The Best Succulents for an Outdoor Garden

stacey bruner

15 hours ago

2 min read

Succulents are some of the most striking and low-maintenance plants you can add to an outdoor garden. Their sculptural shapes and fleshy textures bring visual interest to spaces where other plants would struggle, and once established they need very little from you. The key is choosing varieties suited to your climate and giving them the drainage they need.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedum is one of the most versatile and cold-hardy succulents available. Low-growing ground cover sedums spread easily and tolerate poor, dry soil, making them ideal for rock gardens and between stepping stones. Taller varieties like Sedum spectabile (also called Autumn Joy) produce clusters of flowers in late summer that pollinators love. Most sedum is hardy in zones 3 through 9.

Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

Sempervivum is one of the hardiest succulents you can grow, surviving winters in zone 3 or 4 with no protection. The main rosette (the "hen") produces clusters of smaller offsets (the "chicks") that fill in over time, creating a spreading mat. They grow well in rocky, well-draining soil with full sun and are among the best options for rock gardens or wall crevices.

Agave

Agave plants make a bold architectural statement in an outdoor garden. Most are hardy in zones 8 through 11, though some cold-hardy varieties tolerate zone 5. They grow slowly but can become very large over time, so choose a species appropriate for your available space. Small varieties like Agave parryi stay under two feet wide. Agave plants need excellent drainage and full sun.

Aloe

Aloe is a staple of warm-climate gardens, hardy in zones 9 through 11. It grows in clumps, produces dramatic orange or yellow flower spikes in winter or spring, and handles dry periods well. In cooler climates, grow aloe in large pots that can be brought inside for winter.

Echeveria

Echeveria thrives outdoors in zones 9 through 11 and produces beautiful rosettes in shades of blue-green, purple, and silver. In cooler climates, echeveria works beautifully in outdoor pots during the warm season. The rosettes look spectacular in shallow terracotta dishes or grouped together in a container garden.