Types of Echeveria Succulents: 10 Popular Varieties to Grow at Home

Written by Nikita Ross
Updated: September 25, 2023
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Echeverias are a well-known and loved succulent native to Central and South America. They’re known for their easy temperament, eclectic colors, and eye-catching rosettes. These reliable, drought-resistant succulents are a favorite among beginner and seasoned gardeners.

These succulents are a member of the Crassulaceae family with over 150 species. However, there are a few common Echeveria succulents preferred for indoor pots and home gardens in warm climates. This article will cover some of the best types of Echeveria succulents for your home.

1. Echeveria agavoides

Sometimes called the ‘Lipstick’ echeveria or the molded wax agave, this fast-growing succulent is an excellent choice for beginners. Its triangular leaves are typically light green with a red, blushing edge. Despite the name, this Echeveria is not an agave. The Latin term agavoides means “resembling an agave.” 

While the red edge makes this plant beautiful, it actually means your succulent is stressed out. On the bright side, this communicative plant makes it easy for beginners to know when something is wrong. 

Echeveria agavoides does best in full sun and well-draining soil with infrequent watering, allowing the soil to dry completely between soakings. While this succulent doesn’t do well with leaf propagation, it does create offshoots when well cared for.

Echeveria agavoides, the molded-wax agave
Echeveria agavoides

, the molded-wax agave has triangular leaves that are typically light green with a red, blushing edge.

©iStock.com/AttilaBarsan

2. Echeveria elegans

Sometimes called the Mexican snowball or hen and chicks, the Echeveria elegans is one of the most recognizable and beloved Echeveria succulents. Its spoon-shaped leaves are light green with silver hues that often take on a blue tint. This often leads to confusion between the Echeveria elegans and Echeveria imbricata.

Echeveria elegans is low maintenance as long as it has ample sunlight when grown indoors. Without enough sunlight, it will become leggy and grow a stalk. This feature also leads to confusion with some aeonium varietals — particularly the housetree leek.

Place Echeveria elegans in full sun and well-draining soil. Water infrequently, allowing the soil to dry completely. You can quickly propagate Echeveria elegans with leaf cuttings and also produces offshoots.

Mexican snowball succulent (Echeveria elegans)

Mexican snowball succulent (

Echeveria elegans

) has spoon-shaped leaves that are light green with silver hues often taking on a blue tint.

©Prodromos_1/Shutterstock.com

3. Echeveria imbricata

Echeveria imbricata is very similar in size, shape, and tone to Echeveria elegans. However, the leaves tend to be more of a pronounced blue with tones of light green, pink, or soft purple around the edges. 

Like the Echeveria elegans, this succulent thrives in full sun and becomes leggy without sufficient light. Fortunately, the stem can be cut and propagated to return to the compact rosette look that succulent lovers live for. Like many succulents, the Echeveria imbricata is winter dormant — stem cuttings should be delayed until their early active period in the spring. 

Place Echeveria imbricata in full sun and well-draining soil. Water infrequently, allowing the soil to dry completely. You can propagate Echeveria elegans with leaf cuttings. It also produces offshoots.

Echeveria imbricata succulent
Echeveria imbricata

leaves tend to be bluish with tones of light green, pink, or soft purple around the edges. 

©iStock.com/JJ van Ginkel

4. Echeveria nodulosa

Known as the painted echeveria, this Echeveria succulent stands out from the others on this list. With silvery green foliage accented by lovely red stripes, this succulent is reminiscent of the Tradescantia zebrina

Unlike other echeverias, these rosettes are meant to grow on a long stem similar to aeoniums. These stunning succulents could reach up to two feet tall in ideal outdoor conditions. It will also bloom with delicate pink flowers in the summer.

Another key difference with the Echeveria nodulosa is its preference for a mix of full sun and partial shade. It enjoys being in the morning and evening sun while being protected from the harsh overhead sun during the summer months. Plant in well-draining soil, allowing it to dry completely between waterings.

Echeveria nodulosa, painted echeveria succulent
Echeveria nodulosa

, also known as the painted echeveria, has silvery green foliage accented by lovely red stripes.

©Linda Harms/Shutterstock.com

5. Echeveria setosa

Often called the Mexican firecracker, the Echeveria setosa is unique and whimsical. It’s similar in shape and appearance to other echeverias on this list, with one notable difference: its spoon-shaped leaves are covered in fine hairs.

Echeveria setosa offshoots grow in a dense, compact pattern, making them ideal for creating a rock garden or terrarium. These succulents are also great partner plants in outdoor gardens in USDA Zones 9-12, as the hairs deter deer and other pests. 

The Mexican firecracker enjoys partial or full sun, well-draining soil, and infrequent watering. You can propagate this succulent with leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or by separating offshoots.

Echeveria setosa, Mexican firecracker succulent

The Mexican firecracker (

Echeveria setosa

) has spoon-shaped leaves covered in fine hairs.

