Categories

    Posts

      Cacti & Succulents

      16 Statement Succulents For Your Indoor Garden

      Are you looking for an easy-care plant with a lot of personality to spice up your indoor garden? Take a look at these showstopping succulents that look great and thrive on neglect.

      Author avatar

      Written by Horticulture review by Lorin Nielsen Last updated: January 9, 2024 | 9 min read

      Close-up of blooming Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - one of the popular statement succulents. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, commonly known as the Flaming Katy, is a compact and charming succulent plant. With its thick, fleshy, dark green leaves, the plant forms a rosette structure. The vibrant and eye-catching flowers of bright pink are small, and cluster together in dense, upright clusters, creating a stunning floral display.

      Contents

      From the very small to the very tall, succulent plants are a wonderfully uncomplicated way to add personality and pizzazz to your indoor garden. They rarely suffer issues with pests and diseases, and many are winter bloomers, bringing much-needed flair to the dreariest time of year.

      If you want to add color and interest to your houseplant collection when many plants are dormant, you have much to choose from. Here are 16 of my favorite flashy succulents with wonderful flowers and stunning foliage to make a splash in the indoor garden. 

      Beach Bells

      Close-up of a flowering succulent plant Kalanchoe manginii 'Beach Bells' against a blurred brick wall background. This cultivar features trailing stems adorned with elongated, silver-blue leaves. The foliage cascades gracefully, forming a hanging or spreading habit. It produces clusters of small, tubular, bell-shaped flowers in a red-coral hue.
      Start with a Kalanchoe, like ‘Beach Bells,’ known for its vibrant leaves and bell-shaped flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Kalanchoe manginii
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      I have to start this list with a species of Kalanchoe because this genus is home to some of the most stunning succulent plants I’ve ever seen. ‘Beach Bells’ is a gorgeous plant with bright green leaves with red margins, growing alternately on red stems. The brilliant red, pendulous flowers are bell-shaped and bloom in clusters at the top of stems. 

      Kalanchoe care is quite simple. These plants like bright but indirect light for most of the day, which makes them great indoor plants. They can tolerate some direct morning sun, but more than a few hours will cause the plant stress. Water should be sparing in the winter, generous in the summer, and moderate in spring and fall. 

      String of Rubies

      Close-up of Othonna capensis, also known as Ruby Necklace, in a plastic hanging pot in the garden. It is a distinctive succulent with a trailing and cascading growth habit. The plant features slender, cylindrical leaves that are smooth, elongated, and includes bright green color, with a touch of purple and red at the tips.
      Admire the stunning String of Rubies succulent with red-hued leaves and charming yellow flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Othonna Capensis
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      water-needs water needs Water sparingly, allow soil to dry between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      I just love this sweet little string plant for its stunning foliage and the most adorable flowers. String of Rubies is a trailing succulent with bean-shaped leaves that blush to a beautiful shade of red when the plant is stressed by sun or cold. Not all stress is bad because this coloration sets this plant in a class all its own. 

      Small, yellow flowers bloom at the ends of long trailing stems and turn their faces toward the sky. The scarlet foliage and sunny flowers make this a very eye-catching plant. Give this succulent plenty of sunlight and more water than the average succulent. Just make sure to plant it in a container with excellent drainage. It looks particularly beautiful when cascading from a hanging basket.

      Black Rose Aeonium

      Close-up of Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' in a large clay pot under sunlight. Commonly known as Black Rose, is a striking succulent with a distinctive and dramatic appearance. This cultivar is renowned for its rosettes of dark, almost black, burgundy to deep purple leaves. The leaves are spoon-shaped and dense, architectural clusters at the ends of branched stems.
      Enhance your indoor garden with the unique ‘Black Rose’ aeonium, featuring large, dark rosettes.
      botanical-name botanical name Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Infrequent watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Mildly toxic

      This eye-catching succulent is a wonderful addition to the indoor garden. ‘Black Rose’ is a uniquely dark purple variety of aeonium that forms wonderful, large rosettes of deeply colored leaves that lighten toward the center, making them extra flashy. When the plant enters its summer dormancy, the leaves curl inward and resemble a dark, moody rosebud. 

      This plant can become treelike in form over time, but it grows quite slowly, reaching three to four feet at maturity. It requires little water and plenty of sun, so make space in a sunny spot for this plant. Between the winter and spring, it also produces small yellow flowers, which look wonderful against the deep foliage. 

      Chandelier Plant

      Close-up of Kalanchoe delagoensis in a small white ceramic pot on a white table indoors. This plant is characterized by its upright, arching stems that are adorned with clusters of small, paddle-shaped leaves. The leaves feature serrated edges and are mottled with irregular spots. The plant produces plantlets along the edges of its leaves, giving rise to a multitude of tiny, offset plantlets resembling miniature versions of the mother plant.
      The Mother of Millions is a captivating Kalanchoe with unique features.
      botanical-name botanical name Kalanchoe delagoensis
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      Also known by the name Mother of Millions, this species of Kalanchoe is intriguing and a conversation starter, especially when it is in bloom. This plant’s thin, branching stems and leaves are light green with brown markings. Along the margins of the leaves, a phenomenon common to the genus is especially prolific on this species. 

      Many small plantlets form all along the edges of every leaf, giving this plant its nickname, Mother of Millions. Tall flower spikes grow from the top of the plant and burst into large clusters of coral-colored, bell-shaped flowers. 

      Like other Kalanchoes, Chandelier Plant likes plenty of bright but indirect light. It needs a period of darkness to bloom, so place it in a room that will be dark for 14 hours per day for about six weeks in the fall. 

      Burro’s Tail

      Close-up of Sedum morganianum against a blurred background. The plant features long, cascading stems densely covered with small, plump, blue-green leaves. These cylindrical leaves give the appearance of a thick, trailing braid or rope.
      This captivating trailing succulent is low-maintenance and easy to propagate.
      botanical-name botanical name Sedum morganianum
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright light to full sun
      water-needs water needs Water sparingly
      pet-toxic pet toxic Mildly toxic

      Burro’s Tail is another eye-catching, trailing succulent. Its tightly clustered leaves grow in a continuous rosette, reaching lengths of up to four feet long over time. These are low-maintenance and very easy to propagate by taking stem or leaf cuttings and simply laying them on top of the soil.

      Although they rarely bloom indoors, they can produce red or pink flowers. If you want your plant to flower, it must be exposed to cool weather and increased darkness in the winter. Regardless of its ability to flower, this is a really fun and interesting plant that is certain to get plenty of attention. 

      Like most succulents, Burro’s Tail is easy to care for and prefers a bit of neglect. Overwatering is the worst thing you can do for this plant. If the leaves are growing out with more space than they should, the plant probably needs more sunlight. A lack of sun will make this plant grow leggy, which, although not unattractive, doesn’t have the same visual effect. 

      Christmas Cactus

      Close-up of a flowering Schlumbergera x buckleyi plant, commonly known as Christmas cactus, in a large clay pot. This epiphytic cactus features flattened, segmented stems that cascade gracefully, forming arching branches. The stems are adorned with fleshy, serrated green leaves. Schlumbergera x buckleyi blooms with showy, tubular flowers of bright pink color.
      Christmas Cactus, a year-round beauty, reveals stunning winter blooms with minimal care.
      botanical-name botanical name Schlumbergera x buckleyi
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Keep soil consistently moist
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      For most of the year, Christmas Cactus is a pretty and unique plant with segmented stems that blush if exposed to direct sun or cold temperatures. In the winter, this plant, which is actually a succulent rather than a cactus, shows off in a major way. 

      This plant and its cousin, the Thanksgiving Cactus, produce truly wonderful blooms in the late fall and winter seasons. Like most succulents on this list, the combination of shortening daylight hours and cooling temperatures induce blooming, so exposing your plant to these elements in the fall will result in better flowering. 

      Neglect is the word in terms of care. Christmas Cactus plants don’t need much attention. They prefer indirect or filtered light and only need to be watered when the soil dries out. Over time, these plants can grow quite large and form thick, woody stems at the base. 

      African Milk Tree

      Close-up of Euphorbia trigona, commonly known as African Milk Tree, in a bright green pot against a gray wall. It is a distinctive succulent with an upright and branching growth habit. The plant features tall, segmented stems that grow vertically and resemble the form of a candelabra. The stems have distinct ridges with sharp spines along the edges and are a rich green color, developing purple highlights.
      Fast-growing and low-maintenance, the African Milk Tree thrives in bright light and withstands neglect.
      botanical-name botanical name Euphorbia trigona
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Mildly toxic

      African Milk Tree is a great plant in the Euphorbia genus, which includes poinsettias. These plants all produce a milky sap, which is toxic to people and animals, so keep this one out of reach of curious hands. It is a fast grower, gaining one to two feet yearly until reaching a mature height of about nine feet. 

