30 Stunning Succulent Varieties to Fit in Any Corner of Your Home
From hardy low-light lovers to showy windowsill divas, these are our favorite types of succulents!
Whether you're looking for a long-lasting, hard-to-kill houseplant to add a splash of greenery while decorating your living room or you want an unusual beauty to show off by a large windowsill, a succulent is often the way to go. Not only are most of these slow-growing, water-retaining plants easy to care for, but they're also among the most unusual and interesting looking houseplants on the market, with wild, sometimes unusually colored leaves and fun, showy flowers, or in shapes and sizes that defy the norm.
What Is a Succulent?
Unlike, say, daisies or sunflowers, succulent plants are not all related, or part of the same genus. Instead, succulents are defined by what they do, which is store water. They typically have thicker, fleshier leaves, and/or tubers or stem systems that will hold water for long periods.
As you might expect, most succulents are found in deserts. (All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.) But they're also found on mountains, in dry lakes, on treetops, and anywhere else that doesn't get regular rainfall.
How to Care for a Succulent
In most cases, succulents are easy to care for—in fact, the biggest mistake many people make is overwatering them, which can cause root rot. But some succulents are easier to care for than others. While some, such as snake plants, are well equipped to grow in even very shady conditions, many succulents—especially cacti—flourish when they have as much sun as possible. Most do just fine with as much bright, indirect light as they can get. Here in the US, if you have a south-facing window—or one that faces west or east and doesn't have much obstruction, this will be a good place to put your indoor succulents. You can also supplement their light needs with a grow light. (Here are some grow lights we recommend.)
While some succulents want a good dousing of water every once in a while, others need only to be occasionally misted. Most will do best if they're slightly underwatered, and you should let at least the top part of the soil get dry enough not to cling to your finger or to a stick before you consider watering. It's always best to check the care guide on the plant as you buy it (or to read up on our care guides, linked below) before purchasing.
Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
This succulent, most commonly known as a "snake plant," is sometimes also called "mother-in-law's tongue" because of the shape and sharpness of the leaves. We think this sturdy, good-looking plant deserves a better reputation. (As do mothers-in-law!) And it really is a great plant. In fact, it's 2025's plant of the year!
Care: These plants largely care for themselves. Anything from bright to low light is fine, and water only a little when the top half of the soil is dry.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ plants don't necessarily look like your typical succulent—until you take a closer gander at their thick, water-retaining leaves. In fact, these pretty plants are one of the easiest to care for, as they're one of the few drought-tolerant plants that also handles low-light environments.
Care: Low to bright, indirect light—keep away from direct light. Water when top 2 inches of soil is dry.
String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)
Drape this ornamental beauty over the sides of a hanging planter for gorgeous effect! Believe it or not, String of Pearls is a cousin to daisies! It's part of the aster family—which you'll see if and when your plant flowers.
Care: Give it bright, indirect light, but avoid direct light, which will scorch it. Water when the top several inches of soil feel dry.
Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.)
This hardy, quick-spreading, low-growing succulent makes a great outdoor ground cover in much of the country. However, it's also a good easy-care houseplant! The fun little flowers come in a variety of colors, from white to pink to bright yellow.
Care: Give this little guy bright, direct sun and allow the soil to fully dry between waterings, especially in the winter.
Living Stone (Lithops spp.)
It looks like a little pot full of pebbles, but the cute little succulents in here are actually full-fledged plants! The new plant bursts out of the middle of the old plant, making these always-changing succulents fun to watch!
Care: Grow in direct sun (or use a grow light) with at least 4 to 5 hours per day. Water very sparingly, only in the spring and fall, when the plant is active.
Ric Rac Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
How could we not love a cactus nicknamed after one of our favorite trims to decorate with? Sometimes known as a fishbone cactus, it grows especially well indoors by a sunny window.
Care: Give it bright, indirect light and water when mostly dry.
String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
If you're looking for a vining plant with pretty leaves that's easy to care for, this is one of your safest bets. The only thing you have to worry about it overwatering.
Care: Give it ample bright, indirect light. Some direct sunlight is okay, but too much will burn the foliage. Water only when the soil is a little dry. You can also use the "toothpick method" to test the soil, as described in our care guide.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Also called "true Aloe" (to distinguish it from the hundreds of other plants in the Aloe genus), this fleshy succulent is best known for its medicinal uses. You can break off a stem and rub the gel on sunburned skin for a quick and easy healing salve!
