Succulents are enduringly popular — compact, sculptural, low-maintenance, and available in an extraordinary range of shapes and colours. But "low maintenance" doesn't mean "no maintenance."
Best Succulents for Beginners
Echeveria — Rosette-forming, in countless colours from blue-grey to deep pink. Needs bright light and very infrequent watering.
Haworthia — Small, tolerates lower light than most succulents. Perfect for a windowsill that doesn't get direct sun. Nearly impossible to kill.
Crassula (Jade Plant) — Long-lived, low water, develops into a small shrub-like plant over years. Very forgiving.
Aloe vera — Dual purpose (ornamental and medicinal gel). Easy in a sunny spot.
Sedum — Fast-spreading, easy to propagate, tolerates outdoor conditions in many climates.
Unusual but Rewarding
Lithops (Living Stones) — Extraordinary camouflage plants that look like pebbles. Require very specific watering cycles.
String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) — Trailing strings of spherical leaves. Stunning but needs bright light.
Aeonium — Rosettes on long woody stems. Some species are summer-dormant — they prefer cool, moist winters.
Euphorbia tirucalli (Fire Sticks) — Vivid orange-pink stems. Architectural statement plant. Handle with gloves — sap is toxic.
