Indoor succulents: names and how to choose based on your light conditions

The best indoor succulent is the one that suits the light in your room: Echeveria, Aloe vera, jade plant (Crassula ovata) and desert cacti for a sunny windowsill; Haworthia and forest cacti (Schlumbergera, Rhipsalis) for an east- or west-facing window; and trailing Sedum morganianum or string of pearls for a hanging planter.

This guide gives you the names and descriptions of around twenty genera of indoor cacti and succulents, including 10 compared in detail with sourced information on light, winter care, size and toxicity. Plants with a care guide link to it, and you can find our varieties in the cacti and succulents collection.

🌟 Why bring a succulent into your home

An indoor succulent stores water in its leaves or fleshy stems: it can forgive a missed watering and thrives in the dry air of a heated home. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) notes that succulents thrive in heated homes, where the air is dry.

According to University of Minnesota Extension, many tolerate indoor humidity levels of 10 to 30%. In return, almost all need plenty of light and are vulnerable to overwatering.

📊 Indoor succulents: names and comparison

Indoor succulents fall into three categories: full-sun plants, moderate-light plants and trailing plants for hanging planters. The information comes from the RHS, NC State, and the universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. On the RHS hardiness scale, H2 means the plant tolerates cold but not freezing temperatures, with a minimum of 1 to 5°C.

📋 Quick reference

General guidelines for indoor succulents, based on RHS and University of Minnesota recommendations.

🪏 How to choose an indoor succulent in 6 steps

To choose an indoor succulent, start with the actual light in the room, then consider the space and whether you have pets, and only then think about appearance. The RHS notes that most cacti and succulents do not do well in low light, away from windows.

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🧭 Which succulent is right for each room?

The right succulent depends mainly on the room and its window: a south-facing windowsill can accommodate almost any succulent, while a partially shaded room suits very few. Let’s be honest: no succulent will thrive far from a window without supplemental lighting.

📐 Succulent families and their new names

Houseplants in the succulent group belong to several botanical families, and many now have a new name. Cacti (Cactaceae, nearly 2,000 species according to the University of Minnesota) are succulents among many others, as our Cacti and succulents: care guide explains.

The Crassulaceae family includes jade plants, Echeveria and Sedum; the Asphodelaceae family includes aloe and Haworthia, according to the University of Wisconsin. The same source mentions Gasteria, a genus related to Haworthia with red to orange flowers, comprising around 15 species. Euphorbia trigona is not a cactus: NC State simply describes it as cactus-like.

The snake plant, a succulent with fleshy leaves, is now classified as Dracaena trifasciata by POWO (Plants of the World Online, Kew). The string of pearls plant, long known as Senecio rowleyanus, has become Curio rowleyanus according to POWO. Finally, the ZZ plant, often grouped with succulents, is an aroid with a fleshy rhizome.

📐 The easiest indoor succulents

The easiest succulents to grow indoors are Echeveria, Haworthia, jade plants and Sedum morganianum, provided they get plenty of light and are never left waterlogged. NC State describes Echeveria as a plant that thrives with little care on a sunny windowsill. Lithops are considered relatively easy to grow indoors by the University of Wisconsin, which notes that overwatering is the main cause of early death.

To see cacti flower at home, the University of Minnesota recommends Mammillaria, Gymnocalycium, Lobivia and Rebutia, with good light, dry soil and cool nights. Find more ideas among our easy-care plants.

📐 Succulents and pets: which are toxic?

Several indoor succulents are toxic to cats and dogs, while others are not: always check the exact species. In its article on succulents, the ASPCA lists jade plants (Crassula ovata), snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata), string of pearls plants (Senecio rowleyanus) and pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) as toxic.

On its species information pages, the ASPCA states “Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses” for Crassula argentea, a synonym of Crassula ovata according to the RHS, with vomiting, depression and incoordination listed as clinical signs (“Vomiting, depression, incoordination”).

For aloe (listed as Medicine Plant), it states “Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats,” with vomiting and red-colored urine (“Vomiting, change in urine color (red)”). By contrast, it lists Haworthia fasciata, Echeveria elegans, Sedum morganianum and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) as “Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses.” However, the ASPCA lists Kalanchoe as “Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats” (vomiting, diarrhea): keep it out of pets’ reach.

For more information, see our lists of non-toxic plants for cats and non-toxic plants for dogs, as well as our pet-safe plants.

📐 Can indoor succulents go outside?

Yes, most indoor succulents enjoy spending the summer outdoors, then come back inside before the cold sets in. The RHS recommends putting them outside after the last frosts. The University of Minnesota advises starting in a sheltered spot in partial shade, then gradually moving them into the sun, while avoiding the scorching sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring Sedum morganianum indoors before nighttime temperatures drop below around 4°C (University of Wisconsin), and Euphorbia trigona before they fall below around 7°C (NC State). Some hardy succulents, such as houseleeks and sedums, generally spend the winter outdoors according to the RHS, while Echeveria and Aeonium need protection from frost.

For the garden, see our guides to sedums, houseleeks (Sempervivum) and Delosperma.

🗓️ The indoor succulent care calendar

An indoor succulent grows from spring through late summer, then rests from November to early March in a cool, almost dry spot. The University of Minnesota recommends increasing watering in spring as the light returns. For your entire collection, also read our guide to houseplants in winter.

📅 Seasonal care calendar

🐛 Mistakes to avoid with an indoor succulent

The most common mistakes with indoor succulents are insufficient light and overwatering, often in combination. Here’s how to avoid them.

🌿 Our indoor succulents and their care guides

Each succulent below has a complete care guide; when we stock it, the link takes you directly to the plant.

🔑 Indoor succulent care in brief

Good indoor succulent care comes down to three rules: as much light as possible, thorough but infrequent watering when needed, and a very well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. For the soil mix, the University of Minnesota suggests equal parts potting soil and coarse sand.

Drainage comes from both the hole in the pot and the soil mix: see our solutions for pots without drainage holes and how to choose between terracotta and plastic pots.

For detailed advice on watering, repotting, pests and propagation, follow our cacti and succulent care guide, and find the right mix among our potting mixes for houseplants.

✅ Our tips for growing indoor succulents successfully

To grow your indoor succulent successfully, choose one to suit your window: Echeveria, aloe, jade plants or cacti for full sun; Haworthia or forest cacti for east- or west-facing windows; trailing plants in hanging baskets near the glass. Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry out, and give it a cool, dry winter. Find all our varieties in the cacti and succulents collection.