Common and Popular Succulent Species

Succulents are a diverse group of plants and there are many different species to choose from. Outlined below are common and popular species of succulents. Species are listed in groups based on their overall growth habit or use. Within each group species are listed by relative size from smallest to largest. For some genera or species, the size varies widely.

Propagation methods listed are the best and/or easiest forms for vegetative propagation for that species which could include, stem cuttings (S), leaf cuttings (L), or offsets/division (O).

Rosette Forms

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
Living Stones	Lithops	Aizoaceae	O
Stonecrop	Sedum	Crassulaceae	S, L
Hens and Chicks	Sempervivum	Crassulaceae	O
Moonstones	Pachyphytum	Crassulaceae	L, S
Ghost Plant	Graptopetalum	Crassulaceae	L, S
Echeveria	Echeveria	Crassulaceae	S
Pig’s Ear	Cotyledon orbiculata	Crassulaceae	S
Pinwheel Desert Rose	Aeonium	Crassulaceae	S

Upright Forms

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
Zebra Plant	Haworthia	Asphodelaceae	O
Ox Tongue	Gasteria	Asphodelaceae	O
Aloe	Aloe vera	Asphodelaceae	O
Snake Plant, Mother-in-law’s Tongue	Sansevieria (Dracaena)	Asparagaceae	O
Pencil Cactus	Euphorbia tirucalli	Euphorbiaceae	S
Candelabra Plant	Euphorbia lactea	Euphorbiaceae	S
False Agave	Manfreda	Asparagaceae	O
Century Plant	Agave americana	Asparagaceae	O

Rounded Forms

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
Mother of Thousands	Bryophyllum daigremontianum	Crassulaceae	O
Panda Plant	Kalanchoe tomentosa	Crassulaceae	L, S
Blue Chalk Sticks	Senecio mandraliscae	Asteraceae	S
Jade Plant	Crassula argentea	Crassulaceae	L, S

Trailing Forms

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
String of Buttons	Crassula perforata	Crassulaceae	S, L
String of Pearls	Senecio rowleyanus	Asteraceae	S
String of Bananas	Senecio radicans	Asteraceae	S
Burro’s Tail	Sedum morganinum	Crassulaceae	S, L

Grown Primarily for Flowers

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
Kalanchoe	Kalanchoe blossfeldiana	Crassulaceae	S, L
Desert Rose	Adenium	Apocynaceae	S
Fishbone Cactus, Ric Rac Cactus	Epiphyllum (Disocactus) anguliger	Cactaceae	S, O
Holiday Cactus	Schlumbergera	Cactaceae	S
Crown of Thorns	Euphorbia milii	Euphorbiaceae	S
Orchid Cactus	Epiphyllum (Disocactus)	Cactaceae	S, O

Cacti

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Propagation Method
Grafted Cactus	Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii	Cactaceae	O
Nipple Cactus, Pincushion Cactus	Mammillaria	Cactaceae	O
Golden Ball Cactus	Notocactus	Cactaceae	O
Old Man Cactus	Cephalocereus senilis	Cactaceae	O
Prickly Pear, Bunny Ears	Opuntia	Cactaceae	O
Barrel Cactus	Echinocactus grusonii	Cactaceae	O

More Information

Sansevieria (Dracaena trifasciata laurentii)

Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe delagoense (syn: Bryophyllum delagoense))

Authors:

Aaron Steil

Last reviewed:

August 2023