12 Advanced Succulents for Families Succulents are popular for their, often, low-maintenance care, making them ideal for busy households. However, once beginners master basic Echeverias and Jade plants, they often seek unique, structurally interesting plants that add a dramatic flair to home decor. For families looking to move beyond the basics, certain “advanced” succulents offer, not only stunning aesthetics, but also, in many cases, remarkable resilience, requiring specialized, yet rewarding, care. These choices are excellent for encouraging, in children, an appreciation for botanical diversity and patience in plant care. Stunning Sculptures for the Home
The Faucaria tigrina, or Tiger’s Jaws, is an fascinating, low-growing succulent featuring triangular leaves with white, soft “teeth” along the edges. While it needs bright, indirect light, it is a sturdy choice that, when happy, produces brilliant yellow flowers. Families love its fierce appearance, which, while looking sharp, is actually quite harmless to the touch. Similarly, the Haworthia truncata offers a truly alien appearance, with leaves that look as if they have been chopped straight across, creating, what look like, stacked, green windows in the soil. These, along with other Haworthias, are incredibly drought-tolerant and, remarkably, thrive in lower light conditions, making them perfect for, say, a bookshelf or a bright, sunny desk.
For a vertical accent, consider the Crassula ‘Buddha’s Temple’. This succulent is a marvel of geometric precision, stacked, in a tight, pagoda-like structure that, for many, is a centerpiece of a collection. It requires a bit more attention to watering—needing a thorough, yet infrequent, soak—and a bright, sun-drenched windowsill. Its unique form encourages careful observation and, frankly, pride in maintaining such a rare, structured plant. Unique Textures and Forms
The Conophytum pageae is a perfect example of a “living stone” that, unlike some, is quite forgiving. It looks, to the untrained eye, like a small, green pebble, which then, in fall, splits to reveal,, often, a, delicate, purple, scent-producing flower. It thrives on neglect, needing very little water, especially during its summer dormancy. This is a great choice for teaching, in a subtle way, about the importance of, not overwatering, and understanding a plant’s dormancy cycle.
A more sprawling, yet incredibly rewarding, choice is the Othonna capensis ‘Ruby Necklace’. While it grows, perhaps, too fast for some, its, rather, stunning, deep ruby-red stems and succulent, banana-shaped leaves, that turn, often, a bright green, make it a, particularly, striking hanging plant. It is far more drought-tolerant than, say, a Pothos, and it thrives in, both, hanging baskets and in rock gardens, showing off its, quite,, beautiful, tiny, yellow, daisy-like flowers, which, for many, are a daily treat.
For, a, quite, tactile experience, Sedum morganianum ‘Burrito’, or Burro’s Tail, is a classic, but with a, slightly, more, delicate, and, perhaps, trickier-to-handle, personality than its larger cousin. Its, tiny, plump, blue-green, leaf-balls, that, look like, miniature, dumplings, are extremely, quite, fragile, so, handling, them, with care is a fun lesson in, for kids, delicate, handling. Its, cascading, stems, can grow to be, quite, long, providing a dramatic effect, on, say, a, sunny, windowsill, and it, is, in many ways, very hardy, requiring, low, to, moderate, water, and, in, direct, or, indirect, light. Dramatic and Colorful Choices
The Echeveria ‘Laui’ is renowned for its, almost, ethereally, pale, blue-white, powdery coating, or “farina,” which, for many, is a, key, part, of its, beauty. This, coating, needs to be protected, so, careful, watering, is, in many ways, a, must—this is a, good, way, to, teach, care, and, attention. It, needs, bright, light, and, is, quite, slow-growing, making, it, a, special, and, rewarding, addition, to, any, collection.
For, a, pop, of, color, the Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’, or Black Rose, is a, dramatic, choice, with, its, deep, purple-to-black, rosettes, that, can, look, quite, stunning, when, in, full, sun. It, needs, a, different, kind, of, care, than, many, succulents—it, prefers, to, be, watered, more, regularly, and, likes, a, cooler, winter, temperature. Its, growth, pattern, is, also, quite, unique, as, it, grows, on, tall, stems, that, can, be, pruned, to, create, a, shrub-like, appearance.
Lithops, or Living Stones, are, in, many, ways, the, pinnacle, of, unique, succulents. These,, plants, look, just, like, the, pebbles, that, they, are, designed, to, blend, in, with. They, are, extremely, sensitive, to, water, and, only, need, it, during, their, fall, to, winter, growing, season. For, a, family, looking, for, a, fascinating, science, project, for, the, home, this, is, a, perfect, choice, to, watch, for, the, annual, molt, when, a, new, pair, of, leaves, emerges, from, the, old, one.
Finally, for, a, succulent, with, a, truly, otherworldly, look, the Ceropegia woodii, or String of Hearts, is, a, delicate-looking, but, actually, quite, hardy, plant. Its, trailing, stems, are, covered, in, tiny,, heart-shaped, leaves, that, are, often, mottled, with, white, and, green. It, is, excellent, for, hanging, in, a, bright, spot, and, can, be, trained, to, climb, a, small, trellis, or, to, fill, a, pot, with, its, delicate, growth.
Moving, beyond, the, basic, succulent, selection, into, more, advanced, and, unique, species, offers, a, fun, and, rewarding, way, to, enhance, any, home, with, living, art. By, understanding, and, appreciating, the, specific, needs, of, each, plant—such, as, their, water, and, light, requirements—families, can, create, a, thriving, indoor, garden, that, is, both, educational, and, beautiful. These, plants, remind, us, of, the, incredible, diversity, of, life, and, that, even, with, a, bit, of, extra, care, we, can, create, a, truly, special, environment, for, all, to, enjoy.
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