Succulents are frequently cultivated for their year-round vivid colors and intriguing textures, but their blooms may also add seasonal interest! By selecting plants for their flowering season, you may enjoy year-round blooms in your succulent landscape with a little advance planning. Genus diversity is the key.
No matter where you reside on the planet, most succulents and cacti bloom around the same time of year, although depending on your climate, they can bloom at different periods.
Spring
Dudleya flowers bloom from early spring through late summer (see below). In the rock garden, their beautiful pink peduncle (inflorescence stalk) steals the show. Yellow flowers are adored by bees! Because Dudleya are simple to cultivate from seed, be sure to keep their flowers.
In any setting, Delosperma ‘Garnet’ adds a vivid, dense mat of flowers (see below).
Oscularia deltoides is a ground cover that grows quickly and flowers numerous times per year (see below). We adore it because of the lavender flowers and purple stalks that contrast with the silvery-blue leaves.
The most coveted feature of Sedum pachyclados is its scalloped borders, which resemble small cabbages. This little clumping Sedum’s white flowers make them a lovely addition to container gardening.
Sedum dasyphyllum ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy’ (below) puts on a show of small, delicate flowers that hang a few inches off the plant and create a lovely white halo.
Early spring through the summer sees aeonium blossom, giving pollinators a supply of pollen for several months. Aeonium canariense and A. undulatum both produce huge, up to 4-foot-tall yellow inflorescences, while A. nobile has a pink inflorescence that lasts very long. Because the blossoms are monocarpic, plants only produce one bloom before withering away. You might see additional rosettes emerging from the plant’s base during the plant’s bloom, which will eventually close the space left by the flowering rosette.
Depending on the species, echeveria will bloom in the spring through the fall. From the 4 ft tall Echeveria gigantea inflorescence to the 4 inch Echeveria ‘Lola’ blooms, there is a great deal of variety in Echeveria flowers. Hummingbirds and other pollinators will be drawn to all of them! Flowers keep well in arrangements for weeks and work nicely in dry arrangements as well.
Summer
The cactus family is responsible for the largest and transitory flower in the garden. The San Pedro Cactus, which produces a succession of flowers for weeks, is our favorite repeat bloomer. The majority of cacti’s blossoms, however, only last for a single day. Pollinators will notice cacti flowers because they are typically quite colorful in a desolate, devoid of color setting. Some species flower at night and are pollinated by bats or moths, while others open during the day to draw bees and butterflies.
Fall
Several of the succulents in our yard consistently bloom in the fall. A handful of our favorites are listed below.
The dark foliage of Cremnosedum ‘Little Gem’ contrasts beautifully with its yellow flowers (see below). Although this cultivar blooms several times a year, the fall months are when it is most colorful. This plant is most pleasurable in container gardening!
Winter
In order to draw hummingbirds and other pollinators to your succulent garden and to give your winter landscape some color, aloe flowers are a crucial plant. These flowers are often referred to as “Torch” flowers because, if you come across them on a gloomy winter day, they appear to practically glow with vitality.
Aloe plicatilis, sometimes known as “Fan Aloe,” blooms from late November to early January, with a few blooms continuing into early spring (see photo below). Sunbirds pollinate their red, tubular blooms, which are nectar-rich.
(Below) The Aloe africana’s magnificent inflorescence stands out against the gloomy winter days. These lovely orange/red tubular flower columns are produced on 5–6 stalks per plant.
(Below) From early winter through early spring, crassula produce consistently beautiful winter blooms. They give a lot of charm to a winter environment with their delicate terminal clusters of star-shaped flowers in white or pink. Below is an illustration of the “Jade Plant,” or Crassula ovata.
Money Maker, a variety of Crassula swaziensis, displaying its golden buds on a stalk of vibrant pink flowers. Pollinators adore these swaying infloresences because they attract them!
Additional Winter Blooms
Senecio rowleyanus ‘String of Pearls’ transports flowers indoors with its delicious cinnamon-clover scent, which is especially potent in a room that receives direct sunlight.
In the winter, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi blooms with a ring of coral, bell-shaped flowers.
Repeat Bloomers:
Cistanthe grandiflora can bloom multiple times a year by being severely pruned once a year after blossoming, followed by the removal of wasted blooms.
Plectranthus neochilus is well known for its lavender-like blossoms and has a potent aroma. For a longer bloom time, prune spent blooms and lanky growth.
