Low-Maintenance Flowering Succulents
People often choose succulents because once established, they are drought-tolerant and need little maintenance. But there’s another reason why they deserve a closer look: many succulent species and varieties are real eye-catchers.
Here is a list of succulents that stand out thanks to their attractive flowers. Some require a warm climate, others are cold-hardy and adaptable to a wide range of climates. (And unless otherwise noted, all of these succulents are perennials.)
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
This is a slowly spreading groundcover that can be grown even in poor soil. Rosettes die off after they bloom.
Flower Color: Reddish purple
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: Central Europe
Height: 6 to 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Stalked bulbine (Bulbine frutescens)
This plant stands out from the rest thanks to its long bloom period. It is fast-growing and spreads three to four feet.
Flower Color: Yellow or pale orange
Bloom Time: Spring to late summer
Native Area: South Africa
Height: 1 -1.5 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Hylotelephium
In the past, hylotelephium was included in the sedum genus. These three varieties are prized for their flowers:
October Daphne (Hylotelephium sieboldii, previsiously known as Sedum sieboldii)
One of the succulents that also do well in light to moderate shade. Little water is not a problem—October Daphne is drought-tolerant but it needs well-drained soil.
Flower Color: Yellow, orange, pink, purple, burgundy, white
Bloom Time: September-October
Native Area: Japan
Height: 6 to 9 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Hylotelephium ‘Vera Jameson’ (previously known as Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’)
This clump-forming sedum is especially suited for small spaces, containers, and rock gardens. The foliage turns from blue-green to deep burgundy as the season progresses.
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall
Native Area: n/a (hybrid)
Height: 9 to 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Autumn Joy (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’)
This highly popular variety on the taller end of the spectrum is also one of the cold-hardiest succulents you can grow. The mauve flowers gradually deepen to a rose-red and then coppery-rust in the fall.
Flower Color: Rosy pink buds turning red
Bloom Time: September-October
Native Area: Cultivar of Hylotelephium telephium, which is native to Eurasia
Height: 1.5-2 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Shining pink rock purslane (Calandrinia spectabilis ‘Shining Pink’)
A drought-resistant, deer-resistant groundcover with a long bloom period.
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Spring through fall
Native Area: Chile
Height: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
Painted lady (Echeveria derenbergii)
Its compact, clumping form make this succulent a good choice for containers and small spaces.
Flower Color: Yellow and red
Bloom Time: Late Winter, Spring
Native Area: Mexico
Height: 4 inches
Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
Aloe
Of the numerous aloe species, these four are grown for their striking flowers:
Super Red® Aloe
Most aloe need to mature before they bloom, which can take ten years or more. This variety with striking deep red flowers is an exception.
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Time: Fall to winter
Native Area: Africa
Height: 4 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Little gem aloe (Aloe rudikoppe)
Also known as little red riding hood aloe, this is a low-growing aloe. Most aloe have a short bloom period, little gem aloe blooms on and off year-round.
Flower Color: Yellow-orange
Bloom Time: Intermittent bloom all year
Native Area: n/a (hybrid)
Height: 4 feet
Sun Exposure: Full to par sun
Lace aloe (Aloe aristata)
A low-growing, clump-forming aloe that spreads eight to ten inches. The shape of its flower spikes also gave it the name torch plant or bristletip aloe.
Flower Color: Coral-Orange
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: South Africa
Height: 6 to 9 inches
Sun exposure: Full to part sun
Coral aloe (Aloe striata)
What’s unusual about this plant is not only its bright flowers on tall, sturdy stalks but also the changing color of the foliage depending on sun exposure, ranging from a pink hue in full sun to bluish-green in the shade.
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Time: Winter to spring
Native Area: South Africa
Height: 18 inches
Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
Blue chalk stick (Senecio serpens)
Blue chalk stick is a unique-looking groundcover for warm climates that spreads two to three feet wide. It's a winter grower and dormant in summer
Flower Color: White
Bloom Time: Summer through fall
Native Area: South Africa
Height: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
This is a rose in name only; the moss rose plant is a drought- and heat-tolerant annual succulent. It performs well as groundcover with a spread of 10 to 15 inches.
It requires little care to thrive but one word of caution: just like the weed common purslane, its botanical relative, it can border on being invasive because it easily reseeds itself.
Plant Type: Annual
Flower Color: Red, orange, yellow, white, pink
Bloom Time: Early summer to first frost
Native Area: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
Height: 8 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Sedums
Sedum, also called stonecrop, is a very large genus with over 500 species. These are some of our favorite blooming varieties, listed in order of height:
Broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium)
A native to the West Coast, this plant is also adaptable to cooler climates. Broadleaf stonecrop tolerates not only dry but also nutrient-poor soil.
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia
Height: 4 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Showy stonecrop (Sedum cauticola)
This sedum forms compact mounds of bluish-green foliage. It tolerates poor soils but needs good drainage.
Flower Color: Purple-lavender
Bloom Time: Spring, summer
Native Area: Japan
Height: 4 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Moss stonecrop (Sedum acre)
Also known as biting stonecrop or gold moss stonecrop, this cold-hardy plant is drought- and salt-tolerant. It is best planted in rock gardens and other locations with little to no foot traffic.
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: Europe, Turkey, North Africa
Height: 3 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)
This low-growing sedum spreads one to three feet. The golden color of the leaves intensifies with sun exposure.
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: Central and western Europe
Height: 4 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Russian stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)
A cold-hardy sedum that spreads 12 to 18 inches. A variegated cultivar is Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’ (Orange stonecrop).
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Summer
Native Area: Siberia
Height: 6 inches
Sun exposure: Full sun
Caucasian stonecrop (Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’)
This low-growing cold-hardy sedum forms a dense mat. It does well in dry, poor soil but it’s a slow grower, eventually spreading 12 to 18 inches.
Flower Color: Light pink
Bloom Time: Late spring to mid-summer
Native Area: Caucasus
Height: 6 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Sedum erythrostictum ‘Frosty Morn’
It’s the white edges of the leaves that gave this cultivar its name. It has an upright, compact growth habit, which makes it also suitable for container planting.
Flower Color: White to pale pink
Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
Native Area: Japan
Height: 12 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
A sedum on the taller end of the spectrum with an upright or clumping growth habit. It is cold-hardy and drought-tolerant but requires well-drained soil.
Flower Color: Pinkish purple
Bloom Time: Late summer
Native Area: n/a (hybrid)
Height: 12-18 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Royal dewflower (Drosanthemum speciosum)
A fast-growing shrub-like succulent perfect for warm climates. The plant also has the nickname ‘municipal workers’ because the flowers promptly open at 9 a.m. and close around 5 p.m.
Flower Color: Pink, purple, red, yellow
Bloom Time: Mid-spring to summer
Native Area: South Africa
Height: 2 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)
When grown outdoors in warm climates, it blooms once a year, unlike the houseplant, which blooms intermittently during the year. Crown of thorns also grows taller outdoors than indoors.
Flower Color: Red, yellow brachts
Bloom Time: Winter and spring
Native Area: Madagascar
Height: 3-6 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
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