Succulent Identification Chart: 11 Common Genera at a Glance

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You picked up a cute succulent at the store, but what genus is it? Most succulents are sold with vague labels like "assorted succulent" or just a color name. Knowing the genus tells you whether it can survive frost, whether it is safe around pets, and what care routine it actually needs. The chart below compares 11 common succulent genera side by side so you can identify yours by the features you can see from across the room.

Succulent Identification Chart

Match your plant against the columns below. Leaf shape and growth habit narrow it down fastest; the lookalikes column helps rule out close relatives.

* "Hen and Chicks" is used for both Echeveria and Sempervivum. Sempervivum is the frost-hardy outdoor species. Sedum toxicity varies by species; check ASPCA for the exact species before placing it near pets.

The Most Common Succulent Genera

Echeveria

The quintessential succulent rosette. Echeverias are probably what you picture when someone says "succulent."

• Leaf shape: Thick, spoon-shaped leaves forming a symmetrical rosette
• Texture: Often covered in a powdery coating (farina) that gives them a pastel appearance
• Colors: Blue-green, pink, purple, gray, lavender; some of the most colorful succulents available
• Size: 2 inches to 12+ inches in diameter
• Key feature: Smooth, plump leaves; rosettes sit on short stems
• Hardiness: Not frost-hardy; grow indoors in most climates

Popular species: E. elegans (Mexican Snowball), E. 'Lola', E. 'Perle von Nurnberg' (purple), E. agavoides (Lipstick Echeveria).

Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks)

Often confused with Echeveria, but Sempervivums are cold-hardy outdoor succulents.

• Leaf shape: Thinner, more pointed leaves in very tight rosettes
• Offsets: Produces "chicks" (baby rosettes) connected by stolons, which are little runners from the mother plant
• Colors: Green, red, purple, bronze, often with colored tips
• Key feature: Extremely cold-hardy (survives -30 F). Fine hairs or "cobwebs" on some varieties
• Hardiness: Frost-hardy; great for outdoor rock gardens

Echeveria vs. Sempervivum: Echeveria has thicker, smoother leaves and is not frost-hardy. Sempervivum has thinner, pointier leaves, produces offsets on stolons, and survives extreme cold.

Haworthia

Small, compact succulents perfect for windowsills and desks.

• Leaf shape: Thick, pointed leaves often with translucent "windows" at the tips
• Texture: Many species have white raised bumps (tubercles) giving a striped or spotted appearance
• Size: Mostly small; 2-5 inches across
• Key feature: The translucent leaf tips and white bands/bumps are distinctive. No other common succulent genus has this combination
• Pet safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Popular species: H. fasciata (Zebra Plant), H. cooperi (transparent tips), H. retusa.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

A huge genus with species ranging from tiny ground covers to tall upright plants.

• Leaf shape: Small, plump, often bean-shaped or cylindrical leaves
• Growth habit: Trailing, creeping, or upright depending on species
• Key feature: Leaves are often more rounded or cylindrical than flat. Many trail beautifully in hanging baskets
• Hardiness: Varies widely; some are cold-hardy, others tropical

Popular species: S. morganianum (Burro's Tail), S. rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant), S. adolphii (Golden Sedum).

Crassula

A diverse genus best known for the Jade Plant.

• Leaf shape: Varies hugely: oval (Jade), stacked coin-like (String of Buttons), pointed (Crassula perforata)
• Key feature: Often has opposite leaf pairs stacking along the stem
• Size: From tiny ground covers to tree-like Jade Plants
• Pet safety: Jade Plants are toxic to cats and dogs

Popular species: C. ovata (Jade Plant), C. perforata (String of Buttons), C. 'Buddha's Temple'.

Aloe

• Leaf shape: Long, pointed, lance-shaped leaves often with soft teeth along the edges
• Texture: Fleshy leaves filled with clear gel
• Key feature: Toothed leaf margins and clear gel inside are distinctive. Rosette growth from center
• Pet safety: Toxic to cats and dogs

Graptoveria and Other Hybrids

Many popular succulents are hybrids between genera: Graptoveria (Graptopetalum x Echeveria), Pachyveria (Pachyphytum x Echeveria), and Graptosedum (Graptopetalum x Sedum). These can be the hardest to identify precisely because they blend features of both parents.