Some of our personal favorite blooms and bloomers are included here! Every succulent blooms once or twice during its lifetime. Make sure your succulents are receiving enough sunlight and frequent fertilization throughout their growing season if you are having trouble getting them to bloom.
When is the best time of year to buy succulents?
Although they enjoy the heat, succulents actually grow more slowly in the summer. It can be challenging for newcomers to water them during the intense summer heat.
Winter presents additional challenges for people who are new to cultivating succulents because the frigid temperatures can harm or even kill them.
You will discover that most places have a better selection and healthier plants if you shop for succulents in the warmer (but not the warmest) months because there is a higher turnover of them then and the supply is always fresh.
Succulents grow best in the spring and fall, so now is an excellent time to buy them. It offers you a chance to become accustomed to their care before the onset of either the extremely hot or extremely cold weather.
What succulents survive the winter outdoors?
Some succulents will thrive outside all year for you if you live in a climate with four seasons, particularly one with harsh winters, but most won’t.
Although most won’t endure prolonged frigid conditions, each succulent has varied temperature requirements.
But there is a whole class of gorgeous cold-tolerant plants that are largely ignored in the succulent world! Many individuals are unaware of their existence or how numerous they are.
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Even if your environment dips well below freezing for the majority of the winter, you may still keep a lovely succulent garden outdoors using Sempervivums, select Sedums, and their hardy Opuntia relatives.
I started off growing succulents in Utah, which has a Zone 5 environment. I didn’t know there were succulents that could endure snow, therefore I was primarily cultivating succulents indoors.
Fortunately, Mountain Crest Gardens was recommended to me, and as a result, my succulent garden underwent significant improvement. According to my knowledge, Mountain Crest Gardens is the main source of cold-tolerant succulent species.
Their nursery is really located in a mountain valley near Mount Shasta in northern California, where they receive snow all winter. They have the most exquisite assortment of succulents that can withstand chilly temperatures.
These Sempervivums, Sedums, and Opuntias (also known as “Prickly Pear Cactus”) are wonderful since they can also survive in more temperate climes!
In the video below, you can learn more about what succulents can withstand below-freezing temperatures:
I have many sizable pots full of Sempervivums and Sedums that made the journey and are now flourishing here in Arizona, in addition to the numerous plants I did plant in the ground for my parents in Utah. I also want to expand my collection here with some cold-tolerant Opuntia.
Sempervivums are significantly harder than other rosettes succulents, such Echeverias, and make excellent rosettes if you are unfamiliar with how these succulents look. The color choices are also quite beautiful, ranging from pinks, reds, and purples to greens, yellows, and blues. You truly receive the entire rainbow!
The resilient Sedums are more of a ground cover and come in a wide range of forms, textures, and hues. You’ll find that some of them generate a wonderful trailing effect over the edge of your succulent pots, which looks fantastic when combined with Sempervivums.
My eye has been particularly drawn to the tough Opuntia. I was able to visit the Waterwise Botanical Gardens in Escondido, California, when they introduced a line of cold-hard Opuntias a few years ago. The most stunning flowers you’ll ever see on a succulent are produced by these plants in the spring, despite the fact that they may look like regular “Prickly Pear” cactus on the outside.
Opuntia “Pina Colada,” which has a blossom that truly changes colors, was one of my all-time favorites. It changes from being an orangey-pink color to yellow with pink and orange stripes in the middle the following day.
The amazing thing is that these cold-tolerant Opuntias are now available on Mountain Crest Gardens’ website thanks to a collaboration between Mountain Crest Gardens and Waterwise Botanicals.
So everyone who lives somewhere with four seasons, don’t forget to think about these incredible succulents! You’ll find that being able to observe some color and life in the midst of winter is very satisfying, in my opinion. Nothing compares to the Opuntias blooming at the start of spring, though!
It’s fascinating to observe how these hardy plants recover with vibrant, gorgeous hues even after spending the winter months buried beneath several feet or inches of snow. My awe for succulents never wanes!
Succulents in winter are they ok?
Yes, it is the answer. Although certain succulents can withstand frost, they are frequently thought of as drought-tolerant plants. They flourish in chilly, snowy conditions, and the extreme cold even brings out their magnificent, vivid colors. They are referred to as “Hard Succulents.” Sempervivum, Sedum, and Euphorbias genera contain some of the most hardy succulents. You may plant such succulents outside all year round because the majority of them can withstand temperatures as low as -20F (Hardiness Zone 5).
