Succulents are such interesting and versatile plants. There are so many textures and shapes that can be used to add variety to a succulent or rock garden. Succulents also make great houseplants if you have a sunny window and a propensity to forget about the watering day.
Most types of succulents tend to thrive on a bit of neglect. If they have good drainage and the right amount of light, there is little to do in the way of maintenance other than the occasional watering and they are even quite forgiving about that.
Some succulent plants grow to soaring heights in their natural habitats but can be tamed to more manageable heights when kept in containers. Most succulents are slow growing, and many of them will bloom if they get enough sun.
If you’re looking for a succulent to add some height to your garden, or a towering houseplant that makes a statement, look no further. These 17 plants are definite conversation starters that will add loads of interest to a garden or houseplant collection.
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botanical name Euphorbia trigona |
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sun requirements Part Sun |
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height up to 9’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
African Milk Tree is a great plant for the gardener that wants a plant with some height but doesn’t want to wait a very long time for it to get there.
African Milk tree, also known as the Good Luck Cactus, is not a true cactus but a succulent. Its triangular stems are smooth on the surfaces. The edges are sprinkled with thorns and small, pear-shaped leaves.
This plant can live outdoors in warmer climates but is not tolerant of temperatures below 50°F. It is toxic to humans and animals, so keep this one out of the path of small children and animals that might like to snack on plants. An especially pretty variety, the Royal Red cultivar has leaves that turn a rich red shade in the fall.
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botanical name Euphorbia ammak ‘Variegata’ |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height 15’-20’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
This is one succulent you don’t want to miss out on. The stunning, marbled stems and branches of this Euphorbia are a swirl of blue and cream colors.
The edges of the four-sided stem structures are peppered with spines and branch out at around 3’ tall. The branches grow out and upward, which gives the plant its nickname, the Candelabra Spurge.
If you live North of zone 9, this plant will work better as a houseplant, or in a container that can be brought indoors in the cooler months. It likes warm weather, lots of light, and low humidity. Avoid touching the sap from this succulent, as it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes and is toxic when consumed.
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botanical name Adenium obesum |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height 3’-9’ tall |
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hardiness zones 11-12 |
Desert Rose is an easy succulent to care for and it will reward its owner by blooming easily and beautifully in the summertime. As long as this plant gets enough sun, and not too much water, it should thrive and produce plenty of stunning bright pink, red, or white flowers. While many succulents are rare bloomers, Desert Rose is quite generous in this way.
This plant is deciduous and drops its flowers and leaves in the winter. If kept outside, it should get lots of sun early in the day but give it a bit of protection from the afternoon sun which can scorch its leaves. It should be kept slightly moist in spring and summer, but watering can be reduced to just once per month in fall and winter.
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botanical name Portulacaria Afra |
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sun requirements Part Shade to Full Sun |
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height 8’-12’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
This succulent gets its name not from its appearance, but rather because it is a food source for elephants in Africa to which it is native. While it can grow as tall as 20’ in the wild, it will not grow much taller than a manageable 4’ when kept as a container plant. This bushy succulent resembles a jade plant with its woody stems but has smaller leaves.
Elephant Bush goes dormant in the winter, and when it awakens in the spring, it can produce clusters of tiny pink flowers at the ends of its branches. It does best in bright, but indirect sunlight, as too much sun will cause the leaves to drop off.
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botanical name Austrocylindropuntia subulata |
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sun requirements Light Shade to Full Sun |
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height up to 12’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
This non-toxic succulent’s leaves are commonly sold as a vegetable in its native areas of Mexico and South America. The long, thin, pointed, and fleshy leaves grow on cylindrical stems that branch like a tree. Interspersed among the leaves are long sharp spines.
Eve’s Needle rarely blooms in captivity, but when it blooms the flowers are lovely. They are cup-shaped and red, as large as 3” in diameter, and appear at the ends of the branches. After the blooms fall, edible fruit develops which is appetizing, but difficult to eat as they contain a lot of seeds.
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botanical name Agave attenuata |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height 4’-5’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
This attractive Agave grows in a rosette of pale green with a silvery tint. The long, fleshy leaves are pointed and gently arching as they open.