Care: Provide bright light (a south-facing window is best!) and water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii)
Can you believe there's a succulent with such perfectly heart-shaped leaves? They are, as you might imagine, often given as Valentine's Day or anniversary gifts.
Care: Provide bright, indirect light and water when the top inch of soil is dry. Give these little guys plenty of humidity as well—a bright bathroom is a perfect place!
Dolphin Succulents (Senecio peregrinus)
Dolphin succulents gets its name from the curved leaves that, from the right angle, really do look exactly like jumping dolphins!
Care: Give them a lot of bright light, but not direct sunlight; put them in a south-facing window when possible. Water well, but not often; you can test the soil using the "chopstick method" described in our guide.
Guide: What Are Dolphin Succulents, and How Do You Care for Them?
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
One of the more popular succulents, jade trees are typically easy to care for. Their distinctive tree-like form makes them great for larger pots on windowsills or on the floor! Keep away from pets though: they are toxic if eaten.
Care: Give jade plants bright filtered light year-round, preferably in a south-facing window. Water well, but not often; you can test the soil using the "chopstick method" described in our guide.
Zebra Plant (Haworthiopsis attenuata)
These may look like aloe plants, but their distinctive white bumps—sometimes forming stripes—are a dead giveaway. Be careful not to confuse these with other species called zebra plants—there are a few with white stripes and green leaves, but they're not all succulents.
Care: Give this plant bright, indirect light and only water when the soil is completely dry.
Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus spp. or Ferocactus spp.)
Barrel Cactus is the name for a wide number of ball (or barrel) shaped spiky cacti. There are two major genuses: Echinocactus and Ferocactus. All of them are slow growing, easy to care for, and not too fun to touch!
Care: As you might imagine, barrel cacti do best with lots and lots of bright, direct sunshine. Water no more than once a month; root rot from overwatering is the biggest problem.
Blue Agave (Agave tequilana)
As you might have guessed from the name "tequilana," this agave variety is the base ingredient of tequila. But this beautiful plant, also called Agave Azul, or Blue Weber Agave (and pronounced ah-gah-vay) makes an excellent houseplant. It's a desert plant, so keep it dry and give it plenty of light. (You might want to use a grow light if you don't get plenty of sun near a south-facing window.)
Care: Give it plenty of direct light from a south- or unobstructed west-facing window; allow soil to dry completely before watering. Use a wide, shallow pot if possible: roots grow shallow but wide.
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Unlike other palm trees, the ponytail palm can store water in its bulbous trunk (making it a succulent!) so it's forgiving if you forget to water it occasionally.
Care: Bright, direct light with afternoon shade to prevent sunburn, and occasional watering are perfect for this easy-care plant.
Woolly Senecio (Caputia tomentosa)
The Wooly Senecio, also called Cocoon Plant, appears "woolly" as it's covered in fine white hairs. Its thick leaves make for a striking form.
Care: Give it lots of bright, indirect light—a grow light can help—and only water when the soil is completely dry.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
This holiday cactus features crab claw-like green leaves and asymmetrical flowers in saturated shades. There are varieties that bloom at other holidays as well—such as the Easter Cactus and the Thanksgiving Cactus.
Care: Give them bright, indirect light and water only when the top two inches of the soil is dry. The tricky part: To get them to bloom, they need a long period of uninterrupted darkness at night for at least six weeks, starting in late summer (more on this in our care guide linked below). Cared for well, these plants can last dozens of years.
Learn more: How to Care for a Christmas Cactus and Get It to Bloom
Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria spp.)
There are hundreds of varieties of Mammillaria, or pincushion cacti. The succulent, naturally, resembles a pincushion, but our favorite detail has to be the daisy-like flowers.
Care: Give them full sun or bright direct light with afternoon shade. Allow soil to fully dry before watering.
Cobweb Spiderwort (Tradescantia sillamontana)
A member of the spiderwort family, this interesting plant is covered in silvery white hairs that appear "cobwebby" or like white velvet.
Care: Give them bright, direct light or full sun. Water only when the top two inches of the soil is dry—less in the winter when they're not growing.
Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
This has to be our favorite name for a succulent ever. The whimsical trailing stems (like a donkey's tail) make it a natural filler for cascading arrangements, such as in hanging baskets.
Care: Give them bright, direct sunlight and allow soil to fully dry before watering.
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