Succulents might be the last thing most gardeners think of growing. Apart from their fat foliage, succulents can also have a rough texture and thorns that may not be appealing.
But did you know that there are flowering succulents that can be a great addition to your indoor or outdoor space?
Flowering succulents are available in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Their unique texture makes them an excellent addition to any indoor or outdoor space. Like other plants, succulents require the right environment and care to thrive.
Read on as we list some of the most beautiful flowering succulents. Our detailed guide includes the flower color and other details about these blooming succulents.
Table of Contents
25 Beautiful Flowering Succulents
Here are some options if you’re looking for flowering succulents to add to your indoor and outdoor collection.
Irish Rose
Irish rose thrives in a warm climate as it cannot handle cold temperatures. The succulent has yellow flowers and a compact size that fits well in any indoor setting.
This succulent thrives in slightly acidic to neutral pH soil and minor to moderate water. You also need to place it where there’s mild sun.
Hens and Chicks
Hens and chicks is another type of flowering succulent that can survive in any area, as it’s a drought-tolerant species. It’s commonly found in arid regions where it grows in crevices and rocky formations.
Apart from producing hundreds of offsets annually, this succulent also has stunning flowers.
The big rosette or the “mother hen” produces the small offsets known as chicks. It’s these chicks that form red or pink star-shaped flowers.
This low-growing perennial succulent blooms in summer. You’ll find it simple to maintain: It can grow under low light conditions, which makes it perfect for indoors.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is also known as a holiday cactus. It gets its name because it blooms around Christmas in the late fall.
It’s recognizable by its hanging leaves and unique red flowers. The flowers last long and make a perfect addition to the holiday season.
Unlike most flowering succulents that require minimal water, Christmas cacti have to be watered frequently. Furthermore, to promote blooming in this succulent, you must expose it to up to ten hours of daylight for six weeks.
Planting the succulent in low temperatures also helps with bud formation.
Desert Rose Plant
Desert rose has a fat trunk and thrives in summer and spring in cold climates. It produces flowers in shades of pink, white, or red when exposed to the full sun.
Although the flowering succulent takes time to bloom, it can grow up to ten feet tall.
This succulent has different species like Adenium somalense var, Adenium multiflorum, and Adenium obesum (which is more popular).
Orchid Cactus
Orchid cactus or Epiphyllum spp. are closely related to the Christmas cactus.
It has long, broad stems that are serrated and big flowers that hang down a basket. The succulent flowers have different colors, like purple, orange, yellow, red, pink, and white.
When grown in hanging baskets, orchid cactus can be used as a decoration in your house.
These hardy succulents can grow 5 to 10 inches. You should also note that it can take up to two years for an orchid cactus to produce any blooms.
Purple Ice Plant
The purple ice plant, or Delosperma cooperi, is another flowering succulent that grows about 4 inches tall.
It has needle-like leaves and purple flowers that bloom during summer and fall. The succulent’s ability to spread quickly makes it a perfect ground cover.
All you need to grow a purple ice plant is a sunny area and well-drained soil.
Jade Plant
The jade plant is famous for its unique foliage and star-shaped flowers. The succulent can have pink or white blooms and grows up to 4 feet tall under the right conditions.
Additionally, this succulent takes time to flower compared to other succulent varieties. It produces flowers in early spring or late winter when planted outdoors.
Planting and handling the jade plant is easy. All you need is some sun and moderate water. Note that growing a jade plant indoors can be challenging as it requires lots of sun.
Flowering Kalanchoe
The flowering kalanchoe, or Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, is another perennial succulent that can grow 6 to 18 inches tall. It’s closely related to the jade plant and shares the ability to bloom in winter and spring and simple maintenance.
Unlike some species that take a short time to bloom, kalanchoe can take close to five years to mature and produce flowers. When mature, the flowers can have pink, red, white, or yellow shades.
Pincushion Cactus
The pincushion cactus has a barrel-shaped formation with lots of thorns. It produces pink flowers at the top during spring.
The succulent requires enough watering and heat for it to bloom. If you’re considering planting the pincushion cactus indoors, you should handle it with care and keep it out of reach of children and pets due to its hooked spines.
‘Ruby Necklace’
‘Ruby Necklace’ is a fast-growing succulent that blooms throughout the year. It has green leaves that turn red when exposed to light and trailing purple stems, hence the name ruby necklace.
You can place this succulent in rock gardens or hanging baskets.
The succulent produces vibrant yellow flowers during its blooming season. Its leaves remain green with little light but have a red and pink hue when exposed to enough sunlight.
Peanut Cactus
Peanut cactus resembles a peanut and is common in late summer and spring. The succulent has bright red-orange flowers. The succulent is small and looks like peanut shells with huge flower heads.
The species has different varieties with various colors if you want a different color. ‘Rose Quartz’ has purple blooms, while the ‘Arlequin’ variety has yellow and red flower combinations.
Unlike other succulents with thorny and rough spines, the peanut cactus has smooth spines, making it safe for kids and pets. Peanut cactus thrives in full sun in a cool environment with half shade in a hot place.
Echeveria
Echeveria is another popular succulent that you can quickly grow indoors. The succulent has a flat rosette shape, and there are different Echeveria varieties, depending on your preferences.
The succulent is drought-tolerant, meaning it doesn’t need much water. You can water the succulent in dry weather once the soil is dry.
Echeveria ‘Doris Taylor’ is an attractive blooming succulent with a fuzzy rosette with yellow or bright orange flowers that tend to appear on long stalks.
Echeveria ‘Black Knight’ has a deep black shade and tends to bloom around late fall or summer. The succulent has red star-like flowers that are wrapped in black sepals.
