Identifying different types of succulents may seem like a challenge given the vast diversity of this plant family. However, with a little guidance, you can easily tell your aloe from your agave or your cacti from your crassulas. This article will provide you with detailed instructions to help you differentiate among diverse succulent types.
Identify the Succulent’s Growth Pattern
Succulents exhibit distinct growth patterns – some grow upward in a vertical pattern (upright-growing), some spread out along the ground (rosette-forming), and others trail or hang down (trailing).
Upright-Growing Succulents: Plants like the Euphorbia trigona, the African Milk Tree, or the Senecio barbertonicus, the Barberton Senecio, express an upward growth pattern. They are characterized by their height and straight growth.
Rosette-Forming Succulents: Succulents such as Echeveria, Sempervivum, and Aeonium species typically have leaves angling out from a central point creating a rosette shape. They are perfect for ground cover and often multiply by sending out pups or offsets around their base.
Trailing Succulents: Types like String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) or String of Bananas (Senecio radicans) are excellent examples of trailing succulents. They hang or trail over their container edges and are best for hanging pots.
Learning About Leaf Characteristics
Familiarize yourself with the leaf characteristics such as leaf shape, thickness, color, and arrangement, which can provide significant clues about the kind of succulent you’re dealing with.
Leaf Shape And Size: Identify if the leaves are oval, pointed, round, or flat. Some succulents like Agave have sword-shaped leaves that are large and wide, whereas, in Senecio rowleyanus, leaves are small and perfectly round like peas.
Leaf Thickness: The thicker the leaves typically means the succulent is more adapted for dry conditions. For example, Lithops, also known as Living Stones, have exceptionally thick leaves that help them survive in the arid conditions of their native southern Africa.
Leaf Color: They vary from green to red, purple, silver, or even blue. Changes in sunlight, temperature, or water intake can also influence leaf color. For instance, succulents like Sedum nussbaumerianum exhibit deep copper tone when exposed to full hot sun while being green in the shade.
Leaf Arrangement: Succulents exhibit a variety of leaf arrangements. Some, like Aloe, have leaves arranged in a singular rosette, while others like Senecio serpens “Blue Chalk Sticks” have leaves arranged in an alternating pattern along its stems.
Identify by the Plant’s Stem
The presence or absence and the structure of the stem can help identify succulent types:
Stem-less Succulents: Plants like Lithops and Pleiospilos nelii, also known as split rock, are stemless. They appear as pairs of leaves right from the ground with no visible stem.
Succulents with Visible Stems: Some succulents such as Gollum Jade (Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’) have visible stems where you can see new growth sprout and old leaves dropping off.
Vining Succulents: There are succulents like String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) that grow in a vine-like fashion. They have long trailing stems with leaves growing along those stems.
Flowers Characteristics
Flowering can also provide crucial information about the plant type. Flowers can be varied in terms of their shape, color, and even smell:
Flower Shape: Succulents like Echeveria produce bell-shaped flowers, while Stapelia, also known as starfish flower, displays unique star-shaped bloom.
Flower Color: The color array ranges from white to yellow, pink, red, and even deep violet. For instance, Aloe vera has characteristic yellow tubular flowers.
Flower Smell: Certain succulents even have flowers that emit unique scents. While some like Fockea edulis have sweet-scented flowers, others like the Carrion flower – Stapelia, produce a foul smell to attract flies for pollination.
As you dive deeper into the world of succulents, remember that identifying them is as complex and diverse as the plants themselves. A couple of characteristics may coincide in a few species making it somewhat perplexing to classify. But, with continuous learning and experience, identifying succulents will soon become second nature!
Also, use tools such as a thorough succulent identification chart or succulent apps which provide extensive databases with pictures, care tips, and other useful features to help identify succulents.
Remember, the healthiest succulent is the one that is well understood and correctly identified, as this is crucial for providing the best care possible. Ensuring you can distinguish between different types of succulents will deepen your appreciation for these fascinating plants and foster your succulent care taking skills.
