Succulents are popular because of their chubby leaves and attractive looks, but did you know they also flower? The majority of these amazing plants send out multiple flowers at least once a year.
The flowers range in colour from white to dark red to blue. The variety is stunning and a lot of species even have multicoloured flowers. The most popular flower colours by far are pink, orange, red, purple and yellow.
Here is our list of the best plants for each colour.
Succulents With Pink Flowers
Some of the best succulents with pink flowers are:
- Aptenia cordifolia
- Delosperma cooperi ‘Pink Carpet’
- Euphorbia milii Dwarf Pink
- Crassula Morgan’s Beauty
- Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi
- Epiphyllum Pink Angel
- Echeveria Violet Queen
- Rebutia Pink Sensation
- Tacitus bellus
Aptenia Cordifolia Variegata
This groundcover succulent has pretty lime green and white foliage and pink, daisy-like flowers that appear during the warmer months.
The flowers attract lots of beneficial pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hoverflies etc.
Aptenia cordifolia us super hardy and can be used in rockeries, to hang over walls or to cover unsightly bits of the garden. It is a fast spreader and will need to be trimmed. A big bonus for poultry and fowl owners- your animals will love eating this plant.
This succulent can be listed as a weed in some parts of the world due to its rapid growth, so check your local noxious weed list.
Delosperma Cooperi ‘Pink Carpet’ and other Delosperma sp.
Many Delosperma species have pretty pink, daisy like flowers. In fact, Delosperma come in many different colours. The size of the flowers can vary.
Some species have small flowers, about a cm or two in diameter, while others can grow up to over 5cms. These plants flower most prolifically in the warmer months.
Delosperma are hardy groundcovers that grow best in a sunny garden. The leaves are usually small and green or blue-green. The plant forms a thick mat that can spread over large areas.
Fantastic for garden edges or to cover up not-so-pretty parts of the garden.
Euphorbia Milii ‘Crown of Thorns’ Dwarf Pink
Just like the Delosperma, Euphorbia milii flowers come in a variety of colours ranging from pink, to red, to orange to yellow. Flowers last a long time, mostly all throughout the warmer months.
As the name suggests, Crown of Thorns is one hell of a spiky succulent. The thorns are aplenty and the plant (just like any other Euphorbia) is filled with a milky white sap that can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The sap should not be allowed to get on the skin, the face or the eyes.
Crown of Thorns can also grow quite big (over 2m height) in good conditions, but the Dwarf Pink will only go to approximately 50cms. This plant is best suited somewhere out of the way to minimize thorn related injuries. It is great in pots or the ground and very hardy once established.
Although Euphorbias are technically not cacti, the thorny varieties like the Milii are a great addition to cactus gardens.
Crassula Morgan’s Beauty
This is a very cute small growing succulent that bursts out in bright pink blooms. The flowers come out in a ball of individual, small, pink flowers and usually appear in spring.
Crassula Morgan’s Beauty has a very pretty appearance. The leaves are chubby, dusty silver-blue leaves growing tightly on top of each other.
Perfect as a collector’s plant. It can be planted in pots or the garden.
Kalanchoe Fedschenkoi
Kalanchoe fedschenkoi pink flowers stand out in the garden as they come high up above the foliage and are quite prolific. They are bell shaped and hang like an umbrella over the plant.
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi grows to about 30cms height and has blue- purple, oval leaves. We recommend getting the variegated variety which is pink, white and blue.
This plant grows well in pots or ground and has a spreading habit. The non variegated Kalanchoe is a faster grower, but may take over and often needs to be clipped back.
Epiphyllum Pink, Pink’s Angel, Pink Elegance etc.
Epiphyllum is a succulent genus that has an amazing array of flowers. There are many Epiphyllum varieties and most are all about the blooms. Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are dozens of other pink varieties. The plants typically flower in spring and attract a range of insects.
Epiphyllum are quite a unique succulent as they grow in jungles, in trees with orchids and bromeliads. They are, as the names suggests, epiphytic which means they will grow without soil on a host, usually a tree. They do not feed off the host, but simply use it as a growing spot.
