14 Succulents for Easy, Beautiful Gardens

Succulents are every gardener's dream: foolproof for beginners, water-wise for busy homeowners, and a living palette for plant artists. Here are 14 standout choices for your garden.

Joni L. Janecki & Associates, Inc.

Echeveria (Echeveria spp.)

Purple 'Afterglow' adds stunning color to green/blue/gray gardens. Ground or containers; not the most cold-hardy. Unlike many succulents, blooms yearly. Full sun, low water, year-round color.

See how to grow Echeveria

debora carl landscape design

Aeonium (Aeonium spp.)

Aesthetic diversity winner: leaves from pure black to colorful variegations. Rounded leaves create softness. Native to Canary Islands; less cold-hardy but more soil/moisture tolerant. Needs a bit more water than most succulents, still very drought-tolerant. Interplant with Mediterranean natives or grasses.

See how to grow Aeonium

Parry's Agave (Agave parryi)

Majestic, statuesque (~3 feet tall/wide). One makes an impact. Hardy to near 0°F — grows outdoors where others need winter protection. Beware spiny tips; plant away from paths, but center-stage. Southwest native.

See how to grow Parry's agave

PixelFänger

Hens-and-Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)

For climates with temperature swings. Tightly packed rosettes from Central/Southern European mountains handle snowy winters and sunny summers. Monocarpic but produces multiple offsets. Full sun, little water.

See how to grow hens-and-chicks

Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

Blue Chalk Sticks (Senecio mandraliscae)

For quick ground coverage. Vivid blue frames specimens and hardscape. Fire-wise for prone areas. Not very cold-hardy but tolerates high winds and coastal conditions. Looks good year-round after showier plants fade.

See how to grow blue chalk sticks

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Santa Rita Prickly Pear (Opuntia santa-rita or O. violacea santa-rita)

Southwestern color star: gray-blue pads turn purple in winter; yellow spring flowers. Native to SW/Texas; tolerates extreme heat and teens temperatures. Keep away from paths — grows 5 feet tall/wide.

See how to grow Santa Rita prickly pear

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Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe luciae)

Beach-themed gardens love this "flapjack" plant. Red-tinged leaves and stacking structure evoke underwater coral. Monocarpic but offsets continue generations. Mild climates or indoors. Moderate water until established.

See how to grow paddle plant

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Fan Aloe (Aloe plicatilis)

Softer silhouette. Mass for structured grass alternative. Late-winter flowers attract hummingbirds. Drought-tolerant but best with supplemental water and shelter from harsh sun. Freezing winters? Containerize and bring inside. Slow-growing, long-lived, propagates by cuttings.

See how to grow fan aloe

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Liveforever (Dudleya spp.)

Southwestern native for inhospitable rocky outcroppings. Powdery gray leaves cool summer gardens; leafy inflorescences in spring and fall. Thrives with little supervision in warm dry summers, cool wet winters. Propagates by seed or division (unlike many succulents).

See how to grow Dudleya

Tracy27

Milk Bush (Euphorbia tirucalli)

Neon-green branching "pencil plant" — 30 feet in native Africa (kept smaller). 'Sticks on Fire' cultivar: yellow summer, bright red winter. Coastal-tolerant, full sun, little water. Containerize in cold climates. Caution: White sap is toxic.

See how to grow milk bush

debora carl landscape design

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

From upright shrubs to trailing ground covers, colorful sedum spans all needs. Summer/fall flowers attract birds and butterflies. Cold-hardier than most succulents (to -30°F), allowing non-typical low-water companions. Well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade. Drought-tolerant but may need water in extreme dry summers.

See how to grow stonecrop

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' syn. B. caulescens)

Gateway succulent. Massed green base fills space; orange spiky flowers accent. Blooms spring–fall; temperate climates see flowers (and pollinators) all season. 'Hallmark' less heat-tolerant than species; survives to 20°F. Well-drained soil, little water once established.

See how to grow bulbine

Prideaux Design

Slipper Plant (Pedilanthus macrocarpus syn. Euphorbia lomelii)

Upright stems fill narrow spaces. Smooth evergreen stems = year-round interest. Bright orange fall blooms attract hummingbirds. Native to Mexican deserts; heat-tolerant, cold-hardy to ~22°F. Containers work well. Caution: White sap poisonous if ingested.

See how to grow slipper plant

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Spurge (Euphorbia spp.)

Not all strictly succulents, but similar conditions. Low-growing E. myrsinites to upright rainbow 'Blackbird' — colorful year-round foliage and spring blooms. Various climate zones; moderate water, full sun to partial shade. Often spreads, mixes well. Caution: Milky white sap irritates skin, toxic if ingested.

See how to grow spurge

More: 3 Steps to Creating Quick, Easy and Colorful Succulent Containers