A roundup of the three main succulent growth types - take a quick look and see which ones you're growing at home
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Words of Leaves
Motohiro Hata
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Because there are so many kinds of succulents, their growth cycles vary greatly depending on their places of origin, and their traits and care methods are all different too. So succulents have been classified into three types based on their growth cycles. Let's take a look at how they're classified~
- Summer-growing type -
Native to tropical regions with heavy summer rainfall,
they grow vigorously in summer, which is why they're called the summer-growing type.
They love strong sunlight and grow well even at high temperatures of 20°C to 30°C.
Cactaceae: Astrophytum asterias (image from the internet)
- Representative summer-growing succulents -
1. Cactaceae: most plants in the cactus family belong to the summer-growing type
2. Euphorbiaceae: most plants in the spurge family belong to the summer-growing type (I have Euphorbia horrida, Euphorbia aeruginosa, and Euphorbia crispa)
3. Kalanchoe: common ones include Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Kalanchoe rhombopilosa, Kalanchoe porphyrocalyx, Kalanchoe farinacea, Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier', Kalanchoe tomentosa, Kalanchoe humilis, Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Panda Plant', and Kalanchoe synsepala
4. Crassula: common ones include Crassula rupestris, Crassula mucosa, Crassula falcata, Crassula ovata, Crassula capitella 'Campfire', Crassula muscosa, and Crassula deceptor
Crassula: Crassula deceptor (image from the internet)
5. Orostachys: common ones include Orostachys malacophylla, Orostachys 'Phoenix', Orostachys 'Fuji', Orostachys iwarenge, Orostachys chanetii, and Orostachys spinosa
6. Agave: common ones include Agave americana, Agave potatorum, Agave potatorum 'Kichijokan', Agave stricta, and Agave victoriae-reginae
7. Stapelia: common ones include Stapelia flavopurpurea, Stapelia leendertziae, Stapelia gigantea, Stapelia hirsuta, and Stapelia grandiflora
8. Ceropegia: common ones include Ceropegia woodii and Ceropegia linearis
9. Beaucarnea: Beaucarnea recurvata
10. Sansevieria: Sansevieria trifasciata
11. Aloe: Aloe polyphylla, Aloe nobilis, and others
Aloe polyphylla
12. Echeveria: common ones include Echeveria laui, Echeveria 'Black Prince', Echeveria chihuahuaensis, Echeveria elegans, Echeveria shaviana, Echeveria 'Red Prince', and Echeveria 'Violet Queen'
13. Adenium: Adenium obesum and Adenium obesum 'Somalense'
14. Pachypodium: common ones include Pachypodium brevicaule, Pachypodium densiflorum, and Pachypodium lamerei
15. Plumeria: Plumeria obtusa 'Golden Yellow'
16. Alluaudia: Alluaudia procera, Alluaudia ascendens, and Alluaudia comosa
17. Pedilanthus: common ones include Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Pedilanthus macrocarpus, and Pedilanthus bracteatus
18. Anacampseros: common ones include Anacampseros filamentosa, Anacampseros telephiastrum 'Variegata', and Anacampseros rufescens
19. Portulacaria: Portulacaria afra, Portulacaria afra 'Medio-picta', and Portulacaria afra 'Foliis variegatus'
20. Trichodiadema: common ones include Trichodiadema barbatum, Trichodiadema bulbosum, and Trichodiadema densum
21. Huernia: common ones include Huernia zebrina, Huernia macrocarpa, Huernia penzigii, and Huernia thuretii
22. Delosperma: Delosperma echinatum, Delosperma lehmannii, and Delosperma carolinense
23. Fenestraria: Fenestraria aurantiaca and Fenestraria rhopalophylla
24. Frithia: Frithia pulchra and Frithia humilis
25. Dorstenia: Dorstenia gigas and Dorstenia hildebrandtii
Agave: Agave parryi 'Kizan' (image from the internet)
- Winter-growing type -
Native to South Africa and low-temperature regions such as high mountains,
they grow vigorously in winter, which is why they're called the winter-growing type.
They struggle to get through summer and grow well between 5°C and 20°C.
Haworthia cooperi is a typical winter-growing type (Haworthia cooperi var. pilifera, image from the internet)
- Spring-and-autumn-growing type -
Species native to regions such as Africa, Mexico, and Europe,
they grow vigorously in spring and autumn, which is why they're called the spring-and-autumn-growing type.
They grow well at temperatures between 10°C and 25°C, and go dormant when it's too hot or too cold.
Note: the spring-and-autumn-growing type includes some summer-growing types; because they can't tolerate the unusually high temperatures of recent midsummers, this portion is also classified as spring-and-autumn-growing.
Pansy
- Representative spring-and-autumn- and winter-growing succulents -
1. Crassulaceae:
Sedum (mostly spring-and-autumn-growing): Sedum adolphi, Sedum morganianum, Sedum pachyphyllum, Sedum pachyphyllum 'Giant', Sedum rubrotinctum, and Sedum dasyphyllum
Crassula: Crassula perforata, Crassula 'Buddha's Temple', Crassula 'Ivory Pagoda', Crassula rupestris, Crassula 'Dorothy', Crassula 'Morgan's Beauty', Crassula 'Roger's Beauty', Crassula 'Buddha's Temple', and Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana
Aeonium (spring-and-autumn-growing): Aeonium 'Pinwheel', Aeonium arboreum, Aeonium 'Sunburst', Aeonium 'Zwartkop', Aeonium 'Mint Saucer', Aeonium 'Velour', Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop', Aeonium decorum, and Aeonium 'Mountain Rose'
Adromischus (spring-and-autumn-growing): Adromischus cristatus, Adromischus poellnitzianus, and Adromischus cooperi
Cotyledon (spring-and-autumn-growing): Cotyledon tomentosa, Cotyledon orbiculata, Cotyledon orbiculata 'Undulata', and Cotyledon undulata
Tylecodon (spring-and-autumn-growing): Tylecodon paniculatus, Tylecodon reticulatus, and Tylecodon buchholzianus
Graptopetalum (spring-and-autumn-growing): Graptopetalum bellum, Graptopetalum paraguayense, and Graptopetalum 'Silver Star'
Echeveria: Echeveria 'Lola', Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg', Echeveria 'Huth's Pink', Echeveria elegans, Echeveria 'White Peony' (spring-and-autumn-growing), and others
Sempervivum: Sempervivum tectorum, Sempervivum 'Purple Beauty', and Sempervivum arachnoideum
Sempervivum 'Purple Beauty'
2. Aizoaceae:
Lithops: Lithops, Lithops pseudotruncatella, Lithops aucampiae, Lithops dinteri, and Lithops 'Julii'
Conophytum: Conophytum bilobum, Conophytum calculus, Conophytum friedrichiae, and Conophytum 'Angel'
Pleiospilos (spring-and-autumn-growing): Pleiospilos nelii, Pleiospilos simulans, and Pleiospilos compactus
Glottiphyllum (spring-and-autumn-growing): Glottiphyllum linguiforme, Glottiphyllum longum, and Glottiphyllum depressum
Faucaria: Faucaria felina, Faucaria tuberculosa, Faucaria bosscheana, Faucaria candida, and Faucaria 'Snow'
Bergeranthus: Bergeranthus multiceps, and others
Rhombophyllum: Rhombophyllum dolabriforme
Frithia: Frithia
Titanopsis: Titanopsis calcarea, Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri, and Titanopsis primosii
Dinteranthus: Dinteranthus vanzylii and Dinteranthus microspermus
Muiria (spring-and-autumn-growing): Muiria hortenseae and Muiria 'Rare'
Glottiphyllum (spring-and-autumn-growing): Glottiphyllum linguiforme
Hereroa (spring-and-autumn- and winter-growing): Hereroa incurva
Drosanthemum: Drosanthemum speciosum
Muiria: Monilaria moniliformis, Monilaria obconica, and Monilaria pisiformis
Lithops
3. Liliaceae:
Haworthia: Haworthia fasciata, Haworthia cymbiformis, Haworthia cooperi, Haworthia retusa, Haworthia 'Kinsei', Haworthia 'Dragon Scale', Haworthia truncata, Haworthia maughanii, and Haworthia 'Liliputana'
Bowiea: Bowiea volubilis and Bowiea volubilis 'Minor'
Gasteria: Gasteria 'Tiger's Paw', Gasteria 'Little Warty', Gasteria armstrongii, Gasteria 'Shoji', Gasteria 'Dinosaur', and Gasteria 'Kogane'
Haworthia: Haworthia 'Kyoto Nishiki'
Haworthia cooperi, probably something like Haworthia cooperi var. truncata
4. Portulacaceae:
Anacampseros: Anacampseros filamentosa, Anacampseros 'Snow White', Anacampseros telephiastrum, and Anacampseros retusa
PS: Senecio mandraliscae, Pachyphytum 'Pink Beauty', Pachyphytum 'Star Beauty', Delosperma 'White Flame' (Aizoaceae, Delosperma), Sedum 'Red Beauty', and Crassula 'Monstroso' (Crassula) are all plants with no obvious dormancy period
Crassula 'Monstroso'
- Care methods -
1. Summer-growing type
Grows from spring to autumn, unfazed by the summer heat, and goes dormant in winter
Growth cycle diagram
Key care points:
Place in a spot with plenty of sunlight, good ventilation, and no rain exposure
Avoid direct sunlight in summer
Provide plenty of water during the growing period and restrict water during dormancy
In winter, place indoors in a spot with plenty of sunlight
2. Winter-growing type
Grows from spring to autumn and goes dormant in winter
Growth cycle diagram
Key care points:
Place in a bright spot with good ventilation, indirect light, and no rain exposure
In the heat of summer, use an electric fan to cool the succulents down
Provide plenty of water during the growing period and restrict water during dormancy
In winter, place indoors in a spot with plenty of sunlight
Lithops
3. Spring-and-autumn-growing type
Grows from spring to autumn and goes dormant in summer and winter
Growth cycle diagram
Key care points:
Place in a spot with plenty of sunlight, good ventilation, and no rain exposure
Avoid direct sunlight in summer
Provide plenty of water during the growing period and restrict water during dormancy
In winter, place indoors in a spot with plenty of sunlight
Marcus (Crassulaceae, Sedeveria genus, image from the internet)
If you care for your succulents according to their growth type, it should be a lot less trouble, right?
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Note: Some images are from the internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us and we will handle it promptly.