Epiphyllum, unlike most other succulents, love to be watered all the time (but not sit in stagnant water) and enjoy humid environments. If pollinated the amazing flowers turn to edible fruit.
They are a fantastic hanging basket plant with their droopy foliage. They will also do well in shade gardens.
Echeveria Violet Queen, Elegans, Mexican Giant
Echeveria flowers are truly stunning. Many Echeveria, other than the ones mentioned above, have pink blooms. Echeveria flowers grow out of the main rosette and individual flowers open up one after another like a fountain.
The petals on the outside are pink, but the other side is yellow. The flowers often attract small nectar feeding birds and insects.
Echeveria are mostly grown for their foliage. The often colourful leaves are arranged in an attractive rosette shape.
Echeveria Violet Queen, Mexican Giant and elegans are hardy and easy to look after. They are suitable for pots as well as the garden.
Rebutia Pink Sensation
Rebutia Pink Sensation is a cute, small growing cactus with globular heads and spines that are not too sharp.
It has a clumping habit and bursts out in pink flowers every Spring-Summer.
Rebutia Pink Sensation is hardy and will not mind the rain. It will stand out in succulent and cactus gardens when in bloom.
Tacitus Bellus
Tacitus Bellus aka Graptopetalum Bellum is a small growing succulent with hot pink flowers that come out in Spring/ Summer. The flowers open on a tall stalk over the main rosette.
Tacitus Bellus is a fantastic balcony or veranda succulent that will appreciate being under cover as it does not like too much rain.
Succulents With Orange Flowers
The best succulents with orange flowers:
- Aloe Species
- Echeveria Doris Taylor
- Echinopsis chamacereus
- Orange Flowering Kalanchoe
- Pachyveria clavifolia
- Delosperma cooperi Orange Wonder
Aloe Vera, Aloe Hedgehog, Aloe Quicksilver
Aloe flowers come in many shades of orange, red, yellow, pink and white. Aloe Vera, Hedgehog and Quicksilver (and other varieties) have lovely orange flower spikes that grow out of the centre of the plant once or twice a year in some species.
The flowers are mainly tubular and come out in a conical shape above the plant. Mature plants can have multiple flower spikes per plant. Flowers also attract birds and pollinators.
Aloes are a fantastic addition to many gardens. Aloe Vera has long been used to sooth burns and skin problems.
Echeveria Doris Taylor
This ‘hairy’ Echeveria blooms once a year with robust orange flowers nestled in fuzzy green stalks. The flowers usually appear at the end of winter/ spring and one plant can produce multiple spikes.
Echeveria Doris Taylor is an intriguing plant with plump green leaves arranged in a rosette shape covered in soft, fuzzy hair. The plant has a clumping habit and individual rosettes can grow to approximately 15cm in diameter.
This plant is suitable for gardens and pots.
Echinopsis Chamacereus
This cactus is a cute little plant with stems that resemble peanuts (hence it’s nickname ‘the peanut cactus’). Echinopsis chamacereus bursts into orange flowers every year in spring. Individual flowers grow directly out of the plant and mature specimens tend to get covered in the gorgeous blooms.
Echinopsis chamacereus is a super hardy succulent that has a trailing habit. It will also grow indoors.
Fantastic in gardens, pots and hanging pots.
Flowering Kalanchoe
Flowering Kalanchoe have fairly unremarkable foliage as far as succulents go, but their flowers are simply divine. They come in a great range of colours and in shades of orange. Some even have double flowers (numerous layers of petals).
Orange flowering Kalanchoes have green, wavy leaves with multiple flower spikes for long periods and multiple times per year.
These plants add a great splash of colour o gardens and pots. To prolong flowering, cut off spent flower heads.
Pachyveria clavifolia
This chubby succulent produces very pretty, round orange flowers that grow on a tall stalk. The inside of the flower is a faint yellow. The plant flowers in early spring.
Pachyveria Clavifolia is powdery blue in colour with leaves arranged in a rosette shape. It has a spreading habit, but the growth is a bit slower than many other outdoor succulents.
Delosperma cooperi Orange Wonder
As mentioned above delosperma come in an array of colours. One of the hybrids that flower orange is a Delosperma Cooperi. The flowers appear throughout in warmer months on this hardy groundcover succulent.
