- Adenium.
- Aloinopsis.
- Agave.
- Ceropegia.
- Echeveria.
- Echinocactus.
- Euphorbia.
- Ferocactus.
What succulents are winter-hardy?
Even though we all adore our delicate succulents, I want to share with you some of the best cold-tolerant succulents that may be produced. I’m not simply talking about plants that won’t perish in the cold; I’m talking about plants that actually flourish even in harsh winter climates. Each plant had to be hardy at least to zone 5, (-15F / -26 C), a star performer all year long, and have excellent form to make my list of the top 10 winter succulents. They are a vibrant group with blooms that draw and sustain the neighborhood pollinators.
Top 10 Cold Hardy Succulents
Please be aware that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and buy something, I may receive a small commission. You will incur zero costs as a result of this commission. I only endorse services and businesses that I have used and genuinely adore!
Cold Hardy Sempervivum
The gorgeous sempervivum will be at the top of any list of cold-tolerant succulents. These succulent rosette-forming plants, sometimes known as hens and chicks, have a large number of progeny. These winter succulents grow in lovely, dense mats of huge rosettes (referred to as “hens”) surrounded by numerous smaller ones (referred to as “chicks”) in a rainbow of hues. In reaction to environmental pressures throughout the year, they open their form, close it, and change their level of pigmentation. Excellent for use in rock gardens. The monocarpic blooms of the Sempervivum are very alluring to butterflies. Despite some Sempervivum varietals, this Sempervivum Royanum is hardy to zone 5 (-15F / -26 C).
Winter Succulent Stonecrop Sedums
Some of the best and most vibrant winter succulents can be found among the hundreds of sedum species. We call them stonecrop sedums. These robust, carefree plants thrive in pots, rock gardens, and garden beds and can reach heights of a few inches to a few feet. Sedum stonecrop flowers profusely, luring bees and butterflies. This Sedum Angelina grows delicate, needle-like foliage with hues ranging from chartreuse to gold with rose flush. Angelina is a cold-tolerant succulent that grows to a maximum height of just 5 inches in zone 3 (-45F / -40C).
Winter Hardy Agave
All agave plants add beauty and sculpture to the yard. But unlike Agave parryi, often known as Parry’s century plant, most plants cannot survive the cold and continue to grow. Agave parryi grows as majestic, silver rosettes with serrated leaves and is hardy to zone 5 (-15F / -26 C). In 12–15 years, enormous, towering blooms form, attracting all hummingbirds and astounded the neighbors. Before blossoming, the mother plant had given birth to a number of offspring before dying.
Cobweb Sempervivum Arachnoideum Winter Succulent
The sempervivum arachnoideum is a fascinating species of winter succulent. These semps, like all other semps, can withstand temperatures as low as zone 5 (-15F/-26C), making them cold-hardy succulents. However, these cobweb sempervivums produce a large number of noticeable trichomes, or hair-like filaments, that crisscross all of the rosette’s leaves and give the impression of a spider web. These hairs in sempervivum serve as adaptations to the challenging environment they live in. The leaves are prevented from drying out by the trichomes, which disrupt the airflow surrounding them. They gather dew to provide the plant with more moisture and stop ice crystals from growing directly on the surface of the leaf. A striking and resilient succulent.
Winter Succulent Delosperma
Winter succulent Delosperma, often known as ice plant, is highly well-liked in commercial plantings. It is a succulent ground cover that requires incredibly little maintenance and produces blankets of brilliant blooms that swarm with butterflies and bees. Additionally, Delosperma cooperi has a lovely trailing habit that spills out of pots, hangs from trees, or weaves across rock gardens. Zone 5 (-15 F / -26 C) hardy
Border Stonecrop Sedums
The outstanding stonecrop sedum Sedum Autumn Joy is another one. It can reach a height of 24 inches and thrives in perennial borders, where its long-lasting flowers provide the gardener with a cherished source of color and nectar for butterflies from summer to fall. Depending on the weather, the stunning show ranges from pale pink to brilliant crimson. Long throughout the winter, dried flowers retain their color. The hardiness zone for Sedum Autumn Joy is 5 (-15F / -26C).
Cold Hardy Succulent Cactus
Some prickly pear cactus species can withstand freezing temperatures. Because of Opuntia Pinta Rita’s unique colors, I decided to share it. When under slight stress, the gorgeous blue leaf pads blush a deep amethyst purple/magenta color. Gorgeous lemon yellow blooms are abundant, long-lasting, and very hummingbird-attractive from spring through fall. The zone 4 (-30F/-34C) cold hardiness range for Opuntia Pinta Rita.
Cold Hardy Jovibarba / Sempervivum Heuffelii
Sempervivum heuffelii resembles the traditional hens and chicks in form and behavior and is categorized as either a subset of the genus sempervivum or as a separate genus, Jovibarba, depending on the situation. The rosettes often have deep hues that don’t intensify or fade with the seasons but remain vibrant throughout the year. Instead than creating offsets Sempervivum heuffelii produces baby rosettes in between the leaves of the mother plant, giving the plant a fascinating appearance. Succulent offsets are the young succulents that grow at the base of the rosettes. All of these succulents are great winter performers. Excellent variety Sempervivum heuffelii Bros is hardy to zone 4 (-30F/-34C).
