What Kind of Succulent Do I Have? A Beginner’s Guide to Identifying Common Succulents

Succulents are becoming increasingly popular for indoor and outdoor gardening. With their drought-tolerant nature and sculptural forms it’s easy to see why! However with over 60 plant families and 10,000 diverse succulent species, it can be tricky to identify the specific type you have. This beginner’s guide breaks down some of the most common succulent varieties to help you answer the question “what kind of succulent do I have?”.

How to Identify a Succulent Plant

All succulents share a few key characteristics that set them apart from other types of plants:

• Fleshy, thickened leaves or stems. This is an adaptation to store water in arid climates.

• Specialized cells called hydrenchyma These cells expand to store water when available and constrict during dry periods

• Waxy waterproof epidermis. The outer coating minimizes moisture loss through transpiration.

• Shallow root systems. Roots remain close to the soil surface to absorb dew and rainfall quickly.

• Slow growth. Succulents invest more energy in water storage than rapid growth.

Beyond these traits, succulents display incredible diversity in size, shape, color and texture. Examining the visual characteristics and growing habits will provide more clues to identify the specific variety.

10 Common Succulent Types for Beginners

Here is an overview of 10 popular succulents that are common in nurseries and gardens:

1. Echeveria

One of the most decorative succulents, echeveria forms a symmetrical rosette shape with colorful, fleshy leaves. The rosettes grow in a cluster to form mat-like groundcover. Many novelty hybrids exist, but some identifiable species include:

• Echeveria elegans – Blue-green leaves with red tips

• Echeveria agavoides – Pale green, wedge-shaped leaves

• Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ – Dark purple leaves with a rose shape

2. Aeonium

Unlike most succulents, aeonium has a shrub-like or tree-like growth habit with branched stalks holding rosettes of waxy leaves. The leaves vary from smooth to jagged edges. Popular aeoniums include:

• Aeonium arboreum – Greenish yellow leaves on woody stems

• Aeonium haworthii – Multicolored pinwheel leaf pattern

• Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ – Chartreuse and burgundy foliage

3. Sedum

Also called stonecrop, sedum grows low and spreading with colorful succulent leaves on short stems. They are excellent groundcover or border plants. Look for:

• Sedum spurium – Green, red or tricolor leaves

• Sedum rubrotinctum – Blue-green leaves blushing red

• Sedum morganianum – Trailing stems with chubby banana-shaped leaves

4. Sempervivum

Often called hen and chicks, sempervivum produces tiny rosettes that offset from a large parent rosette. The fleshy leaves have pointed tips. Some popular varieties include:

• Sempervivum tectorum – Symmetrical green leaves with red tips

• Sempervivum ‘Oddity’ – Green and burgundy segmented leaves

• Sempervivum ‘Pacific Devils Food’ – Dark red leaves in a spiral pattern

5. Crassula

One of the largest succulent genera, Crassula has diverse forms like groundcover, shrubby plants, and trailing vines. Look for these favorites:

• Crassula ovata – Shrubby “Jade plant” with rounded jade green leaves

• Crassula rupestris – Trailing stems with stacked spoon-shaped leaves

• Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ – Red and green succulent leaves

6. Haworthia

Haworthias stay small with unique translucent leaves in rosette form. The chunky leaves are often banded or speckled. Some popular species:

• Haworthia attenuata – Zebra plant with green and white stripes

• Haworthia limifolia – Long triangular leaves stack in a spiral

• Haworthia cooperi – Purple tinted leaves with raised white bumps

7. Aloe

Known for healing gel in the leaves, aloe varieties have plump and juicy spear-shaped leaves with serrated edges and spiny tips. These are just a few examples:

• Aloe vera – Green, tapered leaves used medicinally

• Aloe aristata – White spots on green, triangular leaves

• Aloe brevifolia – Blue-green leaves in a short rosette

8. Agave

Agaves grow in a rosette shape with thick, rigid leaves that end in a spiny tip. Tiny plantlets (pups) emerge around the base. Some agave types include:

