Pretty much every succulent flower at some point or another. Now, is that flower going to always be a good thing? Not necessarily. Some blooms can be death blooms, and other blooms can be those that indicate disease and a desperate attempt to survive.
Despite the many ways blooms can be seen, succulents have some of the most beautiful blooms that you will ever come across. They are unique, vibrant, and fragrant, and some of them even turn into delicious fruits.
This list is going to cover some of the top flowering succulents, a little bit about their care, and also their flowering schedule. If you are looking to coordinate a succulent flowering garden, then this is definitely the number one list you need!
Jump to:
- 1. Christmas Cactus,Schlumbergera truncata
- 2. Desert Rose,Adenium obesum
- 3. Flaming Katy,Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
- 4. Plush Plant,Echeveria pulvinata
- 5. Blue Prince,Echeveria elegans cultivar
- 6. Golden Sedum,Sedum adolphii
- 7. Dwarf Chin Cactus,Gymnocalycium baldianum
- 8. Parodia,Parodia herteri
- 9. Carrion Flower,Orbea laikipiensis
- 10. Aloe,Aloe vera
- 11. Living Stone,Lithops aizoaceae
- 12. String of Pearls,Senecio rowleyanus
- 13. Crown of Thorns,Euphorbia milii
- 14. Easter Cactus,Echinopsis oxygona
- 15. Hedgehog Cactus,Echinocereus engelmannii
- 16. Calandrinia grandiflora
- 17. Echeveria Afterglow
- 18. Cereus Peruvianus
- 19. Delosperma or Ice Plants
- 20. Stapelia lepida
- 21. Aloe arborescens
- 22. Opuntia sp.
- 23. Melocactus matanzanus
- 24. Epiphyllum sp.
- 25. Mammillaria grahamii
- 26. Aprorocactus flagelliformis
- 27. Hildewintera colademononis
- 28. Sulcorebutia albissima
- 29. Ferocactus pilosus
- 30. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
- 31. Selenicereus grandifloris
- 32. Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’
- 33. Thelocactus Bicolor
- 34. Blosssfeldia lilliputana
- 35. Hylotelephium herbstfreude
- Conclusion
1. Christmas Cactus,Schlumbergera truncata
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The Christmas Cactus, also known as the Schlumbergera, is a popular houseplant that is native to the rainforests of Brazil. It is called a Christmas Cactus because it usually blooms around the Christmas season, producing beautiful and colorful flowers.
The flowers of the Christmas Cactus are typically tubular in shape and can come in a range of colors, including pink, red, white, orange, and yellow. The flowers have multiple layers of petals that radiate out from the center of the bloom, giving them a beautiful, full appearance.
Each flower typically lasts for several days before wilting and falling off the plant. However, the Christmas Cactus can produce multiple blooms over the course of several weeks, providing a colorful and festive display during the holiday season.
2. Desert Rose,Adenium obesum
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The Desert Rose, or Adenium obesum, is a succulent flowering plant that is native to the arid regions of Africa and Arabia. It is a popular houseplant due to its stunning, showy flowers and unique appearance.
The flowers of the Desert Rose are trumpet-shaped and have five petals. They can range in color from white, pink, and red to deeper shades of purple and burgundy. The petals are often heavily veined, giving the flowers a textured and intricate appearance.
The flowers grow in clusters at the end of thick, woody stems, which can be quite striking on their own. The stems of the plant can also be trained to grow in interesting shapes, adding to the plant's overall aesthetic appeal.
3. Flaming Katy,Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
If you want something that is a bit more intense, then look no further than a Kalanchoe.K. blossfeldiana is an incredible species that has so many intensely colored blossoms. From neon magenta to neon oranges, it's hard to miss this constantly blooming beauty. It is a low-growing plant, but I tend to prefer them in pots so that I can move them around my home. To keep a K. blossfeldiana blooming, they have to have plenty of sunlight.
