Popular Succulent Types and How to Tell Them Apart

Key takeaways

1. Start with the shape: rosette, stiff spiky leaves, trailing stems or a small tree narrows any succulent down fast.
2. Echeveria is not frost hardy; hens and chicks (Sempervivum) survives hard frost and spreads by offsets on stolons.
3. Aloe leaves have small white teeth on the edges; zebra haworthia has white bumpy bands and stays much smaller.
4. Burro's tail is listed as non-toxic to pets, while its trailing look-alike string of pearls is toxic.
5. Almost all succulents want very well-drained soil, bright light and soil that dries between waterings.

How do you tell succulent types apart?

Succulents are plants that store water in thick leaves or stems, and garden centres often sell them with no name or just "assorted succulent". The good news is that you can name most of the popular types by looking at three things: the shape of the plant (rosette, spiky leaves, trailing stems or a small tree), the leaf surface (smooth, toothed, banded or bead-like) and, if it is in flower, the bloom. This guide covers eight common succulent types in confusable pairs, with the Turkish names for readers in Türkiye, the light each one wants and, unlike most lists, whether it is safe around cats and dogs. Cacti are succulents too, but they have their own guide: see our cactus types and names.

The eight succulents at a glance

Rosettes: echeveria vs hens and chicks

These two are the most often mixed up. Echeveria forms a single tight rosette of thick, smooth leaves, usually grey, blue-green or sea-green, sometimes with coloured edges. NC State Extension gives sizes of about 3–30 cm (1–12 in) tall and 5–30 cm (2–12 in) wide. As the lower leaves wither, a short stem appears. Echeveria is not truly frost hardy, so in cold climates it spends winter on a bright, sunny windowsill.

Hens and chicks (Sempervivum) look similar but have spikier, pointed leaves, and the mother rosette is surrounded by "chicks" on long runners. Some types are covered in fine hairs or a cobweb-like net. The big difference is cold: NC State lists many Sempervivum as hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, far colder than echeveria tolerates. A rosette that flowers then dies, while its offsets carry on. Quick test: a rosette spreading by runners and surviving a frosty balcony winter is almost certainly a Sempervivum.

Spiky leaves: aloe vs zebra haworthia

Aloe vera has long, thick, pointed leaves edged with small white teeth, reaching about 45 cm (18 in) long on a mature plant. It wants full sun to part shade and soil that dries completely between waterings. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs, and NC State notes that the sap can irritate skin.

Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata) is often sold as a mini aloe, but it is much smaller, about 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall, with stiff, dark green leaves striped by raised white bumps. It tolerates lower light than most succulents but prefers bright indirect light; direct sun can scorch it. It grows best at 16–27 °C (60–80 °F) and should be kept above 10 °C (50 °F). NC State lists it as non-toxic to pets and people. A similar plant with a smooth upper leaf surface is Haworthiopsis fasciata.

Trailing succulents: burro's tail vs string of pearls

Both drape over the edge of a hanging pot, but they differ in leaf shape and, importantly, in pet safety. Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) has trailing stems up to about 60 cm (24 in) long, densely covered in plump, blue-green leaves that break off if you handle them. Fallen leaves root easily. It wants a bright spot with at least partial sun, and NC State lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, though eating a lot can cause stomach upset.

String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) has round, bead-like leaves, each with a dark translucent stripe, a window that lets light into the leaf. Stems trail 30–90 cm (1–3 ft). It does best at about 21–27 °C (70–80 °F) in summer and 10–16 °C (50–60 °F) in winter, in bright indirect light. NC State lists it as toxic to people and pets: eating it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and the sap can irritate skin. If you have a cat that plays with dangling plants, choose burro's tail.

The tree and the flowering one: jade and kalanchoe

Jade plant (Crassula ovata) is the succulent that grows into a miniature tree, with thick, shiny, oval leaves about 2.5–9 cm (1–3.5 in) long on ringed, branching stems. Leaf edges can turn red in direct sun. Water it in moderation when the soil is dry and less from autumn to late winter. The ASPCA lists jade as toxic to cats and dogs.

Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is the succulent sold in flower, with dark green, scalloped leaves. To rebloom it needs about 14 hours of darkness a day for at least six weeks in autumn and winter, and it should come indoors before temperatures fall to about 7 °C (45 °F). The ASPCA lists kalanchoe as toxic to cats and dogs, causing vomiting and diarrhoea and, rarely, abnormal heart rhythm.

Care basics that apply to all of them

• Soil: use a very well-drained cactus or succulent mix in a pot with drainage holes. Our repotting guide shows how to move a succulent without breaking it.
• Water: let the soil dry between waterings and water less in winter; overwatering causes root rot in every plant on this list. See how to water houseplants.
• Light: stretched, pale growth leaning to the window means too little light.
• Still not sure? Flori identifies succulents from a photo and shows a care profile with light, watering and toxicity, which helps with an unlabelled plant.

If pets share your home, our pet-safe houseplants guide lists more safe choices.

Flori editorial team

Written and fact-checked by the Flori team. Every guide cites horticultural sources such as the RHS, university extension services and the ASPCA, and is updated when the advice changes.

General plant care information. Plants vary; when a plant is valuable or a problem spreads quickly, consult a local nursery or plant specialist.