Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are stoked with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    With so many types of house styles, narrowing the list down to your favorite can be overwhelming. We'll show you the top 10 most popular house styles, including Cape Cod, country French, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, cottage, Mediterranean, ranch, and contemporary. Here's how to tell the differences between each architectural style.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    If you're a beginner baker who's just starting out (or a master chef looking to declutter), start with this list of baking tool must-haves. We'll help you set up a baking essentials kit for beginners with 21 pastry tools. For those who already own these handy tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to toss that never-been-used soufflé dish. Building your essential baking tools and equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Gardening
  3. Houseplants
  4. Choosing Houseplants
  5. 12 Spectacular Succulents to Boost Your Houseplant Collection

12 Spectacular Succulents to Boost Your Houseplant Collection

jennifer aldrich headshot
By Jennifer Aldrich Updated March 10, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
moonstone succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @gardenofreeden/Instagram

Succulents are excellent houseplants for every level of gardener. Generally, these drought-tolerant plants don't need a lot of water, so they're pretty forgiving if you forget to give them a drink for a while. Here are some of the most stunning varieties to add to (or start) your collection. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Strawberry Ice Succulent

strawberry ice succulents
Credit: Courtesy of Cedar Creek Farmhouse

Echeveria Strawberry Ice sounds like a refreshing drink you might enjoy on a hot summer day, but it's actually a beautiful (and rare) blush succulent. These plants are quite small, measuring just an inch tall and wide. The plump leaves are arranged in a way that makes this succulent look like a rose flower. Keep your Strawberry Ice succulent by a window with bright light and water when the soil is dry. Sometimes these succulents can lose their rosy hue, but a little water and sunlight should give them back their pretty pink tone. 

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Clear Succulent

water succulents
Credit: Courtesy of @chonkysuccs/Instagram

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. These are real plants. The majority of clear succulents are types of Haworthia cooperi and their leaves look like droplets of water. Native to South Africa, these plants only grow to about three inches tall and wide, and sometimes in the spring and summer, they'll show off small white flowers. They like bright light, but not direct sun, and require frequent watering in the summer, but only monthly watering in the winter.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Heart-Shape Succulent

heart succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @oahusuccies/Instagram

One look at this heart-shaped succulent, and you'll fall in love with it. Conophytum bilobum is a rare succulent that originally comes from South Africa and is also known as living pebbles due to its chubby leaves. Place your heart-shape succulent by a window to ensure it gets plenty of sun, and give it water when the soil is dry. A more common succulent that can also give you heart eyes is sweetheart hoya.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mini Succulents

mini succulent
Credit: Courtesy of Botanical Bright

While most of the succulents in this list are on the smaller side, none are as teeny tiny as these. These itty bitty plants only need a few drops of water every month because they are so minuscule. Becca Stevens, who runs Botanical Bright, notes that these arrangements are fun for a few months, but it's a good idea to repot the mini succulents in a bigger container so that they can continue to grow.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mermaid Tail Succulent

mermaid tail succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @taksucculents/Instagram

If you're looking to splurge on your next plant purchase, check out the aptly named mermaid tail succulent. Senecio vitalis cristata, which is native to South Africa, thrives in direct sunlight and should be watered when the top of its soil feels dry. If this crested plant isn't in the budget right now, see the more affordable coral cactus that has a similar fan-shape.

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bunny Ears Cactus

bunny cactus
Credit: Courtesy of @white_barn_owl/Instagram

A bunny ears cactus makes a fun addition to your indoor garden. Not only do the pads on the Opuntia microdasys look like rabbit ears, but the spines on them also feel fuzzy like fur. This cactus, which is native to Mexico, will reach about two feet tall when grown as a houseplant. It likes to be in a sunny spot with frequent watering in the spring and summer and only needs moisture about once per month in the fall and winter.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Black Succulents

black succulent
Credit: Courtesy of Rachel Weber

There are several varieties of these hauntingly alluring black succulents. The one pictured here is Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop,' also known as Black Rose aeonium. This dark-leaved beauty has stems that can grow up to three feet tall with rosettes of paddle-like leaves that can be about eight inches in diameter. The Black Rose aeonium prefers a lot of sunlight and frequent watering when it's hot and humid. It makes for a unique indoor Halloween decoration that you can enjoy before and after October 31.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Burro's Tail Succulent

Burro’s tail plant wood stand
Credit: Marty Baldwin

The burro's tail or donkey tail succulent (Sedum morganianum) is perfect for a hanging basket, or a shelf where its long stems can cascade over the edge. The bright light-loving houseplant hails from Mexico, and if you're lucky, your succulent might produce red or pink flowers in the summer. It can grow about three feet long with leaves that resemble grains of rice.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Moonstone Succulent

moonstone succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @gardenofreeden/Instagram

Add some pretty pastel shades to your space with moonstone succulents (Pachyphytum oviferum). The rounded leaves come in soft shades of pink, purple, gray, and blue with a silvery patina. This native of Mexico likes plenty of sun and infrequent watering. Your succulent might start small (and it's easy to propagate more from a single leaf), but it can slowly spread up to a foot wide.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Zebra Haworthia

Haworthia potted plant
Credit: Marty Baldwin

The striking zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) showcases spiked foliage and white markings that may remind you of the African animal that is its namesake. Luckily, this beauty is one of the easiest succulents you can grow as a houseplant. It prefers bright, indirect light and if you forget to water it for a while, it will usually bounce back once you do give it some moisture. Zebra haworthia only grows to about five inches tall, making it perfect for small spaces.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rose Succulent

rose succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @rare_succulent/Instagram

If you enjoy bouquets of fresh-cut flowers but hate how fast they fade, you'll love the rose succulent (Greenovia dodrantalis). This plant looks like a rosebud just starting to unfold. A native of the Canary Islands, it does best in lots of sun and doesn't need much water. It can grow about six inches tall.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Compton Carousel Succulent

compton carousel succulent
Credit: Courtesy of @_pasiora/Instagram

Make sure you place your Echeveria 'Compton Carousel' next to your office desk so you can marvel at its magnificent leaves. This succulent, which is sometimes called 'Lenore Dean,' features green-and-white striped leaves that need plenty of bright but indirect light. Make sure its soil is completely dry before giving the plant more moisture. Due to its rarity, you'll probably have to pay a good amount of money for this succulent, but its extraordinary appearance is worth it. 

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jennifer Aldrich

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 Strawberry Ice Succulent
    2 of 12 Clear Succulent
    3 of 12 Heart-Shape Succulent
    4 of 12 Mini Succulents
    5 of 12 Mermaid Tail Succulent
    6 of 12 Bunny Ears Cactus
    7 of 12 Black Succulents
    8 of 12 Burro's Tail Succulent
    9 of 12 Moonstone Succulent
    10 of 12 Zebra Haworthia
    11 of 12 Rose Succulent
    12 of 12 Compton Carousel Succulent

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    12 Spectacular Succulents to Boost Your Houseplant Collection
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.