10 Most Beautiful Cacti and Succulents

With their huge variety of colors, forms, and sizes, it’s no surprise that cacti and succulents are at the top of the list for most plant lovers. It’s difficult to select favorites from so many choices, but we’ve comprised a list of 10 of the most beautiful cacti and succulents:

Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

It’s easy to see why jade is an old favorite. With its thick trunk, shiny plump leaves, and easy growth habits, jade is one of the prettiest of all succulents.  Be sure to let the soil dry completely before each watering. Overwatering is the number one reason when jade gets droopy and dies. 

Aloe vera

Cultivated for centuries for its medicinal qualities, Aloe vera is both beautiful and functional. Keep one (or two), and use the juice in the thick leaves for minor wounds, skin irritations, and sunburn. Fertilize aloe vera just once every year, in early spring. 

Pincushion cactus (Mammillaria crinita)

This small, ball-shaped cactus is a slow grower, topping out at no more than 15 cm tall and wide. Provide plenty of sunlight and water sparingly, especially during the winter. Be careful where you locate this pretty little cactus; the pointy spikes are sharp. 

Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Native to Africa, snake plant has long, pointy leaves that have earned it the moniker “mother-in-law’s plant.” This hardy succulent, available in deep green or variegated varieties, thrives in spite of neglect and tolerates low light and sporadic watering. 

Zebra plant (Haworthia fasciata)

An interesting, deep green plant marked with bold white stripes running horizontally across the leaves, zebra plant is perfect for small areas, reaching heights of only 13 to 15 cm.  Although blooming isn’t common, you may see yellow flowers if the plant receives adequate sunlight. 

Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum)

Also known as donkey’s tail, burro’s tail is a trailing succulent that looks great draping over the side of a container or in a hanging basket. This is a colorful plant in shades of gray-blue or grayish-green. It rarely blooms, but if it does, you’ll love the red or pink flowers that dangle from stem ends. 

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x Buckleyi or Schlumbergera truncata)

Christmas cactus isn’t a regular cactus, but a succulent native to the tropics. Unlike its desert-dwelling cousins, Christmas cactus doesn’t tolerate dry soil. With a little care, you’ll have an abundance of colorful blooms around the winter holidays.  

Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

This is a distinctive plant with thick green leaves covered with silvery hairs. Like most succulents, it should be watered only when the soil is dry, and very sparingly throughout the winter. A favorite of the younger set, panda plant is sometimes known as chocolate soldier or pussy ears. 

Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Related to agave, ponytail palm isn’t really palm,  but it’s a unique plant with a leathery trunk, feathery green leaves at the top, and a rounded, water-storage bulb at the bottom. Ponytail palm tolerates a fair amount of neglect and although it prefers high light and low humidity, it is adaptable to most indoor environments. 

 

Silver torch (Cleistocactus strausii)

A column-shaped plant with fuzzy white or bluish-gray hairs, silver torch prefers full sunlight but tolerates moderate light levels.  Silver torch is also known as woolly torch or torch cactus. Feed this stunner every spring when the plant is leaving winter dormancy.