Agave

Agaves are large, architectural succulents most often seen in xeriscape gardens and warm climates. They are monocarpic, meaning the mother plant flowers once and dies, though it usually produces offsets (pups) beforehand.

• Leaf shape: Stiff, fibrous, typically with a sharp terminal spine and serrated or toothed edges
• Size: Ranges from compact 1-foot container species (A. parryi) to 10-foot specimens (A. americana)
• Key feature: The hard, spear-like terminal spine is the fastest identification cue. Unlike Aloe, Agave leaves do not contain clear gel
• Hardiness: Many species are frost-hardy to 0 F or below; some tolerate brief exposure to minus 20 F
• Lookalike tip: Agave vs. Aloe: Agave leaves feel rigid and woody; Aloe leaves are pliant and gel-filled. Agave leaf margins have teeth along the entire edge; Aloe teeth are softer
• Pet safety: Generally non-toxic, but the sharp spines are a physical hazard

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is one of the most common flowering succulents sold at grocery stores and garden centers, best known as Flaming Katy. The genus also includes fuzzy, velvety-leaved species like the Panda Plant.

• Leaf shape: Flat, oval leaves with scalloped or toothed edges (Flaming Katy) or thick, fuzzy felt-textured leaves (Panda Plant, K. tomentosa)
• Growth habit: Upright and branching; typically 6-18 inches tall indoors
• Key feature: The only common succulent genus that produces clusters of small, brightly colored flowers (red, orange, yellow, pink) repeatedly indoors
• Lookalike tip: Kalanchoe vs. Crassula: Kalanchoe leaves are flatter and more oval with scalloped margins. Crassula leaves stack in opposite pairs along the stem
• Pet safety: Toxic to cats and dogs. All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides

Gasteria

Gasterias are slow-growing, shade-tolerant succulents that are often overlooked but make excellent low-light houseplants. They are closely related to Aloe and Haworthia and are sometimes sold mislabeled as one or the other.

• Leaf shape: Tongue-shaped (hence "Ox Tongue"), thick and fleshy, often with white spots or raised white bumps across the surface
• Growth habit: Juvenile plants grow in a fan-shaped, two-ranked (distichous) pattern; adults may form rosettes. Compact, 4-12 inches
• Key feature: The white-spotted, tongue-shaped leaves growing in a flat fan pattern are the fastest ID cue. Haworthia leaves are more pointed; Aloe leaves have toothed margins and no spots
• Hardiness: Not frost-hardy; best as a houseplant
• Pet safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Euphorbia

Euphorbia is one of the largest plant genera on Earth and includes both succulent and non-succulent species. Succulent Euphorbias are often mistaken for cacti because some grow in columnar, ribbed, spine-covered forms.

• Leaf shape: Highly variable. Some look like cacti (E. trigona, African Milk Tree), some are branching shrubs (E. milii, Crown of Thorns), and some are low globes (E. obesa, Baseball Plant)
• The key identifier: Cut a stem or break a leaf: Euphorbia produces a white milky sap (latex). Cacti and most other succulents do not. The sap is a skin and eye irritant; handle with gloves
• Lookalike tip: Euphorbia vs. cactus: cacti have areoles (small woolly or bristly bumps where spines grow). Euphorbia spines grow directly from the stem with no areole. If you see milky sap, it is a Euphorbia, not a cactus
• Pet safety: All Euphorbias are toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. The milky latex is caustic and can cause skin and eye irritation

Portulacaria (Elephant Bush)

Portulacaria afra is frequently sold as "Dwarf Jade" and is one of the most common succulent mix-ups for new plant owners. It is not a Jade Plant (Crassula ovata), though it resembles one, and it is actually pet-safe where Crassula is toxic.