Echeveria elegans, or Mexican snowball, produces bright pink flowers with lantern-shaped yellow tips in spring or late winter. The variety thrives well outdoors in a warm climate. It also requires little to moderate water and slightly acidic or alkaline soil pH.
Echeveria’ Mexican Peacock’ has a light blue and purple shade when exposed to enough sunlight and a bluish-gray color in little light. Like other Echeveria varieties, the ‘Mexican Peacock’ thrives in a sunny spot and produces flowers in early summer or spring.
Strings of Pearls
The string of pearls, or Curio rowleyanus, is a perennial succulent that grows up to two feet long. The trailing succulent has small pea-shaped leaves that spill over a planter, producing daisy-like white flowers with red stamens and yellow anthers.
It has a cinnamon-like scent and blooms where there’s enough sunlight and water. The string of pearls thrives well in an outdoor setup.
‘Afterglow’
‘Afterglow’ is a hybrid between two Echeveria variants.
This evergreen succulent has beautiful pink leaves that have a powdery texture. Its edges have a bright pink-red tone and can grow up to 2 feet tall and 16 inches wide.
Its bright orange-red or pinkish-lavender flowers are unique and add beauty to any space.
Like other Echeveria plants, ‘Afterglow’ only requires well-drained soil and partial to full sunlight. It’s also heat-tolerant and drought resistant once it’s mature.
You can propagate this succulent from stem or leaf cuttings if you prefer not to use its seeds.
Crown of Thorns
Crown of thorns is native to Africa and has a biblical origin. The succulent has thick green leaves and a thorny stem.
The crown of thorns produces flowers in colors like white, red, yellow, and pink.
One thing to note when planting crown of thorns is the toxic, milky sap. You need to handle the succulents with care to avoid the liquid from spilling onto your skin or eyes.
Easter Cactus
Hatiora gaertneri, or the Easter cactus, is a succulent holiday flower that grows 2 to 3 inches long. There are brown bristles in between the segments that are flattened. Its edges have a purple shade, and the tips are soft.
However, Easter cactus requires less light and more water than other flowering succulents. It blooms during spring, and experts recommend keeping it in the dark place in the months leading to spring.
Ghost Plant
Ghost plant gets its name from the powder-like coating on the leaves that gives an odd appearance. The succulent has gray and white pointed leaves with trailing rosettes.
One unique aspect of this succulent is that each rosette can change its hue when exposed to the sun. Its pink blooms make a great decor addition to any outdoor yard or indoor space.
The slow-growing variant is short and only grows a few inches annually.
You’ll need soil with good drainage and ample sunlight to grow this succulent and help it produce new flowers.
Lifesaver Cactus
Life-saver cactus, or Huernia zebrina, has a centered donut-within-a-star-shaped flowers. The succulent can thrive indoors or outdoors, depending on the area’s hardiness.
Unfortunately, this succulent doesn’t grow in cold weather.
Jelly Bean Plant
The jelly bean plant, known as pork-n-beans, resembles small jelly beans with plump pink and green leaves. It can grow 6 to 12 inches tall.
The succulent is simple to grow and only requires warm temperatures, a sunny area, and water.
Exposing the succulent to a lot of sun gives the succulent bright red and pink-colored leaves. Additionally, the jelly bean plant has yellow star-shaped flowers during spring and summer.
Aeonium
Aeonium is a perennial succulent that can grow 2 to 60 inches tall, depending on the variety.
With over 30 species under this genus, the rosettes can produce shades of yellow, red, white, and green.
The succulent is recognizable by its star-like flowers blooming from the rosettes.
However, you should note that aeonium takes a long time to bloom as it’s a slow-growing succulent.
Marble Buttons
Marble buttons, or Conophytum calculus, is another rare flowering succulent with a light green-gray body and a round shape. It produces orange-yellow flowers with a pleasant fragrance like that of carnations.
One unique feature about this succulent is that the leaves fuse to create a smooth round dome.
‘Francesco Baldi’
‘Francesco Baldi’ is a hybrid interspecies between two species found in Mexico.
The species blooms in early spring and late winter, producing star-shaped yellow flowers. Its colors can also vary depending on the season.
You need plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil to grow this succulent.
Moonstone Plant
The Moonstone plant, or Pachyphytum oviferum, is succulent with leaves that look like tiny stones.
It starts blooming during early spring and produces white and orange flowers that hang in clusters from a stem. The succulent thrives and blooms with lots of sunlight and good drainage.
Porcelain Plant
Porcelain plant is a hybrid of Echeveria derenbergii and Groptopetalum saraguayense. The succulent has a rose pattern and green, blue, and gray fleshy leaves.
It blooms where there’s moderate to a lot of sun and requires little water.
Red Yucca
Red yucca looks like ornamental grass, but it’s a succulent. It’s common in northeastern Mexico and Texas.
This succulent has tubular red flowers that attract hummingbirds in early spring. Red yucca grows well in rocky areas with well-drained sand and loam soil.
Final Thoughts
If you want to add color to your indoor or outdoor space, you should consider getting flowering succulents. Some varieties bloom indoors with little sun exposure and watering, while others thrive outdoors with plenty of sunshine.
Our list above has different succulent types that flower in different seasons, allowing you to have blooming succulents throughout the year.
Resources
- https://worldofsucculents.com/genera/echeveria/
- https://www.allaboutgardening.com/flowering-succulents/
- https://bouqs.com/blog/beautiful-flowering-succulents/
- https://succulents101.com/14-popular-flowering-succulents/
- https://gardender.com/flowering-succulents/
- https://succulentsbox.com/blogs/blog/12-most-beautiful-flowering-succulents
- https://www.finegardening.com/article/10-outstanding-succulents
- https://succulentplantcare.com/18-popular-flowering-succulents-with-pictures/
- https://www.allaboutgardening.com/flowering-succulents/