Succulents With Red Flowers
The best succulents with red flowers are:
- Aloe Big Red
- Aptenia cordifolia
- Delosperma cooperi Red
- Echeveria Black Prince
- Euphorbia milii Red
- Red Flowering Kalanchoes
- Zygo Cactus Red
Aloe Porcupine
The flower stalks on this Aloe are simply stunning and 2 or 3 plants will put on quite a show. The flowers are arranged in a conical shape and mature plants can send 2 or more of these stalks up. When in bloom, it will attract small nectar feeding birds as well as a great variety of pollinators.
Aloe Porucpine is a medium size Aloe ( 40cm x 40cm). It is a very hardy variety that will tolerate droughts, high temperatures, rain and even mild frost.
This plant is well suited for big pots or gardens.
Aptenia cordifolia
The regular, green Aptenia Cordifolia produces pretty red flowers. The flowers keep popping up in the warmer months and the plant is covered in them most of the year.
They attract bees and other pollinators.
Aptenia Cordifolia is hardy and a super fast grower that will need to be clipped often. It is also edible and a great forage for the Chickens.
Delosperma cooperi Red
The dainty little red flowers burst out on Delosperma Cooperi in Spring, Summer and Autumn in warmer climates. This fantastic ground cover, as mentioned above, comes in a vast range of colours and is a real charmer in the garden.
Best suited to gardens as it can outgrow pots incredibly fast.
Echeveria Black Prince
The red coloured flowers on Echeveria Black Prince are a bonus to an already beautiful plant. Mainly cultivated for the foliage colour that ranges in colour from dark brown, to purplish to almost black. The leaves are arranged in a rosette shape.
The red flowers open up on a dark brown stalk and appear in winter in milder climates, early spring for cold climates. They are beloved by small nectar feeding birds and pollinator insects.
Echeveria Black Prince is a hardy succulent that grows well in pots and also the garden.
Euphorbia Milii Red
The pretty red flowers grow out of the top of each branch together with large green leaves creating an eye catching contrast.
Just like the Euphorbia milii Red Dwarf, the red flowering species are very thorny and filled with toxic white sap.
Euphorbia Milii are good garden and pot plants that will flower during the warmer months.
Red Flowering Kalanchoe
Red flowers come in singles and doubles and bloom multiple times per year. The foliage is usually green but some varieties have their leaves turn red when stressed, or in the colder months.
Kalanchoe are suitable for pots and also gardens. In the garden it is likely the plants will flower longer and more prolifically as they have lots of root-space.
Zygo Cactus Red
Zygo Cactus, also nicknamed the Christmas cactus blooms in winter. These plants have been cross bread and come in many amazing colours, bright red being one of them.
The drooping growth makes this plant a perfect hanging basket plant or a tall pot. The flowering is brought on by the drop in temperatures and seasons. In Australia we don’t really call this plant the Christmas cactus as it does not flower at Christmas time at all but more June-August, which are our cool months.
In cold climates, grow indoors as Zygo is not frost tolerant though do make sure it is by the brightest window as it will not flower well in dark spots. A bit of sun coming through the window is ideal.
Succulents With Purple Flowers
The best succulents with purple flowers are:
Ceropegia woodii ‘Chain of Hearts’
Echeveria Perle Von Nurnberg
Delosperma cooperi
Epiphyllum Purple Haze
Oscularia deltoides.
Ceropegia Woodii ‘Chain of Hearts’
Ceropegia woodii flowers quite prolifically once the plant is established. The purple flowers are bulbous at the bottom with a tubular centre and are topped with an arch of dark purple stamen. Truly spectacular.
Ceropegia Woodii and its variegated version are very popular hanging basket plants with heart shaped leaves growing on ‘strings’.
Chain of hearts prefers growing in shaded areas/ filtered light and are a superb indoor plant.
Echeveria Perle Von Nurnberg
Not only is Echeveria Perle Von Nurnberg purple itself, the flowers are also gorgeous purple. The tall flower stalk grows out from the main rosette and blooms at the top.
Multiple flowers open up in a cascade and can last a few weeks.
Perle Von Nurnberg is a popular collectors plant and can grow to about 15cms in diameter.
