These 74 Different Types of Succulents Are Not Only Gorgeous—but Also Hard To Kill

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What makes a succulent a succulent? A plant's color, leaf shape, size and overall shape help when it comes to identifying this specific group. While a succulent is any plant that can store water for later, there are many different types of succulents to learn about—including cacti, aloe and more.

Succulents can adapt to many environments and lifestyles, thrive with little to no care and fit nicely in even the tiniest spaces. They have a wide range of appealing shapes and sizes. Some plants you wouldn’t have even realized are classified as succulents (like bonsai trees!).

Keep reading—we have compiled an extensive list of succulents for you to enjoy!

74 Different Types of Succulents

There are hundreds of species of succulents—so it is hard to narrow it down to just one list. After all, if you love plants like me, it is just too hard to pick any favorites.

So, we narrowed it down to some of the groups that carry the largest numbers of individual plants in the world to choose from (with a few bonus picks at the end!).

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Cacti

Officially known as the Cactaceae family, cacti are also a type of succulent.

There are three specific characteristics of cacti that make them different from other succulents:

• They have areoles

• Can have beautiful flowers

• Absence of leaves

Another thing exclusive to cacti is the fact they can produce fruit—the most common are dragon fruit and prickly pears.

Balloon Cactus

Balloon Cactus grows in a globe shape with 11-15 spiked ribs. In the summer, two-inch yellow flowers will bloom from its top.

Beaver Tail Cactus

Shrub-like cactus that grows wide and flat like a beaver tail. Don't let the vibrant purple, rosy flowers fool you into getting too close; this cactus is armed with short bristles embellished with barbs.

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Bishop’s Cap Cactus

Native to the highlands of northeastern and central Mexico, the Bishop's Cap Cactus gets its gray tint from a protective scaly outer layer. The flowers only last a couple of days and look similar to daisies.

Blue Barrel Cactus

Blue Barrels can tolerate extremely hot temps—growing up to two feet tall with a globular shape. These succulent stores water in their deep prominent ribs.

Brain Cactus

This plant only grows about six inches tall and 12 inches around. They are slow growing and can do well outdoors until the colder months, when you will need to bring them inside until it warms again.

Bunny Ears Cactus

These low-maintenance ornamental cacti are popular for both inside and outside planting. They can tolerate drought better than most other cacti because of the shape of their "pads" and need full sun to grow happily.

Button Cactus

Originally from Madagascar, a Button Cactus is a great addition to any rock garden or an indoor planter. They are susceptible to root rot, so keeping them in well-drained soil is vital. Unlike the ribs of other cacti, the Button Cactus has tubercles that expand to hold its water storage.

Candelilla

Candelilla in Spanish means, "little candle." This is derived from the fact that you can boil the stems to make high-quality soaps, candles, polish and ointments.

Candelabra Cactus

Not quite a true cactus species, but it sure looks like one. Also called the African milk tree, Candelabra Cactus grow quite tall from a central stem, and have branches growing upward.

Carmine Cob

Although starting off as a solitary plant, this little cactus will eventually shoot out offsets. This dwarf cactus has spectacular-colored flowers, and 13-15 ribs enhanced with grayish spikes.

Christmas Cactus

This adorable, flat-leafed, droopy succulent is a favorite around the holidays when it begins to bloom. Coming in an assortment of bright colors, the Christmas Cactus is fairly easy to take care of. It requires good light and needs more watering during its flowering season.

Related: How To Grow and Care for a Christmas Cactus

Claret Cup Cactus

The cactus is small, spiny with clustered trios of spikes, and is rounded in shape.

Crown Cactus

A dome-shaped cactus that has one of the longest blooming cycles of any cactus. It is a bit more temperamental than other cacti, requiring replanting every year for the first few years, which can be tricky considering it is covered in thin bristly spines.

Easter Cactus

A spring-blooming cactus, grown for its beautiful flowers. A favorite of many, and as its name indicates, flowers around Easter.