©Danica Jakovljevic/Shutterstock.com

6. Echeveria subrigida

Echeveria subrigida is another showstopper — especially the ‘Fire and Ice’ cultivar. This Echeveria succulent has pointed leaves, similar to the Echeveria agavoides. However, the growth pattern is reminiscent of a rose, unfurling around the center bud. 

The leaves are soft green with a delicate pink border, similar to the ‘Lipstick’ echeveria. The ‘Fire and Ice’ cultivar boasts frosty blue leaves for a stunning contrast that looks great as a standalone succulent or a part of a larger arrangement.

Echeveria subrigida follows the same care needs as other Echeveria succulents but is less forgiving. Place in full to partial sun in well-draining soil, watering infrequently. Be quick to add fungicide to leaf damage, remove old leaves, and treat pests.

Echeveria subrigida succulent

The succulent

Echeveria subrigida

has soft green leaves with a delicate pink border.

©FarOutFlora, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons – License

7. Echeveria pulvinata

Colloquially called the chenille plant, the Echeveria pulvinata has plump, rounded leaves with pointy edges. The leaves are typically a shade of silvery green with a subtle pink to red colored border. The chenille plant gets its moniker from the soft fuzz covering the leaves, which gives it a muted tone and protects it from water loss during droughts.

The Echeveria pulvinata is often confused with the Echeveria harmsii, which has a similar structure and coloration but shorter, narrower leaves. The border tends to be darker on the Echeveria harmsii compared to the Echeveria pulvinata

This stemmed succulent grows up to one foot tall and blossoms with orange blooms along the stalk in the spring. This Echeveria succulent prefers full sun to partial shade for coverage during peak sunlight hours.

The Echeveria pulvinata does best outside in USDA Zones 9-10, but it will work as an indoor plant with proper care. Let loose soil dry completely between waterings and propagate through stem or leaf cuttings. 

Echeveria pulvinata succulent flowering
Echeveria pulvinata

succulent grows up to one foot tall and produces orange blooms along the stalk in the spring.

©Michael Eaton/Shutterstock.com

8. Echeveria harmsii

Often called the plush plant, Echeveria harmsii is very similar to the chenille plant. This Echeveria has plump, narrow leaves with pointy edges. The leaves are typically a shade of grassy green with a deep red border and soft velvet covering.

In ideal conditions, the Echeveria harmsii grows stalks of orange to red flowers. It prefers full sun, well-draining soil, and infrequent watering. Propagate with leaf cuttings or stem cuttings.

VELVETY SURFACE OF RED AND GREEN PLUSH PLANT SUCCULENT LEAF

The succulent

Echeveria harmsii

, also called the plush plant, has plump, narrow leaves with pointy edges and a soft velvet covering.

©BlueSnap/Shutterstock.com

9. Echeveria laui

The Echeveria laui is deemed one of the most beautiful Echeveria succulents. Its leaves are plump with a soft blue-gray color. This unique succulent grows stems from the base rosette and sprouts into new, red-gray rosettes and stunning orange flowers.

The Echeveria laui is rare and hard to find but worth the effort for true collectors and succulent enthusiasts. These are slow-growing Echeveria and may take years to grow secondary rosettes, if at all. Bugs and pests also love this beautiful plant, so constant vigilance is required.

Unlike other echeverias, this species doesn’t do well with leaf or stem cuttings and rarely develops offshoots. While propagating leaf cuttings is possible, it’s not common. Instead, look for succulent seeds or transplants to add the Echeveria laui to your collection.

Echeveria laui succulent

The blue-gray

Echeveria laui

is a slow growing succulent with plump leaves.

©Svetlanko/Shutterstock.com

10. Echeveria purpusorum

Echeveria purpusorum is another slow-growing Echeveria succulent. However, it practically thrives with neglect, making it an ideal choice for beginners. Its pointed leaves are similar to that of the Echeveria agavoides, but the leaves are dark red, green, and brown — depending on its level of sun exposure. 

The Echeveria purpusorum sprouts a long stem with red-orange flowers. However, it can take years of proper care and ideal conditions for the Echeveria purpusorum to bloom.

This Echeveria succulent prefers partial sun and partial shade rather than direct sunlight. Set it in a North or West facing window for best results. Water infrequently, allowing the soil to dry completely in between. Leaf propagation is the best method for this succulent, though it can take longer than other varieties. Be patient, and wait 6-8 weeks.

Echeveria purpusorum succulent
Echeveria purpusorum

is a low-maintenance succulent with dark red, green, and brown leaves.

©hilmawan nurhatmadi/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Furiarossa/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Nikita Ross is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering plants, gardening, and yard care. Nikita has been writing for over seven years and holds a Marketing diploma from NSCC, which she earned in 2010. A resident of Canada, Nikita enjoys reading in her library, epic beach naps, and waiting for her Coffea arabica plant to produce coffee beans (no luck yet).

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