Winter Succulent Orostachys
Orostachys is a charming winter succulent that ought to be planted more frequently. Echeveria-like rosettes in green or silver are cold hardy to zone 5 (-15F/-26C). Orostachys iwarenge grows in low mats of rosettes that quickly enlarge into conical shapes that grow up to six feet tall and have a pink blush. Honey bees are drawn to the opening of frothy pink and white blossoms in the late summer. ideal for pots and rock gardens.
Stonecrop Sedum Winter Succulents
It was difficult to limit our list of the 10 best succulents for cold climates to just 10. The forms and colors are amazing! However, I couldn’t leave out the stonecrop known as Fireglow, Sedum Fuldaglut. Bronze-green leaves in full sun turn coppery in the fall before becoming deep maroon. Pink starry blossoms in the late summer are a favorite of bees and butterflies. This stonecrop sedum only reaches a height of 5 and can withstand temperatures as low as -30F (-34C) in zone 4. a powerful performer perfect for pots and rock gardens.
Here are my picks for the top 10 succulents for your winter garden. Each is a superb garden plant that is also really easy to grow. Please leave a comment if you have any queries or if you wish to suggest another excellent cold-hardy succulent! I adore your correspondence!
P.S. Be sure to subscribe for additional advice on caring for succulents! My free e-course, 7 Steps to Succulent Success, will be sent to you!
Do succulents grow during the winter?
The type of succulent you have will determine how to care for it in the fall and winter. They are, on the whole, a group that is simple to develop. If you provide them some sand, some water, and sunlight, they will repay you with beautiful shapes, cleaner air, and comforting company. But it helps to know how to handle a variety of these delicate guests and make them feel completely at home, whether you’re welcoming them inside over the winter or prolonging their stay as houseplants!
Know Your Succulents
With over 6,000 distinct varieties of succulents in 60 different plant families, it’s critical to understand which particular succulent you are taking care of. Knowing if your succulents are indoor growers or cold hardy succulents is important when talking about winter. The majority are from distant, scorching desert locations, but we do have a few that can withstand our zone 5 temperature. Some varieties of Sedums and Sempervivums, among others, may weather the harsh winters in the Chicago area, but many traditional succulents, such as Aloe Vera, Jade Plants, Panda Plants, and Christmas Cactus, must be kept warm and sheltered indoors.
Bringing Succulents Indoors
Before it gets below freezing, you must bring all of your sensitive, non-cold-hardy succulents indoors. Check for bugs and get rid of any ants, spiders, or other small creatures you find if you’re keeping them in the same pot. Additionally, remove any debris from the soil’s surface, such as dead leaves and twigs. Over the winter, you should offer your succulents a clean place to dwell and keep them away from any rotting objects.
Fall and Winter Maintenance
Succulents typically grow in dry, arid areas. They can store water for a long time thanks to their hefty, luscious leaves. This distinguishing characteristic lends them their distinct beauty, but properly caring for them still necessitates a few skills.
Repotting: You might want to do this if you’re bringing your succulents indoors. They could possibly use some fresh soil or a smaller container that will fit next to your window. Sandy, well-draining soil will help these desert plants flourish. Choose a particular succulent or cactus mix instead of a potting mixture that maintains moisture. Give them a container with lots of drainage holes, and take special care not to hurt their fragile roots when moving them.
Sunlight: Succulents are native to a variety of locations worldwide. Many originated in dry, fully-lit locations, while others developed in the cover of a jungle canopy. Find out whether your plants like direct or indirect sunlight by speaking with the gardening specialists at our garden centers or researching them online. Check on your guests sometimes to make sure they are not becoming sunburned because glass can sometimes enhance the strength of the sunshine. However, if you notice them slanting toward the window, it can indicate that they aren’t getting enough light.
Water: Many overzealous plant enthusiasts drown their succulents here. They are unaware that maintaining their dryness is just as crucial as moistening them. Between waterings, the top inch of the soil should be absolutely dry. When you do water them, give them a drenching similar to a desert downpour before cutting them off until their next need. Keep in mind that you should water the soil and not the leaves, which could decay. If the foliage is mushy, discolored, or squishy, you’re providing them with too many refreshments.
Navigating Winter Dormancy
Succulents spend a portion of the year inactive, like the majority of plants. This is a component of their coping strategy during a tough or dry season. Some plants hibernate over the winter, including your hardy sedums, agave plants, and pincushion cacti. They need considerably less water at this time. Frequently, watering once every two weeks is adequate.
Since many of them are native to the desert, they really hibernate during the hot, dry summers. Popular varieties of summer-dormant succulents include Kalanchoe, Aloe Vera, Snake Plants, Haworthia, and Jade Plants. It follows that the fall and winter are when they genuinely awaken and grow. In other words, they will only require low-normal watering levels. Discovering your plants’ dormancy schedule will help you take better care of them.
Live succulent plants have the beauty of requiring minimal upkeep for the most part. All they want for is soil with good drainage, sporadic moisture, adequate dry spells, and adequate sunlight. These simple conditions must be fulfilled for these gems to not only survive the fall and winter, but even thrive and grow—or, depending on the species, contentedly rest until the following spring!
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.
We may receive a commission when you buy something after clicking on one of our links, at no additional cost to you. This enables us to offer you free content.
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!