“Soft Succulents” are another group of succulents that are more susceptible to frost. When the weather drops below freezing, they must be winterized inside.
How can you survive the cold with succulents?
Many of the most popular and stunning succulents will need to be taken indoors for the winter unless you are fortunate enough to live in a place where it does not get below freezing. Although a greenhouse is ideal, few gardeners have access to one. Fortunately, it’s simple to overwinter most succulents inside.
There is a vast variety of various plants classified as succulents, some of which have very particular requirements. But the advice provided here will help most widely cultivated succulents survive the winter.
When grown inside, succulents frequently develop a habit of being stretched out and lanky, producing weak and unsightly plants by spring. When care for succulents indoors throughout the winter, light, water, and temperature are three crucial considerations that can help to reduce this.
Light is Critical
Light is the main component in succulent survival during the winter. Succulents will extend if there is insufficient light in an effort to get closer to the source. In general, succulents want full sun. Although it can be challenging to do so inside, expose them to as much direct sunshine as you can. The ideal window is one that faces south, though east or west windows can also be used.
If there is inadequate natural light, fluorescent lights may be employed. It’s crucial to keep the plants between the bulbs and 1 to 2 inches away from them. Over a distance of 3 inches, fluorescent light is practically useless to plants. For plant growth, incandescent lights emit the wrong spectrum of light and becoming too hot.
Succulents Need Little Water During the Winter
It is always preferable for succulents to be too dry than too moist. This is particularly true in the winter, when plants experience less-than-ideal lighting conditions and below-average temperatures. During the winter, keep your succulents on the dry side. Just enough water should be provided to prevent plant shriveling. You might just need to water once every 10 to 14 days in a cold area.
Keep the plant itself dry at all times, especially rosette plants like Echeverias. The plant will swiftly decay and become mush as water will collect in the rosette’s center. Keep in mind that keeping a succulent moist will destroy it quickly!
Cool Temperatures are Good
The majority of succulents do not require extra warmth during the cold. It’s crucial to prevent them from freezing. The ideal temperature range is between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants will remain in a semi-dormant state if kept cool. With the lower light intensity indoors during the winter, a warm environment fosters the growth of the plants, resulting in lanky plants.
No Fertilizer Needed
During the autumn and winter, succulents do not require any fertilizer. Instead of encouraging the plants to develop, you want to maintain them alive.
I’ve had great luck using these methods to overwinter plants like Echeveria, tender Sedum, Aeonium, Agave, Aloe, Crassula, Graptoveria, Kalanchoe, Faucaria, and Senecio.
The plants may endure the winter in a semi-dormant state with little stretching if you keep them sunny, dry, and cool. The succulents can be put back outside for a summer of sunbathing once the weather is no longer frosty.
Succulents spend the winter somewhere.
Making sure succulents receive adequate sunshine indoors, especially during the winter, is one of the most challenging aspects of indoor succulent gardening.
Your succulents should be placed next to the room’s brightest window. The ideal window will receive all-day, brilliant indirect light.
This is crucial because the days are shorter in the winter. To retain their shape inside, succulents require at least 8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day.
Your succulents may start to spread out or lean toward the window during the winter months when there are a lot of gray or cloudy days. They aren’t getting enough light, as evidenced by this.
You can rotate your succulents in this situation to help correct any leaning. However, you will need to supplement with a grow light to avoid stretching.
Make sure the lights aren’t on all the time because succulents require darkness at night to complete their normal growth cycle.
At the conclusion of the winter, you can take off the tops and propagate any succulents that do start to stretch out or get tall and lanky. After that, you’ll have an abundance of summertime plants!
This is best done in the spring because most succulents don’t grow as quickly throughout the winter. Check out my post on extending succulents for more information on how to achieve this.
How frequently ought one to water succulents?
During the months that are not winter, when the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should water your succulents every other week. You should only water your succulent once a month in the winter (when the temperature falls below 40 degrees), as it goes dormant at this period.
A few situations constitute an exception to this rule. Because their tiny leaves can’t hold as much water as other varieties with larger leaves, some varieties of succulents need to be watered more frequently. In the non-winter months, feel free to give these small leaf succulents a water if they appear to be thirsty. When they are thirsty, succulents generally exhibit a wrinkled appearance. But always keep in mind that being underwater is preferable to being overwater.