Here are some of the plant characteristics to look for when identifying succulents:
- Leaf – shape, size and thickness.
- Color – of leaves, flowers or stems.
- Markings or bumps on the leaves.
- Flower – shape, color, number of blooms and petals.
- Stem – color, texture, length.
- Ciliate hairs.
- Epicuticular wax.
- Spikes, spines or smooth.
Furthermore, how many varieties of succulents are there?
Succulents become all the more interesting because they come in different variants. As a matter of fact, there are more than 500 succulent varieties according to Country Living. These types of succulents could be identified through the shape of their leaves, petals and even through stems and spikes.
Moreover, is succulent a family or genus?
To add to this already complicated matter, succulents do not belong to just one family or genus of plants. Over 25 different plant families contain plants considered to be succulents. However, not all plants within these families are succulents.
How do you tell if a succulent is male or female?
A great option for identification is an app put together by my friend Jacki at Drought Smart Plants called Succulent ID. You can look at different genera of succulents or search through photos based on characteristics of your succulent.
Keep reading for the top 10 most popular types of indoor succulents.
- Burro’s Tail (sedum morganianum) …
- Crown of Thorns (euphorbia milii) …
- Flaming Katy (kalanchoe blossfeldiana) …
- Aloe Vera (aloe vera) …
- Panda Plant (kalanchoe tomentosa) …
- Pincushion Cactus (mammillaria crinita) …
- Roseum (sedum spurium)
Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
The saguaro cactus just happens to be the state flower of Arizona. It has a thick, tall fluted trunk that can grow up to 40 feet tall, and the branches have a span of anywhere from three to six feet wide.
Some succulents don’t live long but grow offsets to replace themselves. A great example is Chicks and Hens. The main plant only
There are a wide variety of succulents and some of them do well indoors and some do well outdoors. A lot can depend on where you live and what the climate is like. Remember that succulents do not want a lot of moisture and will likely not thrive as well in very humid areas as they will in dry, hot and arid climates.
Succulents love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Newly planted succulents can scorch in direct sunlight, so you may need to gradually introduce them to full sun exposure or provide shade with a sheer curtain.