Plant Families: Crassulaceae

Browse plants in the Crassulaceae family, below.

Aeonium

Tree houseleek, Aeonium, is a genus of tender, succulent plants largely native to the Canary Islands. They form a perfect rosette of spoon-shaped leaves on long, corky stems. The cultivar 'Zwartkop' is particularly attractive, as its fresh green leaves turn almost black in summer. While they grow well outdoors in the growing season, they need moving indoors for winter.

Echeveria

Echeveria is a genus of drought-tolerant plants, native to Central America, Mexico and South America. There are many species, some of which are grown in temperate regions as houseplants. They have fleshy, succulent leaves that come in a range of colours and shapes. They’re incredibly easy to grow and, like many genera in the Crassulaceae family, you can propagate new plants from a single leaf.

Crassula

Crassula is a diverse genus of succulent plants, with fleshy leaves coming in a number of shapes and sizes. A few species, such as Crassula x rupestris f. marnieriana ‘Hottentot’, pictured, have a trailing habit. Most species are tender and are therefore best suited to growing indoors, although some can be grown outside in summer.

Kalanchoe

There are over 100 species in the Kalanchoe genus, comprising tropical, succulent plants native to Madagascar and tropical regions of Africa. One of the most commonly grown kalanchoes is flaming Katy, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, which has broad, fleshy leaves and bright red flowers.

Sempervivum

Houseleeks, Sempervivum, form rosettes of succulent, spoon-shaped leaves, from which tall stems of monocarpic flowers appear in summer. Each rosette comprises a single plant, which dies after flowering but produces offsets, which can be separated and planted up.

Pachyphytum

Pachyphytum is a small genus of plants with particularly thick, fleshy leaves (‘pachys’, means ‘thick’), that come in a range of different colours. Some species, such as Pachyphytum bracteosum, are suited to growing in gravel gardens in a sunny, sheltered site, while others are grown as houseplants.

Sedum

Sedum is a large genus of succulent plants, or stonecrops, many of which are native to the Northern hemisphere and are hardy. Some species have recently been moved into the genus Hylotelephium. Sedum 'Blue Carpet' bears blue-green foliage with white-pink flowers in summer. It’s perfect for growing in dry situations and rock gardens.