Eriosyce Cactus

The Eriosyce Cactus is a favorite due to the fact that it begins blooming orange, pink or yellow flowers as early as four years old. They have round ribbed stems, heavily armed with dense spines.

Fairy Castle Cactus

Five-sided with a wooly base of spines along each, the limbs of this cactus are a bright green. As they age, they slowly turn woody and brown.

Feather Cactus

Having a soft and fluffy appearance, this cactus does hide some thorny spikes underneath. Rarely does this cactus have any problems as long as it is cared for properly and is not toxic to animals or humans.

Fire Barrel Cactus

Fire Barrel Cacti are medium to large cacti with leathery skin. They have formidable spines that are like hooks.

Golden Barrel

This is a well-known cactus, that is endangered in the wild. Golden Barrels are neat, puffball-shaped cacti, deep green in color.

Lady Finger Cactus

Elongated stems and dusty yellow (or brown) soft-looking spines make the Lady Finger Cactus one-of-a-kind. This cactus attracts many gardeners because of its adorable pink, white or yellow blooms.

Monk’s Hood (Star Barrel Cactus)

The Monk's Hood is round when young and develops into a more column structure as the cactus grows. It has lovely yellow flowers that smell divine.

Moon Cactus (Ruby Ball Cactus)

What happens when you graft one cactus onto another? The Moon Cactus is exactly that! To top it off, this cactus thrives on neglect, so it is perfect for just about anybody that has a track record of killing plants.

Old Man Cactus

This cactus looks like Christopher Lloyd came Back to the Future and crashed into a cactus!

Organ Pipe

Known for its tall columns that look like organ pipes, this cactus is native to the arid parts of the U.S. like Arizona and Baja, California. Very tall, and very spiny, each individual column will produce small white flowers.

Prickly Pear Cactus

These large, paddle-shaped cacti actually produce fruit. Some people make jellies or pickle them, while others have used them for medicinal purposes.

Queen of the Night Cactus

There are a few very interesting facts about the Queen of the Night that make it unusual among other cacti. For one, it rarely blooms, and if it does, it's only at night. Also, this is a spineless cactus that actually prefers more shade than sun.

Rat’s Tail Cactus

Thankfully, this cactus has beautiful pinkish flowers to distract you from the fact that as this cactus trails out, it really does look like a "rat's tail."

Saguaro Cactus

The cactus of all cacti. This huge beast can grow as many as 50 "arms" and live as long as 100-200 years. The Saguaro National Park was developed in 1994 to help protect the species.

San Pedro Cactus

A quick-growing column cactus that blooms at night. Indigenous people have been using the San Pedro Cactus for its medicinal value for centuries.

Scarlet Ball Cactus

A beautiful cactus that can do well in sun or partial sun. Redish-orange flowers will bloom on the Scarlet Ball Cactus in late winter to early spring.

Silver Ball Cactus

Ball-shaped and only 20 inches tall makes the Silver Ball Cactus a super cute addition to your rock garden. It grows long, soft bristles (like a broom) with large yellow flowers at the apex. The Silver Ball Cactus is very hardy and low maintenance.

Spiny Pincushion Cactus

A cylindrical cactus can take five to 10 years to reach its normal height of 12 inches. This is a very prickly cactus, covered entirely with spines.

Starfish Cactus

These not-quite-like-a-cactus succulents have been described as stinky, but spectacular. They emit an unpleasant insect-attracting flora, but they are not carnivorous. The flesh of the flower is meant to resemble carrion, attracting pollinators.

Totem Pole Cactus

A completely spineless cactus, the Totem Pole Cactus results from a natural mutation. It is native to only a small region of the Baja California Peninsula. It does not seed or flower.

Walking Stick Cactus

This interesting cactus has jointed stems covered in spines that grow upwards. It can quickly establish and take over an area. Walking Stick Cactus have a long lifespan: 20 years.

Aloe

Aloe is a fantastic plant to get you started on your succulent addiction.

Cultivated in subtropics located all over the world, (this includes Texas, New Mexico and Arizona) aloe has become popular not only for its looks but as a medicinal treatment too. Aloe has been used for skin conditions and wound healing, as well as being taken orally.

