Succulent species: the 10 most beautiful & hardy

There is an infinite variety of succulents. We have started looking for the most popular and beautiful types of succulents for you.

Most people own one or the other Succulent plant in the house, which can show itself in the most varied of forms. The term “succulent” is originally derived from the Latin “suculentus”, which means “rich in juice” or “rich in juice”. This water-storing property is used by the unusual plants to withstand even extreme drought in their natural environment. The diversity of the desert plants is immense, which is why we present the most important succulent species below.

Succulent species: identify safely and correctly

The property of succulents is that they retain water in their tissues. This allows them to survive for a long time in areas where it rains very little or only periodically at large intervals. In these regions there are usually special climatic and soil conditions, so the different growth forms of the succulents are no wonder.

The different types of succulents can be divided into three large groups: Depending on where their water storage tissue is located, a distinction is made between stem, root and leaf succulents. An exact determination is usually quite difficult, as there are a large number of families, genera and species with succulent growth and these are very similar. This is remedied by special identification books for succulents, which give detailed information about the special species.

Succulent species: the 10 most popular and beautiful species

1. Aloe vera: A real classic among the succulents, which is characterized by its thick-fleshed leaves and a desert-like appearance; can be used as a remedy for sunburn.
2. Acanthocalycium spiniflorum: Small but prickly cactus; is one of the best-selling cacti in the trade; the spherical cactus plant is perfect for growing in pots.
3. Disocactus ackermannii: Popular leaf cactus with long-growing shoots; suitable as a hanging plant; also known under the name Epiphyllum ackermannii.
4. Echeveria: Includes several species, all of which belong to the thick-leaf family (Crassulaceae); easy-care rosette plant; perfect for the house.
5. Gasteries: Popular succulents for indoor culture; small growth and thick leaves.
6. Gymnocalycium: Classic, small, round cactus; very expansive flower compared to the size of the plant; long spines.
7. Lithops: Also referred to as "living stones"; easy to care for and small growth.
8. Opuntia: Prickly pear cacti with sometimes very tall growth; popular for their sweet fruits and their classic appearance.
9. Schlumbergera: Also known as the Christmas cactus; bushy growth with thick-fleshed leaves and red to pink flowers.
10. Sempervivum: In German referred to as houseleek; very diverse genus and extremely resistant to heat and cold.

Succulents: hardy and hardy species

Even if succulents such as cacti have the reputation of a classic desert plant, some species can still cope with the frosty temperatures in winter in this country. Keep in mind that succulents are generally masters of adaptation and therefore have developed their characteristic growth habit.

You can easily cultivate the following species in the garden all year round without worrying about the succulent plant dying off:

• Opuntia: The classic American cacti not only feel good in the heat, but sometimes also endure the frosty winters in Germany. Hardy species are for example Opuntia engelmanii and Opuntia cymochila.
• yucca: The prickly palm lilies are not only a popular plant in the home, but are also suitable, depending on the species, for wintering in the garden. The following species are hardy: Yucca filamentosa and Yucca gloriosa.
• Supervivum: The very resilient succulent plant can withstand temperature extremes in both directions without any problems and requires little maintenance. Example: Supervivum tectorum.
• Escobaria: The cactus, which originates from Canada to Mexico, is one of the particularly cold-resistant succulents and can easily withstand winter in Central Europe. Example: Escobaria vivipara.

Most people know succulents as green and sturdy plants that don't require a lot of maintenance. But did you know that there are also flourishing representatives? We'll introduce you to a few Succulents with flowers before.