The succulents listed here are popular with designers and are readily available (or are becoming so).
The photo that accompanies each is an example; others in the genus may look quite different.

You also might find useful my newly expanded and updated Designing with Succulents Plant Palette CD which has 350 photos of the best succulents for gardens and containers, each labeled according to genus and species (and common name if available).

Aeonium -- Rosettes typically resemble big, fleshy-petalled daisies. Colors include green, yellow and garnet. Leaves of Aeonium 'Sunburst' are striped with yellow or cream. Aeonium 'Zwartkop', another show-stopper, is magenta-black. There exist many hybrids (like the Aeonium canariense hybrid shown here). Some species are shrub-forming; all produce rosettes at the tips of ever-lengthening stems. Frost tender.




Agave -- Common Agave americana gets huge and makes a striking focal point for a large garden---but it can take over and is viciously toothed. Don't assume such an ill-mannered thug is the only agave. There are dozens of species, some small and beautifully suited to pot culture. Agave victoria-reginae is a favorite; it grows to the size of a soccer ball over time. With the notable exception of Agave attenuata, most agaves tolerate temperatures into the teens; some---such as Agave parryi shown here---go much lower.


Aloe -- Dramatic flower spikes, mid-winter through spring, are hot hues of orange or yellow. This photo was taken at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in January. The gel-filled, tapered and serrated leaves of many aloes form starfish-like rosettes. Numerous species range from fist-sized (such as Aloe brevifolia) to tall trees (Aloe bainesii). Aloe arborescens, a common garden plant throughout Southern California, is an excellent fire-retardant succulent for wildfire-prone areas. Frost tender.



Cactus -- This general category refers to succulents---usually from desert climates---with spines, which are modified leaves that radiate from central points (aureoles). Small cacti suitable for pots have a huge following with collectors. Gardeners tend to regard cacti as treacherous and consider desert landscapes stark, so although my appreciation for cactus is growing, I emphasize soft-leaved succulents. Do consider using golden barrels in your succulent garden; they are an unmatched textural enhancement. Many but not all cacti are frost tolerant.


Crassula -- There are two main forms: jade types and stacked. I chose a stacked crassula (Crassula perforata) to show here, but there are many lovely and unusual jades. Plain jade (Crassula ovata) is quite common and therefore gets little respect, but others are silvery gray, bright yellow, and variegated cream-and-green---often with red margins. Use jades as mounding shrubs and grow stacked crassulas, which are marvelous cascaders, in terraces and hanging baskets. Frost tender.



Echeveria -- Those with tight rosettes tend to form hen-and-chicks clusters. Echeverias that resemble cabbages usually grow atop ever-lengthening stalks. Ruffled varieties like those in the photo are among the showiest of succulents. All are ideal for containers, in fact, I discourage people from growing echeverias in garden beds as the leaves are easily marred. Will tolerate a few degrees below freezing. (Also see my echeveria article.)




Euphorbia -- This immense genus includes many nonsucculent plants; all have in common a milky sap that can be irritating, even toxic. Columnar species such as Euphorbia ingens suggest statuesque cacti. (One quick way to tell the difference is that cacti have satiny flowers, those of euphorbias are beadlike.) Designers adore Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire' (shown here) which turns brilliant sunset hues. Droll Euphorbia obesa is a spherical succulent with subtle herringbone stripes. Frost tender.


Haworthia -- These windowsill succulents, which seldom get larger than a softball, thrive indoors and do well in pots. I don't recommend growing them in the garden as they readily sunburn and might be stepped on. Besides, it's a shame not to enjoy them close-up. Haworthias are easily hybridized---a hobby enjoyed by enthusiasts worldwide.





Ice plants -- The majority of these groundcover succulents have brilliant blooms; few sights can compare to a hillside pulsing with purple or red mesembryanthemum. Out of bloom, the same plants are merely green---not a bad thing, considering ice plants need no mowing, require very little maintenance, and once established keep weeds at bay. Ice plants would make ideal lawn substitutes if they could tolerate foot traffic. But you can grow ice plants on steep, rocky slopes, something impossible with a lawn.


Kalanchoe -- These succulents are prized for their colorful or felted leaves and their flowers. Plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most common is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (shown here), which is sold in supermarkets; numerous hybrids produce long-lasting blooms in crayon colors. Surging in popularity is Kalanchoe luciae; its paddle-like leaves are sometimes wavy, and turn from teal to bright red when grown in full sun. Frost tender.



Sedum (stonecrop) -- These trailing succulents with stacked and concentric or bean-shaped leaves produce masses of star-shaped blooms in summer. Plant sedums in rock gardens and use them as fillers for containers and as ground covers. Unlike other genera of succulents, most sedums (especially smaller ones) prefer cool summers and winters and tolerate temperatures below freezing.




Sempervivum (hen and chicks) -- Like sedums, sempervivums are cold-climate succulents; they do not do well outdoors in the heat of a Southwest summer. Semps resemble echeverias but rosettes have thinner, pointed leaves and a more compact, spherical form. They produce offsets that create lovely clusters. Tuck sempervivums into the niches of a rock wall and let them overflow the openings of a strawberry jar. Frost-tolerant.




Senecio -- Groundcovers Senecio mandraliscae and Senecio serpens form drifts of blue and are striking juxtaposed with red- and orange-leaved succulents (such as Aloe cameronii or Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'). Let Senecio rowleyanus (string of pearls), which has pea-like leaves, cascade from a dry fountain or birdbath; it'll suggest droplets of water. Most senecios will tolerate a few degrees below freezing.

Learn more about Debra's Designing with Succulents Plant Palette CD.