African (or Tiger) Aloe

A very large aloe hailing from South Africa, the African aloe can grow to be six to eight tall. Some say it looks like a small palm tree when fully matured.

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Aloe Vera

Although it could be considered evasive in some regions, Aloe Vera is widely distributed all over the world. It does well both outdoors in gardens and indoor pots, desired for its medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Popular uses are burn ointments and skin creams.

Brevifolia Aloe

Native to South Africa, this is an evergreen succulent, tiny and compact. This lovely little aloe plant flowers and is easy to care for.

Candelabra Aloe (Torch Aloe)

Decorative and large, the Candelabra Aloe can get six feet tall and feel more like a tree than a succulent. Dense sharp teeth cover this plant's leaves, but its prominent alluring factor is the "torch" flowers that blossom in late winter.

Cape Aloe (Aloe Ferox)

Dark brown spines run along the edges of the dense, lance-shaped rosettes. This is a single-stemmed aloe plant that branches out five to eight leaves. As leaves die, they dry and form a petticoat rim along the bottom of new growth.

Ciliaris Aloe

Running along the sides of the fleshy long leaves are white hair-like teeth, differentiating the Ciliaris Aloe from other aloes. This aloe is a quick growing, climbing succulent.

Coral Aloe

More frost-hardy than other aloes, the Coral Aloe is an evergreen succulent. It develops charming rosettes from flat, broad leaves, all from one stem.

Fan Aloe

This aloe plant has a very unique, fan blade-shaped leaf arrangement. In the summer sun, it can be quite showy as the blue-green leaf tips transition into a fiery orange.

Related: 5 Gorgeous Flowering Shrubs to Plant This Fall That Will Thrive in the Springtime

French Aloe

Multiple slender stems produce spiraled rosettes of bright chartreuse color. The French Aloe's leaves recurve nicely, bursting with small pale green teeth along the edges.

Giant Hesperaloe

This excellent, slow-growing evergreen has an erect, bold, striking growth habit. It produces stiff, narrow green leaves that form a massive clump of upright growth and reaches six feet tall and wide. Its leaf margins have white, stringy fibers that peel away as the plant matures.

Golden Toothed Aloe

Aloe with fleshy leaves, green in color with a hint of red at the ends. Rosette in shape, the Golden Toothed Aloe likes to stay close to the ground and only reaches a maximum height of 18 inches.

Lace Aloe

An aloe plant native to South Africa, the Lace Aloe has dark green leaves with white bumps scattered throughout. Low-growing and hardy in the right conditions, this plant does better inside homes in colder regions.

Maculata Aloe (Soap Aloe)

Edges of the Macaluata Aloe leaves are lined with spines, making it tricky to replant when needed. During the summer months, this succulent is a huge favorite to hummingbirds, attracting them with red, orange or yellow flowers.

Partridge Breast Aloe

As the name implies, this aloe has green leaves that are mottled with white, similar to the pattern of a partridge's breast.

Rubble Aloe

Characterized by having rosette-shaped leaves.

Spiral Aloe

This unbelievable aloe plant grows thick green leaves that form compact and symmetrical spirals, growing clockwise or counterclockwise. There can be anywhere from 15-30 leaves in each turn of the spiral, spanning up to 24 inches wide.

Tiger Tooth Aloe

Native to Keyna, this aloe can be a great ground cover, mushrooming up to 24 inches wide. The petite rosette leaves can be quite menacing, often filled with thick spikes.

Crassula (Jade)

Jade is a cute tree-like succulent that has a medium growth rate. This plant does well indoors or out of doors, requiring little water, but strong direct light. Indoor plants can be as tall as 30”—growing much larger outside, tipping out at 2-3’ in the right conditions.

String of Buttons

The leaves create a spiral shape around its stem, giving the Buttons on a String a stacked appearance. When given enough light the gray-green leaves will produce a pinkish tint. However, be aware that this particular plant is toxic to both humans and animals, if eaten.

