Succulents are capable of storing large amounts of water in their leaves because many of them originally come from hot and dry environments. The reservoir in the leaves allows them to survive despite the weather and the scarcity of water resources. Because of this adaptation, succulents are probably the lowest maintenance plants you could find.
If you plan to grow them in your garden, you just need to water them maybe once a week (depending on the conditions) and ensure they receive plenty of sunlight. If you don’t know what plants to include in your roster, here are the best succulents for full hot sun.
Best Succulents for Full Hot Sun
Succulents showcase the most vibrant colors that will improve the look of your garden. You can try mixing and matching the following plants for a more visually appealing collection.
Agave
The first succulent we suggest you take care of is the agave or agave Americana. It’s one of the most common succulents, with a similar shape to aloe vera. The main difference between the two is that the agave grows larger and produces more leaves.
Additionally, you will see a development of yellow or white flowers when the agave blooms. However, you may need to cut the bloom from the stalk, or the agave succulent will grow into a tall plant that resembles a tree.
Aloe Vera
This list will not be complete without the mention of aloe vera. It is arguably the most popular succulent right now because of its practical applications and low maintenance requirements.
While this list may be about succulents that grow under full hot sun, the aloe vera will do just fine even in low-light settings. Another advantage of this succulent is that it can grow and repair its leaves after you cut it. However, what really makes the aloe vera a great addition to your garden is that it serves numerous medicinal purposes.
Euphorbia Tirucalli
If you’re more for beauty than practicality, allow us to introduce you to the euphorbia tirucalli. This succulent is better known as the pencil tree plant or fire stick plant.
As its name suggests, it has multiple thin stems that resemble a pencil or a stick, making the entire plant visually similar to a sea coral. The stems turn into a red-orange color during cold weather. Then, they gradually switch to golden yellow during the summer.
The euphorbia tiruacalli doesn’t need too much maintenance. You just need to ensure that the soil is always dry and that the plant gets plenty of direct sunlight. Also, keep in mind that the leaves of a euphorbia tirucalli are pretty fragile and eventually detach themselves from the plant.
Aeoniums
Did you know that you can have what looks like a flower garden without worrying about maintenance? That’s what aeoniums are great for.
This succulent only needs to be watered once a week because it’s drought resistant. You just have to ensure that they receive plenty of sun exposure, and that you always drain the soil.
Aeoniums have short to medium stems and produce rosette-shaped leaves. The center of the leaves produces flowers of varying colors, the most common being yellow. Lastly, you’ll notice that the entire appearance of this succulent resembles a blooming flower.
Senecio Mandraliscae
If you want another sea coral-looking plant in your garden, be sure to include the Senecio mandraliscae in your list. This succulent is also called blue chalk sticks because of the way its leaves grow.
The thin leaves are shaped like a pencil and grow vertically. Also, its leaves are bluish-gray but turn white during summer.
Unlike some of the succulents in this list, the Senecio mandraliscae can reach up to two feet. Nonetheless, it’s also low maintenance and drought-resistant.
You have to be extra careful with them during the winter because the cold weather may freeze its leaves. They cannot tolerate cold temperatures, and they die easily when they frost.
Sedum
Sedum, also known as stonecrops, thrive in dry and hot environments. One thing you need to know about this succulent is that there’s a wide variety of options to choose from.
Some sedums are short, while others are tall. Additionally, the flowers they produce also differ in color, with some being pink and others white.
What they probably have in common with most succulents is that they grow thick and fleshy leaves. However, they require extra maintenance, such as regular watering, especially when they haven’t fully matured yet.
Sempervivum
Not all of us plan to grow a garden. Some just want to have a few plants by the window or on a desk where sunlight can reach.
If you belong to this group, smaller succulents are perfect for you, like the sempervivum. This plant produces rosette-shaped leaves. The pointed tip of these leaves brings out a different color, usually red.
The best thing about this succulent is you can place them on your desk or other tight spaces because they’re small. Even though they don’t grow taller than five inches, they require constant watering, except in winter.
Opuntia
If you plan to include opuntia in your list, make sure that you’re careful with it. It is not because they are fragile or die easily, but because you might hurt yourself.
The opuntia is also known as prickly pear cactus, which means it grows spikes in different parts of its leaves and body. However, the so-called “leaves” of this plant are technically nopals or pads.
While the opuntia may not be as beautiful as the other succulents here, it is still quite useful. Edible fruits grow at the edge of the pads, which are rich in fiber and antioxidants.
Night Blooming Cereus
Ironically, the night-blooming cereus thrives under the sunlight but produces flowers during cold nights, hence the name. There are four different types of night-blooming cereus, but all of them are desert cactuses. For this reason, you will find that they grow well in warm temperatures and under direct sun exposure.
Also, the flowers they produce are quite large and exudes an extraordinary fragrance. However, you need to make sure that you always drain the soil. Otherwise, they might die early.
Pachyphytum
If you wish to include another low-maintenance plant in your list, you may want to learn more about this next succulent. Some pachyphytum produces bean-shaped leaves, while others are pointed and rosette-shaped.
The bean-shaped leaves of the pachyphytum are sometimes ash-gray, which is why you can easily mistake them for pebbles. On the other hand, the rosette-shaped pachyphytum leaves range from vibrant to ash-green.
In caring for this succulent, make sure you water it regularly when it hasn’t fully matured yet. Also, it will grow best when exposed to full sun. While it can tolerate cold weather, leaving it in freezing temperatures for long periods is not advisable.
Ocotillo
For green thumbs with plenty of space at home, the ocotillo makes for a wonderful addition to your collection. This semi-succulent enjoys constant exposure to the sun and can thrive in hot environments.
The leaves of the ocotillo do not last long, though, as they detach themselves as soon as they grow out of the stem. Even so, it’s still a beautiful plant because of the red flowers it produces at the top of the stems. This succulent can reach a staggering height of 25 feet despite not needing constant maintenance.
Echeveria Macdougallii
The echeveria macdougallii is commonly a green succulent, but other variations produce pink, purple, or red leaves. Some of these produce fully-colored leaves, while others only show the colors at the tip. While this succulent starts small, it can reach a height of about 12 inches when it matures.
Additionally, fully grown echeveria macdougalliis produce yellow flowers that make them more vibrant. However, you will want to make sure that you let the soil dry out in between waterings. Overwatering sometimes leads to moist soil and leaves.
Because of this succulent’s fleshy leaves and vibrant colors, it is quite attractive to pests and insects. If you wish to repot an echeveria macdougallii, make sure that the soil you use on the new pot is moist. Otherwise, it may not adapt to the new environment quickly enough to survive the move.
Moroccan Mound
If you wish to add medium-sized plants to your collection, be sure to check out the Moroccan mound. This succulent grows from 12 to 24 inches and is fairly easy to maintain.
Pretty much like the other succulents in this list, you just need to ensure that the soil is always drained. Plus, leaving them under direct sunlight will also help them grow.
The Moroccan mound has tubular stems. Also, the edge of each side has spines from which numerous thorns protrude, so you may want to be careful when handling them.
Growing Sun-Loving Succulents
Who would have ever thought you can grow an entire garden without getting exhausted every day? With low-maintenance succulents, that’s certainly possible. Just be sure to place them under direct sunlight and be mindful of how often you water them.
Excessive watering may cause them to rot, while too frequent will wither the plant. Now that you know what the best succulents for full hot sun are, the only thing left to do is to know where to get them.