      Along the edges of the stems grow stiff, pointed spines that alternate with paddle-like leaves. African Milk Tree loves as much light as possible but will turn purple when stressed by cold temperatures. If you regularly forget to water houseplants, this is a great option because it prefers to be overlooked most of the time.

      Coral Bells

      Close-up of a flowering Kalanchoe uniflora 'Coral Bells' plant against a blurred background. This cultivar showcases trailing habit with long and slender stems covered with fleshy, bright green leaves growing in pairs. At the ends of the stems there are inflorescences that hold small clusters of bright pink, bell-shaped flowers.
      This lovely epiphytic Kalanchoe thrives in bright light and rewards with pink blooms.
      botanical-name botanical name Kalanchoe uniflora
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      If you couldn’t tell by now, I really like Kalanchoes! ‘Coral Bells’ is a wonderful epiphytic species with a trailing habit and makes a delightful hanging plant (but don’t confuse it with the other entirely different plant with the same name). The stems are long and slender, reaching up to four feet, with fleshy, bright green leaves growing in pairs. At the end of these stems are branching inflorescences.

      Each inflorescence holds small clusters of bright pink, bell-shaped flowers that hang pendulous as they get heavier. Bright indirect light or partial sun are the best conditions for ‘Coral Bells.’ Like other Kalanchoes, it requires some dark and cool weather to induce blooming, but it is well worth the effort. 

      Mexican Peacock 

      Top view, close-up of Echeveria peacockii in a clay pot on a wooden table. This rosette-forming plant features fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves with a silvery-blue hue and delicate pink margins.
      This striking Echeveria boasts pale blue leaves with pink edges and vibrant flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Echeveria peacockii
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      Echeveria are beautiful succulent plants with tight rosettes of pointed leaves and stunning floral displays. The Mexican Peacock is a particularly pretty species with luminous, pale blue leaves. The ends of these leaves blush when exposed to cold or direct sun, giving them a warm glow all around the edges. 

      Like other Echeveria, the Mexican Peacock produces a tall, fleshy stem in the summer that bears bright, coral-colored, bell-shaped flowers. It produces offsets bountifully, creating a carpet of rosettes quickly. It is very easily propagated and low maintenance. Give this plant plenty of sunlight and water sparingly. 

      Ruby Blush Chenille Plant

      Top view, close-up of Echeveria pulvinata 'Ruby Blush' on a blurred clay pot background. This cultivar forms tight rosettes of densely packed, spoon-shaped leaves that exhibit a velvety texture and a striking blend of green and reddish hues. The leaves are coated in fine, silvery hairs. 'Ruby Blush' intensifies its red tones, especially along the leaf margins, in response to sun exposure or stress.
      Ruby Blush features soft, flocked scarlet leaves with a velvety texture and orange and yellow flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Echeveria pulvinata ‘Ruby Blush’
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      This cuddly succulent is one of the most richly colored Echeverias and has lovely, soft, flocked leaves. Loose rosettes of fat, fleshy leaves are light grey-green when immature, but when exposed to full sun, they deepen to a positively magical shade of scarlet. Each leaf is covered in short silver hairs that make the plant look and feel soft and velvety. 

      If the foliage isn’t enough to sell you on this succulent, it flowers also! In winter, up to one-foot tall inflorescences sprout with clustered bright orange and yellow flowers at the top. Ruby Blush is easy to propagate. It prefers full sun and occasional watering. Don’t ever let this plant sit in the water. Overabundant moisture will rot the roots and leaves. 

      Cathedral Window Haworthia

      Close-up of Haworthia cymbiformis in a white ceramic pot against a blurred background. This succulent plant has a rosette-like arrangement of thick, fleshy leaves. The leaves are triangular or boat-shaped, possessing translucent areas near the tips that resemble windows, allowing sunlight to filter through.
      Cathedral Window Haworthia, named for its translucent leaves, is an easy-to-care-for succulent.
      botanical-name botanical name Haworthia cymbiformis
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light or partial sun
      water-needs water needs Water sparingly
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      Cathedral Window Haworthia is a quiet beauty that will be a conversation starter with your plant-loving friends. The name comes from the appearance of the leaves, which are thick and fleshy, but rather than an opaque outer membrane, the top of the leaves have a translucent appearance. 

      Haworthias are easy to care for. They prefer a great deal of indirect light but will also grow in partial sun. They are easy to propagate and care for. If the leaves look pale and elongated, your haworthia probably needs more light. A purple blush means give it more shade. 