• Agave attenuata – Soft green leaves curve down like a fountain

• Agave victoria-reginae – White dotted leaves outlined in red

• Agave americana – Classic blue-green agave used to make tequila

9. Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe offers a variety of interesting succulents with big paddle-shaped leaves. Look for:

• Kalanchoe tomentosa – Furry leaves with brown teddy bear tips

• Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi – Gray-green leaves with scalloped edges

• Kalanchoe blossfeldiana – Glossy green leaves with colorful blooms

10. Euphorbia

While not a true cactus, euphorbia cactus has spines and fleshy stems like a cactus. Some examples are:

• Euphorbia lactea – White ridges on green stems

• Euphorbia trigona – Tall stems branched like antlers

• Euphorbia enopla – Zig-zag stems with black spines

This overview just scratches the surface of the diverse succulent varieties available. For unusual specimen plants, hybrids and newly introduced succulents, an exact ID may be difficult. But using the descriptions and visual clues above will help narrow down possibilities. Examining the growing habits, leaf shape, colors, and other traits is key to solving the question “what kind of succulent do I have?”. With a little practice, you’ll be able to identify the most common types.

Tips for Identifying Mystery Succulents

When dealing with an unidentified succulent, here are some tips to help determine what it is:

• Examine the overall form – Is it a rosette, vine, shrubby, tree-like? This narrows options.

• Look at the leaf shape and silhouette. Compare to photos online.

• Note any distinctive markings on the leaves like bands, spots or variegation.

• Check for “pups” or offshoots which are clues to how it propagates.

• Pay attention to coloring on the leaves, flowers, or stems.

• Consider the texture – smooth, hairy, waxy?

• Measure the size to determine if juvenile or mature.

• Look for clues like thorns, spines or serrated edges.

• Observe the growing habits over time. Is it fast or slow growing?

• Ask local nurseries, plant societies, or online forums like Reddit for ID help.

With persistence, you can sleuth out even the most mysterious unidentified succulents! Proper ID is key to providing the right care and conditions for your plant to thrive.

Caring for Succulents Based on Type

Once identified, you can tailor care to suit that particular succulent’s needs. Here are some general guidelines:

Light: Most succulents require very bright light, even full sun. Exceptions are low light succulents like sansevieria, gasteria and some haworthias.

Water: Wait until the soil dries out between waterings, then soak thoroughly. The frequency varies based on factors like sunlight, temperature, humidity and soil type.

Soil: Use a fast-draining potting mix, ideally with 50% gritty material like perlite, pumice or coconut coir. Avoid regular potting soil.

Fertilizer: Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer at 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 strength during the active growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen formulations.

Temperature: Average room temperatures of 60-75°F suit most succulents. Some tolerate high heat while others prefer cooler conditions.

Humidity: Low humidity around 30-50% is ideal. Avoid wet leaves which can cause rot. Improve air circulation if needed.

Pruning: Remove spent leaves and blooms by twisting or cutting to encourage new growth. Use clean, sharp tools.

Repotting: Transplant root-bound plants in early spring to refresh the soil. Choose a pot with drainage holes, only 1 size larger.

While easy care is a hallmark of succulents, each variety has specific requirements. Proper identification allows you to decipher care needs, provide suitable growing conditions and help your succulents thrive!

Enjoy the Rewarding Hobby of Succulent Collecting

Part of the fun of succulent gardening is discovering interesting new varieties. Once you answer “what kind of succulent do I have?”, you can continue expanding your collection. Try seeking out rare finds at specialty nurseries or succulent shows. The diversity of shapes, textures and colors makes succulents ideal for unique container gardens and indoor arrangements. And their low maintenance needs make succulents a great choice for beginners and busy gardeners. Identifying your succulents gives you valuable clues into their background and origins, which informs their care. Soon you’ll have a thriving succulent menagerie! Let the enjoyable quest of identifying your mystery succulents begin.

Several mobile apps can help identify succulents using image recognition technology. Some popular options include PlantSnap, PictureThis, and iNaturalist, all of which allow users to upload or take photos of plants for identification.