Garden Houseplants Succulents 14 Succulents That Will Thrive Indoors All Year Round These indoor succulent plants are accustomed to drought conditions, so they can survive with minimal water. By Monica Weymouth Monica Weymouth Monica is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 14, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images If you're looking to add indoor succulent plants to your home, you have plenty of options. From petite and terrarium-dwelling to sprawling and beginner-friendly, there is a little something for everyone in the succulent world. As desert natives, these plants are accustomed to harsh conditions, capable of surviving both lengthy droughts and extreme temperatures better than many of their peers. If you want to add a succulent to your houseplant collection, we're sharing a few low-maintenance varieties that are well-suited to indoor environments. Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms Kelly Funk, the president of Jackson & Perkins 9 Succulent Garden Ideas That Will Add Sculptural Dimension to Your Landscape 01 of 14 Panda Plant TatianaMironenko / GETTY IMAGES Lauded as a low-maintenance plant, panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) is beloved for its velvet-like ears. “This is one of my favorite succulents. I have a soft spot for plants with soft, fuzzy leaves,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. “It's more of an upright grower than a lot of the more common succulents, so it's fun for adding variety to a succulent collection.” It has silvery leaves with black edges, giving it a crisp, clean look. Size: 2 feet tall and wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 02 of 14 Echeveria Lola Faizun Muttaqin / 500px / GETTY IMAGES Stunning foliage, which grows in a rosette form, makes Echeveria ‘Lola’ a desirable indoor succulent plant. “It's fabulous in a wide, shallow container, so you see it from above,” says Hancock. “If it's happy, it can eventually throw up spikes of cheery pink flowers that appear to dangle delicately over the leaves.” Size: 4 inches tall by 6 inches wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 03 of 14 Tricolor Lavender Scallops Gheorhge / GETTY IMAGES Known for its beautiful variegated foliage, tricolor lavender scallops (Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi ‘Variegata’ ) is an upright grower with scalloped gray-green leaves that are edged in white and pink. “It's a relatively uncommon succulent that deserves more attention from plant parents and provides a gratifying experience when grown from a small, starter size into a beautiful specimen plant,” says Hancock. Size: 18 inches tall and wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 04 of 14 Aloe Vera Albina Yalunina / GETTY IMAGES Easy-going and beginner-friendly, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is a popular indoor succulent. “Aloe has big, thick leaves that bear distinctive teeth along the edges and are often mottled in silvery green,” says Hancock. “If you grow it large, it's a dramatic statement plant that stands out from other succulents.” Aloe is known for its juicy, sunburn-soothing leaves, but it also sprouts a stalk of bell-shaped flowers every now and then. Size: 18 inches tall and wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 05 of 14 Snake Plant FeelPic / GETTY IMAGES Unlike many succulents, snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) do well in low-light conditions. Partial sun is ideal, but these remarkably laid-back succulents can also make do in a shady corner. Tall and slender, a snake plant is great for adding an architectural element to a small space. Snake plants don't regularly bloom, but every couple of years, they may offer a showing of fragrant, tubular white flowers. Size: 12 feet tall by 3 feet wide (depending on variety) Care requirements: Partial light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 06 of 14 Gollum Jade MD SHAFIQUL ISLAM / GETTY IMAGES Gollum Jade (Crassula ovata) is a one-of-a-kind succulent with cylindrical leaves that curl inward. “The leaves are a striking green and can turn red on the tips when exposed to high light. It's a slow grower, but its quirky appearance makes it a fun addition to any collection,” says Kelly Funk, the president of Jackson & Perkins. Size: 24 inches tall by 12 inches wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 07 of 14 Hens-and-Chicks niuniu / GETTY IMAGES Hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) are famously low maintenance and do especially well in drought conditions. The mother rosette (aka the "hen") is connected to her "chicks" by a system of small, delicate roots, which are able to penetrate small cracks and thrive in containers, as well as in rock gardens. Size: 3 to 6 inches tall by 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Bright light, can tolerate some shade; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 08 of 14 Black Rose Aeonium JUN DONG / GETTY IMAGES Add a sense of drama to your home with black rose aeonium (Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'). "This stunning succulent has almost black, rosette-shaped leaves that contrast beautifully with other succulents' lighter greens and blues," says Funk. "The leaves can turn a deep burgundy color when grown in bright light. It can also produce a tall stem with yellow flowers, adding even more visual interest to this already-striking plant." Size: 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 9 Black Flowers That Will Add Drama to Your Garden 09 of 14 String of Peals carlofranco / GETTY IMAGES With long, trailing stems covered in small, bead-like leaves that resemble pearls, it's clear how string of peals (Senecio rowleyanus) got its name. "It's a popular choice for hanging baskets or trailing down shelves," says Funk. "It can be a beautiful addition to a succulent terrarium, too." When it's happy, string of pearls sometimes forms tiny, white blooms that release a cinnamon-like fragrance. Size: 1 to 2 feet tall by 3 feet longCare requirements: Bright, indirect light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 10 of 14 White Fairy Washboard NooUma / GETTY IMAGES A small, low-growing succulent, white fairy washboard (Haworthia limifolia) has spiky green leaves with raised white ridges that create a unique, geometric-like pattern. "It's a slow grower and stays relatively compact, making it an excellent choice for a windowsill or desktop garden," says Funk. It's also extremely low-maintenance, so it's great for beginners. Size: 4 inches tall and wide Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining cacti or succulent mix 11 of 14 Red African Milk Tree Boy_Anupong / Getty Images Red African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona 'Red') features green stems flushed with reddish-purple. "The more light it gets, the more reddish-purple coloration you’ll see," says Hancock. "As the plant grows, the stems branch, creating a unique living piece of art." This succulent hates being wet or soggy, so only water it as the soil dries out, which may happen about once every two or three weeks. Size: 5 feet tall by 2 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light; well-draining potting mix 12 of 14 Graptoveria Debbi JNemchinova / Getty Images An intergeneric hybrid (meaning it’s a cross between a Graptopetalum succulent and an Echeveria), this stunner shows off the best of both worlds, says Hancock. It has thick, gray-green leaves often flushed with pink (especially in higher-light situations). "It forms a rosette, so all of the leaves grow from a central point," he says. Size: 8 inches tall and wideCare requirements: Bright light; well-draining potting mix 13 of 14 Ox Tongue Bilal photos / Getty Images Ox tongue (Gasteria gracilis) is an easy-care succulent with thick, fleshy green leaves. "The leaves often grow in a flattened shape and have a rough texture, earning this succulent the nickname Ox Tongue," says Hancock. Size: 6 inches tall by 12 inches wideCare requirements: Bright light; well-draining potting mix 14 of 14 Elephant Bush Elizabeth Fernandez This easy-going succulent has small, thick, fleshy, rounded leaves that sprout from branching stems. "New stems often have a reddish tint but develop a brown, bark-like look as they age," says Hancock. Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) does not like being wet, so you should only water it as the soil dries out. Size: 8 to 15 feet tall x 4 to 6 feet wide (prune to keep it small indoors)Care requirements: Bright light; well-draining potting mix Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit