11 Best Outdoor Succulents for Garden(Frontyard,Backyard,Landscaping)

What Succulents Grow Well Outdoors?

Aeonium

Region of Origin: the Canary Islands and North Africa

These succulents are one of the most popular outdoor succulents that are sought by all succulent lovers. Aeonium has got striking similarity with Echeverria and hens and chicks. The leaves can be of the same color or can contain varied shades of yellow, red, and green. This makes them look magnificent when grown in clusters in the garden.

Key Points about Aeonium

• Aeonium has got thin spoon-shaped leaves and unlike most succulents, they go dormant in the summer and grows actively in the winter. So even if they look like they are dying or not growing in the hotter months of the year, it is something absolutely normal.
• The succulent is monocarpic so it dies after flowering. Produces beautiful looking pink, red, white, or yellow flowers. So make sure you propagate them for the next year.
• Propagation of Aeonium is quite easy as the mother succulent produces multiple baby pups around the stem base which can be grown in separate pots.

How do you care for Aeonium?

• Do Aeoniums like the full sun? Aeonium can survive well both under full sun and partial shade. They love getting 4 to 6 hours of bright sun and dislike extreme heat so go dormant in summer. Active growth happens in the winter and the spring. So if you have hot summers, consider placing them under some shade.
• How often should you water aeonium? This succulent particularly have a slightly enhanced watering need than other succulents especially if your place gets really dry. However here also stick with the soak and dry method. Only water the succulent when the soil feels dry so keep an eye out for the soil moisture from time to time. In the summer even though they are dormant, water them when the soil feels dry.

• Are Aeoniums frost hardy? The succulent is not frosting tolerant however it can thrive well under lower temperatures of even 4 degrees Celcius. During the winter instead of using icy cold water use lukewarm water to avoid stressing the succulent out.
• Sometimes the succulent can grow quite tall and resemble a bonsai. In those situations consider trimming the branches to keep the plant in shape. You can use the cuttings for propagation as well however you must let them callus over for a week before planting them.

Euphorbia milli

Region of Origin: Africa

Also Called: Crown of thorns

Euphorbia like most succulents when provided with the basic needs can do well on their own. They are extremely easy to grow and produce stunning flowers. So in case, you wanna add them in your rock garden or certain border places in the garden it is an excellent choice.

Key Points about Crown of Thorns

• It a succulent full of leaves and thorns. They produce bright red, pink, and yellowish flowers depending on the type. The hybrids are especially popular among the gardeners which produce better blooms.
• Is the crown of thorns plant poisonous for humans and pets? The crown of thorns is toxic when ingested and the thorns can be troublesome on their own so have suitable precautions in place while handling the succulent. Wear gloves and full sleeves. Keep children and pets away from this plant.
• The flowers really look stunning and are worth all the safety efforts and hassles.

How do you care for Euphorbia Milii?

• They love full sun. In fact, their color also intensifies when placed under full sun. However few of their varieties can also do well under shade. Better sunlight will lead to better blooming.
• Prefers low humidity and does not do well below 12 degrees Celcius.
• Consider repotting after two years as the succulents grow really fast and can branch a lot. Make sure to not use too large pots as that will favor more root development and less flowering.
• Only water them when soil is dry however unlike most succulents dont let it face underwatering or it will start losing leaves and flowers. But be really cautious of not watering it more than it needs.
• In winter especially lower the watering quantity and only water just enough to keep the roots wet. Discontinue pouring otherwise flowering won’t happen properly. In winter ideally, try keeping them at a temperature around 15 degrees,
• Use a cactus mix soil slightly richer in the sand.

Dudleya

Region of Origin: US & Mexico

Also Called: LiveForever, giant chalk 

These are some of the best plants to grow outdoors. They are naturally built for surviving in extreme conditions. They are ideal to grow in warm coastal climates but can also thrive well in other regions.

Key Points about Dudleya

• They look quite similar to echeveria as they are fleshy and small and form a rosette.
• The propagation of this plant can only is done via its stem cuttings and roots, not from its leaves.
• It lives for about 50 to 100 years in the wild hence also being called liveforever. So chances are high that it will survive for years in the garden.
• They have a white coating of wax on the plant surface that protects them naturally from intense sunlight.  Leave the upper plant parts undisturbed and water only at the roots.

How do you care for a Dudleya plant?

• More or less all succulents can thrive on neglect however dudleya is an ideal example of that. Just plant it someplace from where it can get indirect sunlight for 4-6 hours a day and it will be just fine.  It loves bright sunlight so underexposure to light can cause stretching and stunted growth.
• Do not water them if possible for the whole summer season or water once in a while. They are naturally designed for this. In their natural habitats, they do not get rain for more or the less the whole summer season so if you water them frequently in the hotter months their growth will be hampered.
• Most of them cannot tolerate frost so grow them in pots if your place becomes really chilly. They are most suitable to grow in zone 9-11 however there are some exceptions as well.
• Dudleya is tremendously sensitive to damp soil and overwatering. So make sure you plant them in a sandy soil mix that gets dry quickly.
• Water them once in a while maybe once in 10 to 17 days. They can easily put up with underwatering in fact this is something that benefits them as it has adapted themselves to combating intense periods of drought in its native places.

Sempervivum

Region of Origin: North Africa and Europe.

Also Called: Hens and Chicks, Houseleeks.

Key Points on Hens and chicks

• Hen and chicks are the members of the Sempervivum variety of succulents. They can grow well indoors as well as outdoors under warm and cooler conditions.
• They can produce numerous babies throughout their growth and this is something very unique. You can gift these chicks in containers to your friends and family.
• Hens and chicks have become a really popular plant as it can grow under wretched environmental and soil conditions and also it is one of the few varieties of succulents that can put up with cold temperatures in the winter.
• Aside from its adaptive nature their rosette foliage and easy to propagation abilities make them highly suitable to be grown and nurtured by beginner succulent enthusiasts.
• The mother plant survives for 4 to 6 years and then it dies.

How do you care for a sempervivum?

• Do Sempervivums need full sun? Hen and chicks love the full sun and can do well even under partial shade. For ideal growth, it needs 4 to 6 hours of bright sunlight daily. The fact that it can put up with extreme weather conditions and poor soil nutrition is something really intriguing.
• The succulents get rare outbursts of rain in their natural habitats so they can survive on little watering. Their fleshy foliage helps them in this regard. So water them only when the soil is dry and be wary of not overwatering them. They can put up with neglect to some extent and can go without water for weeks.
• How do you repot & propagate sempervivum? In case you wanna propagate just remove the smaller babies(chicks) from the mother plant which can remain connected underground. Then plant them in newer containers and you are done. Removing the chicks at least once a year is a healthy thing to do otherwise it can lead to overcrowding. Pot them in a cactus mix soil, keep them under partial shade, and water them when the soil feels dry.
• The succulent normally loves a temperature of 14-24 degrees Celcius and goes dormant under extreme temperatures. Unlike most succulents, it can put up with winter when kept outside.
• They rarely need fertilizers and does well under rocky or sandy soil conditions. So use a cactus mix with sufficient amounts of pebbles and sand in it.

Echeveria

Region of Origin: Central and South America.

The large variety of 150 different subtypes existing within Echeveria, along with its foliage and vibrant shades of color makes it highly suitable to be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Key Points about Echeveria

• Another one of those succulents that can put up with neglect and adverse conditions. Their fleshy leaves help them to store water for a long period and the rosette foliage makes them undoubtedly stunning.
• There are many different varieties of Echeveria of different colors, you can grow them together for a more striking appearance.
• The active growing season is from spring to summer and blooms during that time only.
• They can be differentiated from Hen and chicks owing to their pulpy and smooth texture.

How to care for Echeveria?

• Does Echeveria need sun? All photosynthetic plants need sun. The leaves of the succulent have got a waxy coating on them to combat full sun so you can keep them under direct sun. They love full sun and need 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.

