12 Best Indoor Succulent Plants You Can Easily Grow

Succulents have become the top go-to plants for new plant parents. These low-maintenance beauties not only add a pop of pizzazz to the dark corners but also thrive in neglect, making them perfect for any setting, home or office. 

But with such wide types of succulents available, you may feel overwhelmed. Don’t worry! In this article, we'll explore 12 of the best succulents that will surely add elegance to your space.

Why Succulents?

If you're wondering why you should get succulent for indoor spaces over other houseplants, here are a few reasons.

• First of all, they require minimal care, making them ideal if you’re just starting out.
• They store water in their leaves, so you don't have to water them as often as other houseplants.
• Their compact size suits small living spaces.
• They thrive in low-light conditions.
• Numerous shapes and colors to choose from.

1. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Also known as Money Plant and Friendship Plant, the Jade Plant is a low-maintenance champion. Hailing from South Africa, this hardy succulent looks quite like a bonsai, thanks to its thick trunk and branches full of egg-shaped leaves.

These leaves can be shiny dark green, sometimes with red edges. When matured, Jade Plants can produce white or pink flowers.

Additionally, this succulent can handle low light and infrequent watering quite well, making it a good pick for beginners or busy folks.

Water it every 2 to 3 weeks, allowing the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry between watering. Also, make sure it gets 4 to 6 hours of indirect light for healthy growth.

2. Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

If you want an easy-to-care succulent for indoor spaces, you can’t go wrong with Panda Plant. It is named for its blue-green leaves with brownish edges that look like pandas. Not to mention, these leaves are covered in soft, silvery fuzz that everyone, kids and adults, can't resist touching.

The Panda Plant, like most succulents, thrives in medium to bright light and needs around 6 hours of direct sunlight. Water it every 5 to 6 days, but be careful not to wet the leaves. This succulent grows slowly and can reach about two feet in height.

3. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)

Also known as Sweetheart Vines, String of Hearts is a charming low-maintenance trailing succulent. It has beautiful cascading vines, adorned with tiny heart-shaped leaves that symbolize love and affection. A perfect gift for your beloved!

Indoors, its slender vines can grow up to 12 feet long, making it perfect for hanging baskets. But, if you don't want to turn your home into a jungle, just trim the vines to about 1 foot in length.

This lovely succulent likes bright indirect light and needs watering only when the top 2-3 inches of soil dries out or every week during the growing season.

4. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

Photo by Cecília O. Tommasini from Pexels

Of all the indoor succulent plants, Aloe vera is the most well-known one. It offers a wide range of health benefits, including soothing skin irritations, promoting wound healing, aiding digestion, and providing relief from sunburn.

It grows well in bright direct light and but can handle shady spots. Ironically, it can get sunburned when left in the sun. You only need to water your Aloe vera every 2-3 weeks in summer and less often the rest of the year.

5. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)

Burro's Tail, also known as Donkey Tail, is famous for its distinctive trailing stems that are densely packed with plump, fleshy draping leaves. These leaves are green and have a rounded, almost jellybean-like shape. On top of that, when a leaf falls, it easily grows roots and becomes a new plant, making it super simple to propagate.

You can keep Burro’s Tail as a potted succulent or hang it near your windows, as it needs bright light or partial sun for at least four hours each day. And, you may have to water it once every two weeks.

6. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Don’t let the name fool you, Ponytail Palms aren’t real palms but a type of Mexican succulent. It gets the name thanks to its thick, bulbous trunk that stores water, topped with long, slender, arching leaves, resembling a mini palm tree. This slow-growing succulent can reach up to 30 feet outdoors but stays under 4 feet tall indoors.

If you're short on time to care for succulents, the Ponytail Palm is an excellent option. It needs watering only once every two weeks in the growing season and even less in winter. It likes bright, indirect light, warm temps, and not too much humidity.

7. Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)

Among all the indoor succulent plants, the Zebra Plant is best for neglectful plant owners. It has thick, fleshy leaves with striking white stripes that resemble zebra stripes, hence its name. With its pointy leaves, it might remind you of aloe vera. And, it stays petite, growing only up to 6” tall.

This potted succulent is super low-maintenance, needing watering once every 3 weeks in summer, and in winter, just once a month or two. It even thrives in bright, indirect light, low light, and everything in between.

8. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

When it comes to tough succulent plants for indoors, the ZZ Plant stands tall due to its impressive drought-resistant abilities. This African succulent stores water in its thick, glossy oval-shaped leaves, roots, and stems, just like cactus plants. Because it can thrive with minimal care, it's ideal for travelers or workaholics.

For ideal growth, give your ZZ Plant a drink every 2-3 weeks, but let the soil dry in between. It's cool with low light but grows best with medium to bright indirect light.

9. Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata)

Photo by Rosana Solis from Pexels

The Snake Plant is a tough potted succulent that can grow happily in any place, dark corners or sunny spots. Its name comes from its green and yellow striped upright leaves that resemble snakes. It is also known as the mother-in-law's tongue….for some reasons.

Additionally, this hardy succulent can reach 2 to 3 feet in height. Even though the Snake Plant can survive without water and light for weeks, it's better to put it in a spot with indirect sunlight. Water it every two weeks, but make sure the soil is completely dry before you water it again.

10. African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona)

If you like cactus plants, you'll love the African Milk Tree, as its slender, upright stems resemble a cactus. Its green stems are colored with red leaves and sharp thorns. Outdoors, these stems can reach 9 feet, but indoors, they grow up to 4 feet.

Water your African Milk Tree only when the top inch or two of soil dries out. And, it thrives in bright, indirect sunlight, making a southern-facing window a good spot for it.

But remember, it has a milky sap that can irritate the skin, so wear gloves when touching it.

11. Blue Chalksticks (Senecio serpens)

Photo by Andrea Macias on Unsplash

If you need a down-to-earth succulent, this dwarfed one will fit the bill. Blue Chalksticks feature 1-2” long, blue-green fleshy leaves that look like chalk sticks. But it can get about a foot tall and spread 2 to 3 feet wide.

Blue Chalksticks thrive in bright indirect sunlight, making them easy to place on a windowsill. However, compared to other succulent plants for indoors, this one needs slightly more frequent watering, typically every 1-3 days every week or whenever the soil becomes noticeably dry.

12. Bear Paws (Cotyledon tomentosa)

Want something cute? Get Bear Paws! These charming succulents have soft, fuzzy, green leaves with reddish edges that look like a bear's paw. And in the summer, they bloom with tiny light pink, red, or cream-colored flowers.

Bear Paws are quite forgiving. To keep them happy, water once a week, and less during winter. Six hours of daily indirect light is enough for this succulent. Plus, it only reaches about 15 inches in height, making it perfect for small spaces.

Conclusion

Succulents offer a delightful way to bring nature's beauty into your indoors. With wide types of succulents to choose from, you can easily find the perfect ones that suit your space and care preferences. Remember, whether you're a seasoned plant parent or a beginner, there's a succulent for everyone!