright Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia rigida)

Native to Mediterranean. Blue-gray foliage contrasts with darker plants; spiky texture adds interest. Chartreuse flowers in late winter/spring.
Hardiness: Zones 7–9 (0 °F / –18 °C)
Water: Low; every 2–3 weeks summer, monthly winter if no rain.
Light: Full sun to filtered shade.
Size: 2 ft tall, 3 ft wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade; prune flowering stems in late spring.

Whale's Tongue Agave (Agave ovatifolia)

Native to northeastern Mexico. Wide, curved blue-gray leaves; striking accent by boulders or in containers. Terminal spines can be clipped. Monocarpic—flowers once before dying.
Hardiness: Zones 7–9 (0 °F / –18 °C)
Water: Low–moderate; monthly spring–fall, winter if no rain; low desert: every 2 weeks spring–fall.
Light: Full sun to light shade; light shade in low desert.
Size: 3–4 ft tall and wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.

Broadleaf Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium)

Native to western BC, WA, OR, CA; rocky hillsides. Small gray-blue rosettes form a pleasing groundcover; outer leaves turn burgundy in winter. Yellow flowers in summer. Great for rock gardens, containers, fairy gardens.
Hardiness: Zone 6 (–5 °F / –21 °C)
Water: Infrequent; let soil dry out.
Light: Full sun to filtered shade.
Size: 2 in tall, spreading to 24 in wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.

Queen Victoria Agave (Agave victoriae-reginae)

Native to Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. Dark green leaves in tight rosette with striking white margins; leaves curve inward, smooth edges ending in a spine. Plant by boulders or in rows for contemporary look. Container-friendly; bring indoors in Zone 6 and below.
Hardiness: Zones 7–9 (10 °F / –12 °C)
Water: Drought-tolerant; deep monthly spring–fall, winter if no rain; low desert: every 2 weeks summer.
Light: Full sun required for tight rosette.
Size: Up to 18 in tall and wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun.

'Blue Elf' Aloe (Aloe 'Blue Elf')

Hybrid of South African aloes. Unlike most aloes, thrives in full, hot, reflected sun. Orange flowers late winter to spring. Better cold tolerance than other aloes. Plant in groups of 3–5 in raised beds or along paths. Container plant; bring inside in Zone 7 and below.
Hardiness: Zone 8 (15 °F / –9 °C)
Water: Drought-tolerant; deep twice monthly summer, every 3 weeks spring/fall; low desert: twice monthly spring–fall.
Light: Full sun best; tolerates light shade and reflected sun.
Size: Up to 18 in tall, 2 ft wide.
Planting: Well-drained soil, full sun or filtered shade.