12 Types of Succulents for a Low-maintenance Garden

This distinctive succulent is known for its medicinal gel. It features spiky green leaves with white flecks. Aloe prefers bright sunlight and thrives on neglect. Use it in a rock garden or sunny windowsill.

A low-maintenance favorite, the jade plant has thick, bright green leaves and woody stems. It can live for decades in a pot. Look for tiny white or pinkish-white flowers, typically blooming in late winter to early spring.

Also called Graptopetalum paraguayense (not quite as catchy), this pale green to blue-green rosette changes color in direct sun — a cold-hardy, drought-tolerant option for outdoor or indoor succulents.

Its plump green leaves can develop red or pink tips when exposed to full sun. A small plant perfect for potted plants or hanging pots, this charming flora just needs you to avoid too much direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch.

Also known as Sansevieria (now classified as Dracaena), this low-maintenance houseplant has upright, often variegated, sword-like leaves with dark green edges. It tolerates partial shade and indirect sunlight, ideal for indoor environments.

This trailing succulent makes dense ground cover and blooms with daisy-like flowers, usually in bright pink or purple hues — great in a hanging basket or sunny border. It thrives in direct light and loves dry conditions.

Covered in fuzzy hairs, the panda plant has leaf tips tinged with brown. It's a slow growing, pettable beauty that prefers indirect light.

A tall, striking succulent with multiple arms and vertical ridges, this one needs bright light (but not too much). The African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) can be grown as a potted houseplant but contains toxic sap that can irritate skin and eyes.

Also called the flapjack plant, this has round, flat leaves that may resemble paddles or stacked rosettes. Watch for yellow green tones and possibly even tiny yellow flowers.

This trailing vine loves indirect sunlight and higher humidity. Unlike typical desert cacti, it’s native to tropical regions. Excellent for hanging pots or as part of a unique plant collection.

Not a true palm, this evergreen succulent stores water in its bulbous base. Its thin, curling leaves make it look like a miniature tree. Consider this for a fun, architectural accent in any room.

This one has coin-shaped leaves and a cult following. Easy to grow from stem cuttings, it prefers bright light and moist — but not soggy — soil.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.