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4. Plush Plant,Echeveria pulvinata
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The Plush Plant, or Echeveria pulvinata, is a small succulent plant that is prized for its soft, fuzzy leaves and bright, colorful flowers.
The flowers of the Plush Plant are small and bell-shaped, typically growing on long, thin stalks that rise above the plant's rosette of leaves. They come in shades of red, pink, orange, and yellow and can sometimes have multiple colors in the same bloom.
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5. Blue Prince,Echeveria elegans cultivar
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The Blue Prince, or Echeveria elegans, is a popular succulent plant that is known for its unique, rosette-shaped leaves and delicate, bell-shaped flowers.
The flowers of the Blue Prince are small and dainty, growing on long, thin stems that emerge from the center of the plant. They are typically pale pink or white in color, with delicate petals that curl back slightly at the edges.
6. Golden Sedum,Sedum adolphii
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The Golden Sedum, or Sedum adolphii, is a type of succulent plant that is known for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage. While the plant is not known for its flowers, it does produce small, star-shaped blooms in the late summer months.
The flowers of the Golden Sedum are typically yellow or white in color, with five petals that are arranged in a star-like shape. They grow in clusters on tall, thin stems that emerge from the center of the plant.
7. Dwarf Chin Cactus,Gymnocalycium baldianum
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The Dwarf Chin Cactus, or Gymnocalycium baldianum, is a small cactus that is native to South America. It is a popular houseplant due to its unique appearance and beautiful flowers.
The flowers of the Dwarf Chin Cactus are relatively large compared to the size of the plant, with a diameter of up to 2 inches (5 cm). They are bell-shaped and can come in a range of colors, including pink, white, and yellow.
8. Parodia,Parodia herteri
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The Parodia, or Parodia herteri, is a small cactus plant that is native to South America. It is known for its striking, bright yellow flowers and unique appearance.
The flowers of the Parodia are relatively large compared to the size of the plant, with a diameter of up to 3 inches (7.5 cm). They are bowl-shaped and have multiple layers of petals that radiate out from the center of the bloom.
9. Carrion Flower,Orbea laikipiensis
The Carrion Flower, or Orbea laikipiensis, is a type of succulent plant that is native to eastern and southern Africa. It is known for its unusual and distinctive flowers that resemble rotting flesh, which is why it is also sometimes referred to as the "Stinking Flower."
The flowers of the Carrion Flower are small and star-shaped, typically growing in clusters on long stalks that emerge from the base of the plant. They are usually brown or maroon in color, with a mottled or veined appearance.
The petals of the flowers are covered in tiny hairs or bristles, which give them a fuzzy texture. They also have a strong, pungent odor that is often compared to that of rotting meat or carrion, which is how the plant gets its common name.
10. Aloe,Aloe vera
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The Aloe, or Aloe vera, is a succulent plant that is known for its medicinal properties and attractive flowers.
The flowers of the Aloe are typically orange-yellow in color, and they grow on long, slender stalks that emerge from the center of the plant. The flowers are tube-shaped and have six petals, which are arranged in a star-like shape.
The flowers of the Aloe plant typically bloom during the winter months, and they can last for several weeks before wilting. They are a popular attraction for bees and other pollinators.
11. Living Stone,Lithops aizoaceae
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The Living Stone, or Lithops aizoaceae, is a type of succulent plant that is known for its unique appearance and fascinating flowers.
The flowers of the Living Stone are relatively small, typically growing to only a few centimeters in diameter. They are daisy-like in shape, with multiple layers of petals that radiate out from the center of the bloom.
The petals of the flowers can come in a range of colors, including white, yellow, pink, and orange. They are often marked with intricate patterns or stripes, which add to the plant's overall visual interest.
12. String of Pearls,Senecio rowleyanus
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The String of Pearls, or Senecio rowleyanus, is a popular trailing succulent plant that is known for its unique appearance and delicate flowers.
The flowers of the String of Pearls are small and white in color, with five petals arranged in a star-like shape. They typically grow in clusters on thin, wiry stems that emerge from the plant's trailing stems.