Chocolate Soldier

These are fun and attractive little houseplants. Taking care of the Chocolate Soldier is easy—making it a popular choice among plant owners. They like strong, indirect light, so if you put your plants outside for the summer, do not place them directly in the hot sun.

Gollum

What a delightful little jade plant! Its leaves are long and tubular shaped, with a reddish stain on the tips. When the Gollum appreciates the location it is kept in, it rewards the owner with cherubic pink flowers.

Hummel's Sunset

Hummel's Sunset enjoys living outdoors best, and it's sure to be a favorite to anyone who sees it, producing beautiful fleshy green leaves with pink-hued edges.

Money Plant

Money Plants are quite tropical looking and prefer indirect lighting. Once you have placed the plant where you want it, try not moving it because it will adapt to the lighting provided. Rotate the plant once a month instead for consistent growth and the prevention of leaves turning yellow.

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Pink Beauty

This succulent has a number of branches with thick stems holding glossy-green leaves. Pale pink, star-shaped flowers grow in clusters within the foliage during late fall.

Red Pagoda

Red Pagoda will become quite vibrant during long cool nights, and sun-filled days.

Wave Jade

When temps get on the cool side a burgundy line will form along the edges of this greenish-blue succulent, accentuating the waviness of its leaves. The Wave Jade is easy to propagate and tough to kill.

More awesome succulents

Here are some more succulents too ridiculously awesome not to include in this list.

Afra

Growing into a small tree or shrub, depending on pruning, the Afra can be pruned into looking like a "bonsai" tree.

Bonsai

These little trees are not as hard to care for as you think. With regular watering and proper trimming, you can enjoy this adorable little tree for years to come. Just make sure to research ahead of time which species will do best in the environment you can offer it.

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Agave (Sawtooth)

This succulent is known for its large fleshy "rosette" leaves. It lives in dry arid areas of the Americas but extends down to tropical parts of Mexico. Considered a perennial, this plant takes several years to mature.

Air Plant

This fun and low-maintenance plant requires no soil, and barely any water, to survive. Air Plants get all they need from the air and water around them.

Coral Carpet

Low-growing, covering the ground like a mat, Coral Carpet is a small, dense plant with fleshy finger-like leaves. The leaves change from bright green in the summer, to red in the fall. Pink flowers shoot up towards the sky during early summer.

Echeveria Apus

This succulent has no stems but grows in large rosettes that are bluish-green in color, with a pop of purple at its tips. Its bright yellow flowers grow off of a stalk that protrudes from the rosette.

Elephant Cactus

The primary lower stem of the cactus can get to be about three feet around (stumpy like an elephant leg). The base holds the weight of the cactus as it extends to a very tall height along with several branches.

Irish Rose

A popular succulent choice, the Irish Rose has small rosette-shaped leaves, is bright green in color, and comes off long stems. This is a very easy plant to grow and keep healthy.

Jack Catlin

Flashy, fleshy green rosettes that are richly red at the edges in the springtime. The Jack Catlin is low and clump-growing, liking full to partial sunshine areas.

Red Shaw's Agave

The sword-shaped leaves are lined with gray spines on the Red Shaw Agave plant. It takes up to 10 years for this plant to mature. When it does, it will flower only once, giving way to a 12-foot spike showering a cluster of sunny yellow flowers.

Silver Dollar Vine

A vine succulent producing silvery green leaves in the shape of a coin, Silver Dollar Vine plants can easily adapt to different amounts of sunlight but are difficult to transplant.

Snake Plant

These plants grow long, flat, sword-like leaves, often striped. Snake Plants are tough and forgiving, living well in both strong to low light areas of the house. If consistently in darker areas, move to a sunny spot for a boost of growth.

String of Pearls

An adorable succulent vine with pea-shape and colored leaves. These are great to add a bit of texture and class to planters—as they are usually seen careening over the sides.

Sunburst

The Sunburst succulent has leaves that are bright yellow in color. In the summertime, it will create white flowers, but this is a monocarpic plant. The main plant will die after flowering.

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