11 Red Succulents That You Should Know About

Maybe you’ve only got a few green or brown varieties of succulents, but these unusual plants come in a variety of different colors and textures.

Red succulents are a fine choice as they make your garden look so much brighter and more striking. There are many types of red succulents you should know about that can give your entire garden a makeover.

Are red succulents easy to look after?

You might love your green succulents, but red succulents are just like other succulents in that they tend to be easy to look after and many are resistant to harsh weather conditions, such as frost.

Some succulents actually turn red when the weather takes a turn, but you can find succulents that are brighter and bolder naturally. With that in mind, here are 11 red succulents you might want to purchase.

Sempervivum Heuffelii “Chocolate Sundae”

The nickname of this red succulent is intriguing – it’s often called “Chocolate Sundae,” which refers to how the succulent has a fiery red color on the tips of its leaves while the rest of the leaves are green.

Sometimes the red color becomes darker, almost brown. The plant doesn’t grow taller than about three inches, so it’s great for small areas in the garden that need a burst of color. It’s also very resistant to frost which makes it easy to maintain.

Echeveria Agavoides “Lipstick”

This is a succulent that’s got beautiful teardrop-shaped leaves that have bright red edges and tips. Echeveria Agavoides can become as large as four inches in height as well as 12 inches in diameter.

During the warmer months, this succulent gives bloom to red flowers, making it even brighter. It can fare well in full sun or dappled shade, and it’s a low-maintenance plant.

Crassula Capitella “Campfire”

This is an interesting red succulent that hails from South Africa. It has long stems that are covered in red stacked leaves, making its color look like a campfire. At their tips, the leaves turn yellowish-green.

The shape of these red succulents means that you can put them around the garden to be used as ground cover, or you can really show off their interesting shape and color by placing them in hanging containers on your balcony or patio.

You can expect the stems of the Crassula Capitella to grow to about eight inches in length.

Sempervivum “Hen and Chicks”

When you first look at this red succulent, you’ll probably notice that it looks a bit like a protea flower, thanks to how it has beautiful red rosettes that have green tips.

The Sempervivum, also known as the “Red Lion” at times, is a striking succulent that you’ll be pleased to know is really easy to grow.

You can put it in a pot and enjoy it indoors if you don’t have a garden. However, if you do wish to plant it outside, it’ll fare well in harsh conditions such as frost. 

Kalanchoe Luciae “Desert Cabbage”

This succulent has fleshy, round leaves. Its larger leaves are bright red and when it blooms it displays gorgeous yellow flowers. You can expect these to show up in early spring and later in winter.

This succulent grows to a height of between six and 24 inches. Whether you put the Desert Cabbage in your home or garden, it’s sure to brighten up your day, and that’s especially perfect if the winter months get you down.

Euphorbia Tirucalli “Sticks On Fire”

This succulent is called “Sticks on Fire” because it has thin stems that look like sticks and they grow in shades of coral and red.

Taken as a whole, the Euphorbia Tirucalli resembles the texture of coral from the sea, so it’s sure to become a statement piece in your home.

It grows to between 48 and 96 inches, so it’s much larger than other red succulents we’ve already featured. It also blossoms in yellow flowers.

However, if you love its red color, it’s worth bearing in mind that it fades a bit during warmer weather during which it might become a bit more yellow. Still, it’s a vibrant, striking plant to own.

Aloe “Christmas Sleigh”

If you love aloes and you want pretty flowers in your garden that have a festive touch even when it’s not Christmas, you’ll love the Aloe Christmas succulent.

This plant is a dark green aloe that has bright red thorns which appear along the edges of its leaves as well as along their flesh.

The Aloe Christmas Sleigh is a small plant that can grow up to 12 inches high and six inches in width. It’s not just a vibrant plant to have in your garden – it will also attract hummingbirds and has pinkish-red blossoms.

Euphorbia Trigona “Cathedral Cactus”

If you have an area in your garden that you want to bring color and complexity to, you’ll love the Euphorbia Trigona. This succulent originates from Central Africa and has long stems that come in green, yellow, and deep burgundy colors.

What’s so fascinating about it is that each stem has three sides and is wrapped in reddish-green leaves, which give it a unique appearance. It’s a tall plant, reaching heights of up to six feet tall.

However, it’s not resistant to frost and while it requires lots of sunshine it can be burned by harsh, direct sunlight, so those are two factors to consider before planting it.  

Sedum Rubrotinctum “Jellybean Plant”

Why is this succulent called the “jellybean” plant, you ask?

It has leaves that look like jellybeans in both shape and texture, and these are red and green in color.

These playful plants love to have lots of light, and they can thrive both indoors and outdoors, provided that they have a well-draining potting mix.

If you live in a region that’s prone to having harsh winter weather, it’s a good idea to keep your jellybean plant in containers so that you can move them inside the home when the weather becomes frigid.

Kalanchoe Tomentosa “Panda Plant”

Kalanchoe plants are native to Madagascar.

This particular Kalanchoe plant has furry, small leaves that have reddish-brown markings on their edges.

This is what has resulted in its name, although it’s sometimes also called “Cat’s Ears.”

Although it doesn’t have a lot of red color on it, this plant’s striking design will turn any boring spots in your garden into more visually interesting ones.

The Panda Plant can grow up to 12 inches tall and between 24 and 36 inches wide.

Just bear in mind it doesn’t bloom as often as other types of succulents, but when it does it has yellowish-green flowers with brown tips.

The flowers aren’t what’s striking about this plant, though, as its unusual markings are a head-turner.

Aeonium Arboreum “Zwartkop” or “Black Rose”  

If you love darker red hues, such as burgundy, you’ll love the Zwartkop. It’s sometimes called “Black Rose” because its leaves are so dark and they form rosettes that look like roses.

During the wintertime, the Zwartkop has yellow flowers that come on display, making it particularly striking when used as a plant to create borders in the garden.

Just make sure you keep it in a sunny, sheltered place as it requires moderate temperature to thrive. It’s such a statement succulent that you’ll love to have it in the most noticeable areas of your garden or home.

Related Questions

Can you make your succulents become pink or red?

When you give succulent plants at least six hours of bright sunshine a day, this causes them to put their bright colors on display.

So, when you keep your red succulents indoors, make sure that they’re placed in an area by the window where they’ll soak up a lot of sun every day.

Do you need to give succulents fertilizer?

A well-balanced fertilizer should only be given to them once a month during their growing season to keep them healthy.

Find out if your succulent grows during the summer or winter, as different succulents will have different growing seasons.

Conclusion

You might be familiar with green succulents, but there’s a world of red succulents that is worth exploring!

By infusing your indoor or outdoor garden with red succulents such as those we’ve featured in this article, you’ll add beautiful color and intriguing elements to your home garden design without having to do a lot to keep your succulents looking healthy and beautiful!