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.

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

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

A Sedum with pointed, fleshy leaves crowded at the stem tips that glow yellow-orange to copper in full sun. Fragrant white starry flowers appear in spring.

Pointed leaves stacked crosswise like propellers turn from lime green in summer to fiery red in winter cold and sun. A fast-growing, spreading Crassula cultivar.

A sport of the jade plant with tubular leaves whose tips are hollowed like suction cups and turn red in cold weather. Finely branched stems thicken with age; also sold as 'tree of the universe'.

A Madagascan Euphorbia with densely spiny stems topped by showy, petal-like bracts in red, pink, yellow or white. It blooms year-round given warmth and is a popular flowering pot plant.

A small Gymnocalycium with a dark grey-green body that bears many deep purple-red flowers 3-4 cm across. It flowers even as a small plant.