It can be grown in pots and garden, but can be a bit sensitive to rain and overwatering.
Oscularia Deltoides
The purple flowers on Oscularia deltoides are very similar to the ones on Delosperma Cooperi. They are small and daisy like with numerous slender leaves. Mature plants will bloom heavily in spring.
The foliage is interesting as well. Leaves are swollen and powdery white-blue with purple edges.
Oscularia deltoides is very hardy and a nice contrast plant suitable for large pots or gardens.
Succulents With Yellow Flowers
- Aeonium arboreum
- Delosperma echinatum
- Echeveria Apus
- Othonna capensis
- Sedeveria Maialen
- Sedum rubrotinctum
Aeonium Arboreum
Aeonium arboreum flowers in yellow flowers arranged in a cone and the whole display is very pretty. Only mature plants will flower but even then it is not guaranteed that blooms will appear year after year. When they do appear, the flowers last for a very long time (over a month).
Aeonium arboreum aka Tree Aeonium is a garden favourite and the green leaves arranged in rosettes are bound to stand out. The plant can grow to over 1.5 meters in good conditions and are very hardy.
Aeonium Arboreum will grow well in a large pots and also in the ground.
Delosperma Echinatum ‘Pickle Plant’
The yellow flowers of Delosperma echinatum appear throughout the year. If the plant is mature, they are very prolific. The small, daisy -like appearance only adds to the charm of this groundcover succulent.
Delosperma echinatum, as the nickname suggests, looks like it is covered in little pickled cucumbers. The leaves are green with fine hair.
This plant will grow well in full sun to part shade, though it needs some sun exposure to bloom. Good for pots and garden.
Echeveria Apus
Many Echeveria species flower in yellow, but Echeveria Apus blooms are long lasting and come out numerous times per year if you live in milder climates. The flower stalks also last a very long time.
Echeveria Apus has very pretty dusty blue foliage with pink edging and arranged in a rosette shape. It can reach well over 20cms in diameter.
Apus will look fantastic in large pots or in the garden.
Euphorbia flanaganii ‘Medusa’s Head’
If you’re after a collectible succulent with yellow flowers, Euphorbia flanaganii is your plant. The main head grows ‘tentacles’ that resemble an octopus or the head of Medusa. The flowers are cute and small with paw-like petals. They appear numerous time per year.
As with all Euphorbia mind the white sap as it can be toxic to some people. Definitely do not allow to get onto the face or in the eyes.
Euphorbia flanaganii likes a partly shaded position and is best kept in pots, but will also grow well in a garden that is sheltered from hot sun in summer.
Othonna Capensis ‘Ruby Necklace’
Othona capensis is very generous with its yellow flowers that can bloom a couple of times a year. The flowers start up in a cute little, arching bud and open up into bright yellow multi-petal flower.
Popular as a hanging basket plant, Othonna capensis is capable of turning bright purple when stressed and grown in sufficient sun. The colour change is also most likely to happen in colder weather. The green- purplish leaves grow on thin purple stalk.
A hardy plant that can be used at the edge of tall pot, in hanging baskets or as a trailing plant in the garden.
Sedeveria Maialen
The yellow flowers of Sedeveria Maialen mostly grow throughout spring. They can come out in winter in mild climates. The stalk towers above the foliage and the small, individual flowers open in a ball at the top of the stalk.
Sedeveria Maialen is a super hardy succulent that is green in the warmer months, but can turn orange-red when cold. The tight leaves form rosettes and spread to create a carpet succulent heads that resemble flowers themselves.
This plant is suitable for both pots and garden.
Sedum Rubrotinctum ‘Red Jelly Beans’
The little yellow flowers that open up on top of each Sedum rubrotinctum branch can truly be admired when examined in detail. The blooms open in a star shape and are dotted with lost of tiny yellow flowers that attract nectar feeding insect and pollinators. These plants usually flower in late spring.
The leaves of Sedum rubrotinctum resemble jelly beans. The usually shiny green leaves transform to bright red in winter or when the plant is stressed.
This groundcover succulent will happily live in pots as well as the garden.
If you liked this article you may also be interested in 16 best purple succulents.
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