Fox Tail gets its name from its rather imposing flower stalk, which has a tail-like appearance. This stalk hosts greenish-yellow flowers which fall to reveal seed pods that turn into tiny plantlets.
Agave plants are typically associated with Mezcal and Tequila, liquors made from the core of the plants. However, this particular variety is not one that is commonly used for purposes of consumption. The core of the agave plant can also be used to produce a sweet syrup that is low on the glycemic index.
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botanical name Crassula Ovata |
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sun requirements Bright Indirect Light |
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height up to 5’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Jade plants are very slow-growing succulents, and it is uncommon to see one reach its full height of 5’ tall, but it isn’t unheard of.
My father has had a jade plant for as long as I can remember (which is right around 40 years) and it is one of the largest I have seen, reaching about 4’ in height. However, they can grow larger under the right conditions.
These plants are associated with good fortune and wealth, and they are quite fragile to the touch. Their woody stems and oval-shaped, green leaves make them resemble miniature trees.
Jade trees will flower indoors in the winter if they are given the right conditions. They make wonderful houseplants as they prefer warm and dry conditions.
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botanical name Yucca brevifolia |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height up to 40’ tall |
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hardiness zones 6-10 |
Joshua trees are large, treelike succulents that were named for the biblical figure Joshua by 19th Century Mormons who believed that the trees pointed them in the right direction.
They have thick, woody trunks that branch out around 3’, and the branches terminate with spikey clusters of leaves. Their trunks can grow up to 3’ in diameter and they can reach heights of 30’-70’ tall in the wild but will stay a more manageable size when kept in containers.
These plants are widely found in the Mojave Desert, where they have a National Park named for them. They were also made memorable when the band U2 named an album after them.
They go dormant in the winter, and in spring they produce clusters of white flowers. Both humans and animals use them as a food source, and they are slow growing with an average lifespan of 150 years.
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botanical name Pachypodium lamerei |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height up to 15’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
Madagascar Palm is not a palm tree at all, but rather, like all of our plants on this list, it is classified as a succulent. Its thick, cylindrical trunk holds water to keep the plant alive in times of little rain. It has a fun and funky appearance but should be kept out of high-traffic areas as it is covered in sharp spines.
This succulent can reach up to 20’ tall when planted in the ground, but only about half that height when kept in a container. After its winter dormancy, Madagascar Palm will produce pure white flowers going into the summer, from their palm-like, leafy tops.
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botanical name Kalanchoe delagoensis |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height up to 7’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Mother of Millions goes by quite a few names, Devil’s Backbone being the most ominous of them. It has a rather ragged, toothy appearance to its leaves, but they are actually not sharp or pointed. Long stalks can grow up to 7’ tall, with elongated, spoon-shaped leaves. These leaves are green with dark purple mottling.
The most striking characteristic of the plant is the abundance of tiny plantlets that grow all along the serrated edges of their leaves. If planted in the ground, Mother of Millions can very quickly become invasive. It’s a great houseplant though, and very forgiving.
At various times of the year, this kalanchoe species can send up a tall inflorescence with large clusters of coral-colored, bell-shaped flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds.
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botanical name Fouquieria splendens |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height up to 20’ tall |
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hardiness zones 7-11 |
These curious cacti are known for their long, thin clusters of very tall stems that grow lots of tiny leaves when they are watered well. The leaves fall off during times of drought but come back after a good rain.
The name Ocotillo means ‘Little Torch’ in Spanish and comes from the appearance of the bright red flower clusters that show up in late spring and summer. These flowers are a great food source for hummingbirds.
A row of Ocotillos makes an intriguing, living fence in climates where the temperature stays above 10°F. They are very adaptable to different soil conditions and grow at a wide range of altitudes. They are relatively fast-growing and can live as long as 60 years.
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botanical name Stenocereus thurberi |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height 23’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
These stately cacti can be found in large numbers in the Sonoran Desert, where they have a monument in their honor. They are considered succulents due to how they store their water and are slow growing. They are easily damaged by cold, but they will typically survive a light frost.