      Pagoda Village Crassula

      Close-up of Crassula capitella var. thyrsiflora 'Pagoda Village' in a small pot in a man's hand, against a background of green grass. This cultivar forms dense clusters of tightly packed, triangular leaves that stack up along stems, resembling miniature pagodas. The leaves have a reddish-purple hue due to exposure to the sun.
      This eye-catching succulent with stacked rosettes boasts breathtaking blooms and a trailing habit.
      botanical-name botanical name Crassula capitella var. thyrsiflora ‘Pagoda Village’
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Mildly toxic

      No one will overlook this fascinating crassula plant. The tightly stacked rosettes of triangular leaves row vertically, giving the plant its common name, ‘Pagoda Village’. Multiple stems in a cluster appear to be a series of multi-level pagodas rising from the ground.

      The blooming habit is breathtaking, with pale pink blossoms peeking out between each layer of pointed leaves. As the plant ages, it often takes on a trailing habit, spilling over the side of its container. Stress caused by sun exposure, drought, or cold will cause the foliage to flush a stunning burgundy color. 

      Flaming Katy

      Close-up of a potted plant Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, commonly known as Flaming Katy, indoors on a black coffee table. It grows compactly and is characterized by fleshy, glossy, dark green leaves that are scalloped along the edges. The plant produces clusters of small, vividly pink flowers. These vibrant blooms form dense, rounded umbels that stand out against the succulent foliage.
      Explore the diverse and dependable varieties of K. blossfeldiana, perfect for winter blooms.
      botanical-name botanical name Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Flaming Katy’
      sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      All varieties of K. blossfeldiana are wonderful, blooming succulents. Choosing just one to share with you was difficult, and I highly encourage you to explore all the beautiful varieties. I have, in good fortune, inherited several of these plants, and the dependability of their flowers brings me joy in the coldest months when little else is blooming. 

      Keep your blossfeldianas in bright but indirect light all day. Putting them outside on a covered porch or patio for a few weeks in the fall will increase their blooms, creating a spectacle of wonderful flowers against thick, fleshy, lobed leaves. The flowers can develop in a single or double-petal form, and under the right conditions, large clusters of flowers should form at the end of each branch in winter.

      White Velvet

      Close-up of a succulent plant Tradescantia sillamontana, commonly known as White Velvet, in a terracotta pot. This plant features trailing stems adorned with densely packed, lance-shaped leaves that are covered in fine, silvery-white hairs, giving them a velvety texture. The leaves have a green base color. Tradescantia sillamontana produces small, three-petaled, pink to pale lavender flowers that emerge from clusters of bracts.
      ‘White Velvet’ tradescantia is a low-maintenance stunner with captivating foliage and orchid-purple flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Tradescantia sillamontana 
      sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
      water-needs water needs Keep soil consistently moist
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      For a very easygoing plant with eye-catching foliage and flowers, ‘White Velvet’ is a stunner. This plant has different names, so the scientific name is probably best if you’re looking for your own cultivar. Outdoors, ‘White Velvet’ acts as a ground cover, but it has a cascading habit in a container. 

      The light green leaves are flocked with silvery hairs, and orchid purple flowers pop up at the ends of branches for a wonderful contrast. This relative of zebrina has all of the same growing habits and similar needs, but the look is unique and eye-catching. 

      Million Hearts

      Close-up of a succulent plant Dischidia ruscifolia, commonly known as Million Hearts, in a black hanging pot. This epiphytic plant features slender, elongated leaves that closely resemble the shape of hearts, densely arranged along trailing stems. The leaves are glossy green.
      This is a delightful, trailing succulent with heart-shaped leaves and occasional white flowers.
      botanical-name botanical name Dischidia ruscifolia
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Keep soil consistently moist
      pet-toxic pet toxic Non-toxic

      Million Hearts is the perfect way to spread love and happiness to your plant-loving loved ones. This sweet, delicate, trailing succulent lives up to its name, with small heart-shaped leaves in massive quantities. Under the right conditions, this plant will produce many pretty, white flowers to mingle with its lovely leaves. 

      Plenty of bright, indirect light is needed to care for this succulent. Unlike some other succulents, Million Hearts likes a fair amount of water. When the soil is nearly dry, make sure to soak this plant well. Its temperature preference of 65°-85°F makes this an ideal houseplant. High humidity will make this plant even happier. 

