Succulent Encyclopedia

An intergeneric hybrid of Graptopetalum paraguayense and Sedum pachyphyllum. Its thick, lance-shaped leaves shift from blue-grey in part shade to pinkish grey in sun and purplish brown in winter.

An intergeneric hybrid forming rosettes about 5-7 cm across of thick, pale blue-green leaves with a waxy bloom. In cool weather the leaf tips turn pink or apricot.

A columnar Euphorbia with upright, three-angled stems branching like a candelabrum, dark green with pale V-shaped markings, paired spines and teardrop leaves along the ridges. It is not known to flower.

Extremely popular succulent genus. Ranges from expensive Titanota to garden-friendly Attenuata.

A small aloe with short, incurved blue-green leaves densely armed with long milky-white spines. Endemic to arid Namibian mountains; the name means 'hedgehog-like'.

World-famous succulent for medicinal and beauty uses. Thick leaves contain gel-like compounds.

The only species in its genus, with leaf-like triangular tubercles spiralled into a shape like an artichoke or upturned pine cone. The woolly crown bears white flowers in summer.

A ball-shaped succulent that looks like a cactus but belongs to the spurge family. It rots easily, so water only once the mix has dried out completely.

A cute succulent with bear paw-shaped leaves. Characterized by claw-like protrusions at leaf tips.

A spineless cactus, usually with five ribs that make a star shape from above, dusted with white flecks. Many forms differ in rib number and flecking; tough and an ideal first star cactus.

The largest Astrophytum, becoming columnar and up to 2 m tall in habitat. Sharp ribs carry stout spines, and white woolly flecks pattern the dark green skin. Yellow flowers in summer.

A barrel cactus whose frosted blue-green skin contrasts with yellow spines on sharp ribs. It grows from globular to cylindrical and bears yellow, bell-shaped flowers at the crown.

A succulent with plump leaves trailing downward in chains. Beautiful when displayed in hanging baskets.

A large, branching aloe that forms clumps 2–3 m tall, with grey-green leaves edged in pale teeth and red-orange flower spikes in winter. Long grown in Japanese gardens under the folk name isha-irazu.

A unique succulent blooming large starfish-shaped flowers. Flowers attract insects with carrion-like smell.

A houseleek whose small rosettes have leaf tips linked by white threads like cobwebs. Native to European mountains and extremely cold-hardy.