Organ-Pipe is a flowering cactus, it produces large, lovely white flowers in May and June. The flowers only open at night, and the plant won’t flower until the reach about 35 years old but can live for up to 150 years. Because of their night-blooming habit, they are mostly pollinated by long-nosed bats.
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botanical name Epiphyllum oxypetalum |
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sun requirements Bright Indirect Light |
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height 10’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
The Queen of the Night cactus is an intriguing plant with a unique and elusive blooming habit. This plant blooms only once per year, and over only one night. The blooms are large, pure white, and fragrant. In its native home of Southern Mexico, its blooms are widely anticipated and celebrated.
This is an easy plant to keep as a houseplant. They grow under a tree canopy naturally, so while most succulents need a lot of sun, Queen of the Night actually prefers bright, but indirect sunlight. Let the top 2 inches of the soil dry between waterings, however, this is not a cactus that likes to dry out completely.
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botanical name Carnegiea gigantea |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height up to 40’ tall |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
The stately Saguaro is considered a succulent because of how it stores water. It is a wonderfully tall addition to a succulent garden. When kept in containers, they will remain considerably smaller than their potential for 40’ or taller in the wild.
They have a distinctively Western vibe that exudes coolness as an imposing houseplant. They do best in a very sunny spot near to lots of natural light.
Expect to pay a premium for a larger specimen, as Saguaros are very slow growers. They will grow only an inch or two per year for the first 8 years, so a large saguaro is one that has been cared for, for a long time.
In late spring, a cluster of large white flowers blooms at the crown of the Saguaro cactus. The flowers open at night and last through the next day, with each flower blooming for no more than 24 hours.
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botanical name Sansevieria trifasciata |
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sun requirements Part Shade to Full Sun |
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height up to 8’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
Sansevieria trifasciata is one of the most widely available and adaptable plants on this list, and probably on most lists of popular houseplants.
Snake plants are widely available, inexpensive, and very easy to care for. They can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, although they will grow faster when given lighter, and they don’t mind drying out between waterings.
Though this succulent can produce flowers, it is rare for them to do so when kept indoors. When they do bloom, they send up a long stalk that holds dozens of delightfully delicate, white blossoms that resemble honeysuckle, and have a pleasing aroma. To encourage blooming, don’t overwater a Snake Plant, and give it lots of bright light.
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botanical name Yucca elephantipes |
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sun requirements Full Sun |
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height 15’-30’ tall |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
Spineless Yucca is a versatile and easy-to-find succulent tree that does well both indoors and out, provided it can be moved inside during freezing weather.
Its name comes from the fact that, unlike most types of yuccas, this one has leaves without spines. Rather, the leaves are long, pointed, and softer than other varieties. This makes it an ideal houseplant.
When kept inside, Spineless Yucca will generally grow to a manageable 5’ tall but is unlikely to flower. When planted in the ground, they can reach heights of up to 30’ tall, and in the summer, they will produce flower stalks bearing clusters of white, bell-shaped blooms. If you keep this plant in the sun and don’t overwater, it will thrive and make a great houseplant.
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botanical name Euphorbia tirucalli |
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sun requirements Part Shade to Full Sun |
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height 4’-16’ tall |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
This wonderful succulent shrub is named for its unique appearance. The branches are plentiful, pencil-thin, and grow in a splendid coral color. This bright and cheerful plant will fade to yellow in summer and then deepen to red again when the weather cools. It can grow quite tall in the ground but will remain more manageable in a container, indoors.
Sticks on Fire is remarkably resistant to pests and diseases and is exceptionally resilient. When mature, they will produce clusters of small yellow flowers atop the thin stalks, typically in spring and fall. All parts of this plant are toxic to humans and animals so this should be considered when keeping it as a houseplant.
Succulents come in so many different shapes and sizes. With their interesting textures, colors, and ease of care, it’s no wonder succulents are very popular as houseplants. These tall varieties make an excellent addition to any succulent garden or houseplant collection.
It is interesting to collect and cultivate these quirky and sometimes surprising plants from the very common to the rather rare. And, if you manage to coax some flowers out of them, it can be quite a momentous occasion!