      Pink Butterflies

      Top view, close-up of Kalanchoe x houghtonii 'Pink Butterflies' against a blurred clay pot background. This cultivar forms compact rosettes of fleshy, scalloped leaves that are green with edges adorned in soft shades of pink. The unique coloration gives the impression of delicate "butterflies" fluttering along the leaf margins.
      This is a charming Kalanchoe with cotton candy pink plantlets, low maintenance, and a unique appearance.
      botanical-name botanical name Kalanchoe x houghtonii ‘Pink Butterflies
      sun-requirements sun requirements Bright indirect light
      water-needs water needs Allow soil to dry out between watering
      pet-toxic pet toxic Yes

      We started with a Kalanchoe, and I’d like to wrap up with another. These truly are some of the most wonderful, beautiful succulents. Pink Butterflies is very similar in appearance to the Chandelier Plant, with one very distinctive difference. The tiny plantlets that grow along the margins of each leaf are cotton candy pink. 

      These sweet plantlets are fragile, so avoiding handling or jostling them around is best. Fortunately, they require very little maintenance. For most of the day, bright, indirect light will keep Pink Butterflies looking its best. Only water when the soil is dry to the touch. The flowers are less spectacular than some varieties, but the leaves make up for it!

      Final Thoughts

      With so many beautiful and low-maintenance succulents available, you might have trouble choosing just one to add to your indoor garden. I highly recommend picking up at least one species of Kalanchoe for its excellent winter blooming habits and spectacular floral displays. Whichever succulent you choose, adding one of these plants is certain to please the eye and the soul… or soil, as the case may be.

      SHARE THIS POST
      Recommended read badge

      Bulbs

      7 Flowering Paperwhite Varieties for Indoor Winter Gardens

      If you’re thinking about growing paperwhites this season, check out these beautiful varieties that are certain to bring the beauty of the garden indoors during the winter months.

      A close-up of Paperwhite flowers reveals delicate blooms with slender, white petals in full blossom. Each petal holds a slight hint of translucence, evoking a sense of purity and grace. The blooms stand out against a backdrop of vibrant, blurred green leaves, creating a serene garden tableau.
      new years garden. Close-up of two farmers standing next to boxes full of freshly picked vegetables at local farmland. Cropped view with no face, focused on vegetables. The girl is wearing a bright orange blouse and light beige linen trousers. The man is wearing a blue shirt and white checkered trousers. Wooden boxes contain freshly picked vegetables such as cabbage, garlic, lettuce, asparagus, spinach, beets, dill, carrots and others.

      Gardening Tips

      17 Garden New Year’s Resolutions To Try

      January is upon us, and with it a chance to make plans and set goals for the year ahead. Join gardening expert Madison Moulton and try these 17 New Year’s garden resolutions this year to grow better plants, improve your space, help the environment, and give back to your community.

      Close-up of blooming Stargazer lilies in a garden, against a blurred green background. It features large, upward-facing blooms with recurved petals that display a rich, deep pink or crimson hue, adorned with prominent dark spots and a contrasting white edge.

      Flowers

      How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Stargazer Lilies

      Curious about stargazer lilies but slightly overwhelmed? Hoping to work some into your yard this year, but not sure if you have the right conditions? In this comprehensive guide, certified master gardener Liz Jaros breaks down this much-sought-after lily cultivar and gives you the know-how you need to grow stargazer lilies like a pro.

      By the window, a black-potted succulent thrives with leggy leaves, reaching out in luscious green hues. The foliage sprawls gracefully, cascading in an intricate pattern, adding an elegant touch to the room's ambiance.

      Houseplants

      Why Houseplants Get Leggy and How to Fix It

      Leggy growth is one of the most common houseplant problems, caused largely by incorrect sunlight levels. Houseplant expert Madison Moulton explains the causes behind leggy growth and what you can do to fix and prevent the problem.

      Close-up of Calanthe orchid discolor flowering plants in a garden against a blurred background. Its robust, pleated leaves form an attractive basal rosette with a glossy, dark green hue. Rising from the center of this foliage are tall, slender spikes bearing clusters of enchanting flowers. The blossoms, which have burgundy-brown petals and sepals, and white petals and labellums, feature a distinctive lip with intricate patterns.

      Houseplants

      How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Calanthe Orchids

      Interested in working some Calanthe orchids into your landscape or container garden next season? Want to know how to care for the Christmas orchid houseplant you received as a gift? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros offers a detailed look at the novice-friendly Calanthe orchid genus.