Succulents are excellent houseplants for every level of gardener. Generally, these drought-tolerant plants don't need a lot of water, so they're pretty forgiving if you forget to give them a drink for a while. Here are some of the most unique succulents to add to (or start) your collection.
Strawberry Ice Succulent
Echeveria Strawberry Ice sounds like a refreshing drink you might enjoy on a hot summer day, but it's a beautiful (and rare) blush succulent. These plants are quite small, measuring just an inch tall and wide. The plump leaves are arranged so this unique succulent looks like a rose flower.
Keep your Strawberry Ice succulent by a window with bright light and water when the soil is dry. Sometimes these succulents can lose their rosy hue, but a little water and sunlight should give them back their pretty pink tone.
Clear Succulent
No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. These are real plants. Most of these unique succulents are types of Haworthia cooperi, and their leaves look like droplets of water. Native to South Africa, these plants only grow to about three inches tall and wide, and sometimes in the spring and summer, they'll show off small white flowers. They like bright light but not direct sun and require frequent watering in the summer but only monthly watering in the winter.
Heart-Shape Succulent
One look at this heart-shape succulent, and you'll fall in love with it. Conophytum bilobum is a rare succulent from South Africa. It's also known as living pebbles due to its chubby leaves. Place your heart-shape succulent by a window to ensure it gets plenty of sun, and give it water when the soil is dry. A more common succulent that can also give you heart eyes is sweetheart hoya.
Mini Succulents
While most of the succulents in this list are on the smaller side, none are as teeny tiny as these. These itty-bitty plants only need a few drops of water every month because they're so minuscule. Becca Stevens, who runs Botanical Bright, notes that these arrangements are fun for a few months, but it's a good idea to repot mini succulents in a bigger container so that they can continue to grow.
Mermaid Tail Succulent
If you want to splurge on your next plant purchase, check out the aptly named mermaid tail succulent. Senecio vitalis cristata, native to South Africa, thrives in direct sunlight and should be watered when the top of its soil feels dry. If this unique succulent isn't in the budget, look for a more affordable coral cactus with a similar fan shape.
Bunny Ears Cactus
A bunny ears cactus makes a fun addition to your indoor garden. Not only do the pads on the Opuntia microdasys look like rabbit ears, but the spines on them also feel fuzzy like fur. This cactus, native to Mexico, will reach about two feet tall when grown as a houseplant. It likes to be in a sunny spot with frequent watering in the spring and summer and only needs moisture about once per month in the fall and winter.
Black Succulents
There are several varieties of these hauntingly alluring black succulents. The one pictured here is Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop,' also known as Black Rose aeonium. This dark-leaved beauty has stems that can grow up to three feet tall with rosettes of paddle-like leaves that can be about eight inches in diameter. The Black Rose aeonium prefers a lot of sunlight and frequent watering when it's hot and humid. It makes for a unique indoor Halloween decoration that you can enjoy before and after October 31.
Burro's Tail Succulent
The burro or donkey tail succulent (Sedum morganianum) is perfect for a hanging basket or a shelf where its long stems can cascade over the edge. The bright light-loving houseplant hails from Mexico, and if you're lucky, this unique succulent might produce red or pink flowers in the summer. It can grow about three feet long with leaves resembling rice.
Moonstone Succulent
Add some pretty pastel shades to your space with moonstone succulents (Pachyphytum oviferum). The rounded leaves come in soft shades of pink, purple, gray, and blue with a silvery patina. This native of Mexico likes plenty of sun and infrequent watering. Your succulent might start small (and it's easy to propagate more from a single leaf), but it can slowly spread up to a foot wide.
Zebra Haworthia
The striking zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) showcases spiked foliage and white markings that may remind you of the African animal that is its namesake. Luckily, this beauty is one of the easiest succulents you can grow as a houseplant. It prefers bright, indirect light; if you forget to water it for a while, it will usually bounce back once you give it some moisture. Zebra haworthia only grows about 5 inches tall, making it perfect for small spaces.
Rose Succulent
If you enjoy bouquets of fresh-cut flowers but hate how fast they fade, you'll love the rose succulent (Greenovia dodrantalis). This plant looks like a rosebud just starting to unfold. A native of the Canary Islands, it does best in lots of sun and doesn't need much water. It can grow about six inches tall.
Compton Carousel Succulent
Make sure you place your Echeveria 'Compton Carousel' next to your office desk to marvel at its magnificent leaves. This unique succulent, sometimes called 'Lenore Dean,' features green-and-white striped leaves that need plenty of bright but indirect light. Make sure its soil is completely dry before giving the plant more moisture. Due to its rarity, you'll probably have to pay a good amount for this succulent, but its extraordinary appearance is worth it.