While the flowers of the String of Pearls are relatively small and understated, they are still a beautiful addition to the plant's overall appearance. They typically bloom in the spring or summer months and can last for several weeks before wilting.
13. Crown of Thorns,Euphorbia milii
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You can’t have a summary of beautiful flowers without including the Crown of Thorns. This species is poisonous when trimmed: the milky white sap can irritate your skin or worse for those that are more sensitive. When the proper precautions are taken, E. milii is one of the most beautiful flowering succulents to own.
It’s coveted for the thick dark stems that are covered with thick thorns. The flowers themselves are two-petaled and brightly colored. There are several color variations of intense reds, whites and pinks, and other combinations. The contrast against the unruly stems is very striking.
14. Easter Cactus,Echinopsis oxygona
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The Easter Cactus, or Echinopsis oxygona, is a type of cactus plant that is known for its stunning and colorful flowers.
The flowers of the Easter Cactus are typically quite large, with a diameter of up to 3 inches (7.5 cm). They come in a range of colors, including pink, red, orange, and white, and have multiple layers of petals that radiate out from the center of the bloom.
The petals of the flowers are often slightly ruffled at the edges, giving them a delicate and feminine appearance. They grow from the top of the cactus and can last for several days before wilting.
15. Hedgehog Cactus,Echinocereus engelmannii
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The Hedgehog Cactus, or Echinocereus engelmannii, is a type of cactus plant that is known for its vibrant and colorful flowers.
The flowers of the Hedgehog Cactus are relatively large compared to the size of the plant, typically growing to a diameter of up to 3 inches (7.5 cm). They come in a range of colors, including pink, purple, red, and yellow, and have multiple layers of petals that radiate out from the center of the bloom.
The petals of the flowers are often slightly pointed or toothed at the edges, giving them a spiky appearance that complements the cactus's overall look.
16. Calandrinia grandiflora
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If you are looking for that special sort of something for your yard; then it is important to take a look at Rock Purslane. This bushy succulent forms dense patches of oval leaves, which allow the plant to absorb as much sun as possible. If you use this as a border, expect tall blooming stalks that are topped with vibrant magenta blooms. Keep in mind that the regular foliage can get up to a foot in height, and the blooming stalks easily take that height to three feet.
17. Echeveria Afterglow
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Echeverias are one of the most prevalent species of succulents among new growers and old succulent sages. There are so many colors and variations, not to mention the sheer beauty of their blooms! Afterglow is one of those special species that has multiple colors along the leaves, with pastel purple blooming stems and sunset orange bell blooms. Sometimes, the pistils can be more of a pink color which only adds to the ethereal blooms of Afterglow.
18. Cereus Peruvianus
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The Apple Blossom Cactus is perhaps one of the most coveted cacti not just because of its beautiful night blooms but also because of how sweet the blooms smell. As the flowers open at night, they look like perfect white lilies on a background of red sepals that fold back like a sunburst behind the flower. They are edible cacti as well. Once the blossoms have finished, they will turn into fruits that look like light blue-green pears, known as pitaya.
19. Delosperma or Ice Plants
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In my opinion, the stark contrast of bright flowers to deep green leaves is one of the most beautiful contrasts that you can access as a succulent lover. Who am I kidding? That’s most of them!
However, delospermas are a whole other category of beautiful contrasts and an insane variety in flowering color. Most of the time, Ice Plants are going to grow very rapidly, and eventually, they will cover very large areas of space: Some of them can cover up to five feet of the area from a single plant. If you want dense blankets of shimmering color, then any strain of Ice plant is going to do what you want.
Perhaps one of the most intricate designs I’ve seen to date on an ice Plant is Mountain Crest Gardens Wheels of Wonder, ‘Hot Pink Wonder.’It looks like an intense desert sunset with vibrant colors that are long-lasting.