• Echeveria is one of the slow-growing succulents and barely grows above 30 cm. They are comfortable with dry desert-like conditions however they can put up with moderate moisture in the air.

• How often should you water Echeveria? The watering needs of Echeveria is very low. Make sure you never overwater them and only water the succulent when the soil feels dry. They can put up with underwatering but not with overwatering.
• They will keep on producing offsets around the mother plant which can be easily separated and propagated. The chain of succulents growing in one place looks wonderful from a distance.
• You can also propagate them from the leaves, just make sure you let the leaf callus over before planting them in a new pot.
• Move it indoors if your place gets really chilly in the winter.

Ball Cactus

Region of Origin: South America

Scientific name: Parodia Magnifica

Also Called: Moon cactus

They have awesome aesthetic value as the green body and yellowish thorn-like color contrast really sets it apart from many other cactus varieties. The thorn alignment is also extremely orderly which makes it more visually stunning.

Key Points about Ball cactus

• This is a great succulent that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. They dont like full sun and can suffer from sunburn if gets too much sun.
• Produces wonderful looking yellow, pink, red flowers. These are one of the best cactuses you can grow. They are highly beginner-friendly and look adorable as well.
• One of the best succulents you can grow for decorative purposes. Another good thing is it does not suffer from pest and insect problems as other plant varieties do.
• They are suitable to be grown in zone 9 to 12( If you are unsure about your zone then worry not, find your zone here). Does not do well under colder temperatures. If your place gets lower temperatures than 10 degrees Celcius then consider growing them in pots and bringing them inside.

How do you take care of a Ball cactus?

• Loves moderate sunlight and does not prefer full sun. So put them under some kind of shade and make sure they get 2 to 4 hours of proper indirect sun and they will be happy. They love the morning sun so in case you have an open east-facing side in the garden you can grow them there.
• Water them when the soil becomes dry. It can be once a week in the summer and once in 14 days in the winter. This succulent prefers little frequent watering than other succulent varieties. Loves a well-draining soil like all succulents.
• Loves being fertilized especially in the growing season. However, always dilute it several times before use. Avoid fertilizing in the winter.
• How do you propagate a ball cactus? Propagation is super easy as it forms many clusters of offsets just at the base of the mother cactus. Carefully cut it with a sterile knife and let it callus over for a few days under shade before planting it on a new cactus mix soil.  It is slow-growing in nature so keep them in a place that gets filtered sun and mist the soil until roots emerge then switch back to normal watering.

Aloe Aristata

Region of Origin: Southern Africa

Also Called: Torch Plant, Guinea-fowl aloe, lace aloe.

They are one of the most attractive looking aloes you can grow. Aside from their stunning looks, you can also use the leaf gel for a variety of purposes!

Key Points about Aloe Aristata

• You can grow them both outdoors and indoors. It looks quite stunning on the coffee table or along the garden pavement.
• Usage of smaller or shallow pots for growing aloe aristata is a must if you wanna propagate them from the offsets. Root bounded torch plants facilitate the growth of better pups.
• The gel obtained from the leaves can be used for hair and skin care.
• The white spots on the deep green leaves along with their teeth like carvings make the plant look really stunning.

How do you take care of aloe vera Aristata?

• One of the succulents that love moderate sunlight of 4 to 5 hours a day. Can put up with partial shade. Too much sun can cause stress issues so make sure to place it under some kind of shade.
• Always use a cactus mix soil as these plants will die when placed in soil that has inferior drainage.
• Using fertilizer is optional however using fertilizer once or twice during the growing months can help in better blooming.
• Always water at the stem base and not on the leaves. The moist leaf can attract pests. Also only water them when soil is really dry. They have fleshy leaves that can store water for weeks. Cut back on watering in winter.
• You can use offsets for easy propagation in the summer season. Look for small pups growing at the base of the mother plant. Separate them carefully with a sterile knife and plant it in a new pot. Do not water it for the first few days. Keep it someplace where it can get adequate light.