20. Stapelia lepida
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For some people, these may not be the most pleasing flowers to the horticulturist. However, if you are a thick plant lover and the alien nature of several blooms is what draws you to their unique structures, then you have to have a stapelia. This genus is best known for the carrion flower; however, the vast majority of the flowering beauties in this genus aren’t so dead smelling.
S. lepida is a carrion flower, so it does have the scent of rotting flesh. However, when moved outside during the blooming season, the smell is hardly there. When blooming season hits, the blooms surround the primary clump of leaves with gorgeous starfish flowers.Definitely a fascinating species!
21. Aloe arborescens
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All aloe has some sort of bloom stalk. The Krantz Aloe, or Torch Aloe, is just one of those that takes the cake. The leaves grow at odd angles even though they are in a rosette shape. The spines are pronounced yellow, and they don’t extend far from the leaf. With thick leaves and an almost braided texture on more mature leaves, the textures are endless. The bloom is what tops the charts, however.
Thick blooming stalks reach upward and come from the sides of the plant rather than the center. The entire stalk is green but can contain some banding of cream and maroon. The flower head is the most striking, with startling scarlet blossoms that form dense cones.
22. Opuntia sp.
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There are so many different strains of prickly pear cacti just through flowering differences alone! It wouldn’t be difficult at all to make an entire arrangement out of opuntia flowers, alone with how many colors are available. While they aren’t as intensely colored as, say, a delosperma, opuntias take on a more pastel and ethereal look.
As a child, I grew up with a massive opuntia in the backyard. The flowers were so vibrant, and I loved being able to go into the backyard and smell their sweet scent. Even smaller opuntias are worth the wait for their beautiful blooms.
23. Melocactus matanzanus
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Turk's Cap cacti are rather interesting in how they bloom. Rather than blossoms all around the entire cactus, instead, the top of the cactus is what grows taller with each blooming season. The furry tops of the cactus produce hundreds of little flowers that are generally a bright red or pinkish color. They are quite fun to grow just because of their interesting shape and fiery flowers!
24. Epiphyllum sp.
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Some of the most beautiful cacti that you will ever have the opportunity to see or own are the group of cacti known as Orchid Cacti. Their blooms are rather large, and they take on the look of an orchid flower with several layers. The color variations are also endless since the species has been cross bred to yield some gorgeous bicolor species.
These are epiphytic species, so they do have to have some sort of support or something to grow along. Their natural habitat is that they grow along detritus and decaying trees for nutrients. If you can provide an environment like this, then that would be splendid! Otherwise, you can easily enjoy these beautiful flowers along a trellis or some other support system.
25. Mammillaria grahamii
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One of the most striking flowers I have ever seen in the cactus world is the Fishhook cactus. Not only is the cactus itself impressive with black barbed hooks and deep green flesh. The hooks themselves were historically used as actual fish hooks by indigenous peoples. Fishhook cacti have a rich history and an equally rich display of flowers.
Each petal is shiny much like an Ice plant, with a thick band of hot pink in the center, bordered by bright white margins. The yellow pistils contrast even further with the slightly orangish center. What a truly beautiful flower to see!
26. Aprorocactus flagelliformis
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Rat tail cactus is a thinner version of the monkey tail cactus. Some of their biggest differences are in size, color, and how they bloom. Rat Tail is a cylindrical cactus whose glochid spines give each ‘tail’ the scaly look of a rat tail.
More often than not, the blooms are extremely vibrant and cover the entire tail. The blooms last only for a few days before dying off, but because of how prolific the blooms are, you won’t really miss a few blooms here and there.
27. Hildewintera colademononis
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Monkey tail is another clumping and cascading type of cylindrical cactus that produces bright orange flowers that are sure to delight. One of the prettiest aspects of this type of cactus is that the glochids start to form a hair-like structure along the tails, which makes it appear as though the tail is soft! As the cactus matures, the tails can grow up to six feet in length which is why it is a perfect hanging plant to collect.
28. Sulcorebutia albissima
This whorled and round little beauty is named for the many dense white spines that cover dark green flesh. When viewed from above, the nodes of the spines take on a whirling pattern that gives it a special kind of charm.
Each node has the possibility of having a flower next to it, which is what makes this species so attractive. Towards the top of the globular cactus, buds will begin to form before opening to show delicate bright pink flowers.
29. Ferocactus pilosus
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If you want something that is going to bring intrigue and a lot of questions about your garden, then you definitely want to have a Mexican Fire Barrel. This barrel cactus is a great addition, thanks to the shockingly red spines with equally shocking red flowers!
As the flowers open, they reveal more cream-colored centers with yellow petals with red centers. From a distance, the barrel cactus tends to look like it’s on fire which is where it earns its name.
30. Echinocereus triglochidiatus
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No discussion on the many beautiful blooms from cacti is complete without mentioning the Claret Cup cactus. Hedgehog cacti are a rather fun type to collect due to their small size and how easy they are to grow.
There have been several species that produce red flowers in this post; however, the Claret Cup is perhaps the most true red. In the center of the flower, each cupped bloom has yellow stamens in the center that contrast boldly against the deep red of the petals.
31. Selenicereus grandifloris
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Known throughout the succulent world as one of the most beautiful succulents around, as well as a constant piece of intrigue for botanical artists, The Night Blooming Cereus, or the Night-blowing Cereus, known for its massive flowers that easily span at least a foot in diameter. They produce large fruits, but the most splendid aspect is just how delicate the flowers appear. Golden sepals curl back like the perfect sunrise to reveal creamy white petals with an orchid-like structure. They are epiphytic as well, and the stems will easily root along walls and other surfaces.
32. Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’
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One of the most beautiful trailing types of succulents is the Hindu Rope. The leaves themselves twist and curl to give a beautiful texture of deep green foliage. After a few years of growth and once the stems are roughly a foot long, that is when this hoya begins to really shine.
Well-cared-for Hindu Rope can produce weighty amounts of blooms that cascade down the stems. Each blooming nodule turns into an inflorescence that has countless pink blossoms. Each petal on the blossoms looks as though it is made of a piece of perfectly constructed porcelain. The flowers are hardy, however, and can last for extended periods of time.
33. Thelocactus Bicolor
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It’s not very often that you find types of flowers on a cactus that are bicolor. However, this beautiful daisy-like flower comes atop a deep green barrel cactus native to Texas. The species is also known as bicolor, thanks to the spines. Some are pale white, while others are more of a maroon-to-black color. The Thelocactus can come in several different colors; however, this species is a bright pink with a charming yellow center.
34. Blosssfeldia lilliputana
While not as grand as a grandiflora or as vibrant as a delosperma, B. lilliputana does deserve to be mentioned. This little powerhouse is one of the smallest cacti that we can find on this earth, and it produces a flower that absolutely dwarfs this cactus! Non-crested and singular varieties produce several flowers each blooming season that occurs around the top of the cactus. The flowers are perfectly white, and the petals curl backward sharply away from pollen-filled stamens.
35. Hylotelephium herbstfreude
Sedum spectabile, or Autumn Joy, or many other names are used to discuss this succulent. It is considered to be a quick-growing sedum with inflorescences that are absolutely massive! They start off as a beautiful light pink with greenish undertones, and throughout the summer, the color matures to a deep red. In the fall, the flowers fall off in brown clumps that will reseed the entire area if you aren’t careful.
Conclusion
With all of the different flowers that are available to plant collectors, it can be overwhelming to pick which ones you want to take a look at … and take home! Succulents have such incredible blooms with such a wide variety of types.
While it would be impossible to collect all of them in one house unless it was a mansion, hopefully, this collection will give you an idea of what kinds of flowering succulents you want to bring into your home.
Happy planting!
Imogen Robinson
Beautiful cactus and we have just started to buy baby cactus/succulents.
Patrick Grubbs
Awesome! Let us know how it goes!