• Leaf shape: Tiny, round, bright green, very fleshy leaves on reddish-brown stems
• Growth habit: Branching shrub; can grow large outdoors but stays manageable as a houseplant
• Key feature: The reddish or purple stems distinguish it from Jade Plant, which has gray-green stems. Portulacaria leaves are also smaller and rounder than Jade Plant leaves
• Hardiness: Not frost-hardy below 25 F
• Pet safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs, unlike the toxic Jade Plant it resembles

Quick Identification Tips

1. Check the leaf texture: Powdery coating = likely Echeveria. White bumps or stripes = likely Haworthia. Gel inside = Aloe. Milky sap when broken = Euphorbia.
2. Look at the growth pattern: Tight rosette = Echeveria or Sempervivum. Trailing = Sedum or String of Pearls. Stacked pairs = Crassula. Fan-shaped rows = Gasteria. Large stiff rosette with spine = Agave.
3. Test cold hardiness: If it survives outdoor winters in a cold climate, it is probably Sempervivum or a hardy Sedum, not Echeveria.
4. Check for offsets: Baby plants on stolons (runners) = Sempervivum. Offsets growing at the base = Echeveria or Haworthia.
5. Leaf thickness and rigidity: Very thick and spoon-like = Echeveria or Pachyphytum. Thin and pointed = Sempervivum or Agave. Stiff and woody with terminal spine = Agave.
6. Check the stems: Reddish or burgundy stems with tiny round leaves = Portulacaria (Elephant Bush), not Jade Plant.

Caring for Your Succulents

Once you have identified your succulent genus, care is generally similar across most species:

• Light: Bright, indirect to direct sunlight (6+ hours daily). Agave and Sedum handle full outdoor sun. Haworthia and Gasteria tolerate lower light than most
• Water: Soak and dry method: water thoroughly, then let soil dry completely before watering again
• Soil: Well-draining cactus/succulent mix, or regular soil amended with perlite (20-30% by volume)
• Pots: Always use pots with drainage holes. Terracotta pots are especially good because they are porous and dry out faster
• Temperature: Most prefer 60-80 F. Sempervivums and cold-hardy Sedums can handle freezing; Echeverias, Kalanchoe, and Gasteria cannot

Not sure how often to water your succulent? Use our plant watering schedule calculator, select "Succulent/Cactus" as the plant type and it will factor in your pot type, climate, and season.

For more detailed plant care, see our beginner's houseplant care guide.

Essential Succulent Supplies

Getting the soil and pot right is the biggest factor in succulent success. Most succulent deaths come from too much water sitting in dense, slow-draining soil; these products fix that.

• Cactus & Succulent Potting Mix, Purpose-made for fast drainage. Do not use standard potting soil; it holds too much moisture and leads to root rot within weeks.
• Coarse Perlite, Mix 20-30% into any potting medium to speed drainage dramatically. The cheapest fix for succulents that are struggling to thrive.
• Dr.meter S10 Soil Moisture Meter (I own this one; it has earned its spot.), Color-coded zones make it easy to read: "dry" zone (1-3) means water now. Especially accurate at the dry end, which is exactly what succulents need. Under $12.
• Terracotta Pots with Drainage, Porous walls let soil breathe and dry out 20-30% faster than plastic or glazed pots. The single best pot choice for succulents and cacti.
• Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food, Apply at half-strength once a month in spring and summer only. This is a low-nitrogen liquid formula designed for succulents; too much nitrogen causes leggy, stretched growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I identify what type of succulent I have?

Examine the leaf shape, rosette pattern, color, and texture. The fastest method is to use the identification chart above to compare genera side by side, or to snap a photo with our plant identifier for an instant AI-powered identification.

What is the difference between Echeveria and Sempervivum?

Echeveria has thicker, smoother leaves and is not frost-hardy. Sempervivum has thinner, pointed leaves, produces offsets on stolons, and survives extreme cold (to -30 F).

Are succulents safe for pets?

Some are safe (Haworthia, Echeveria, Sempervivum, Gasteria, Portulacaria) while others are toxic (Jade Plant/Crassula, Aloe, Kalanchoe, Euphorbia). Always identify your species and check toxicity. See our guides on plants safe for cats and dogs. The Pet Safe column in the chart above gives a quick overview across all 11 genera.

What succulent has translucent windows on its leaf tips?

Haworthia is the genus best known for this feature, called leaf windows or fenestrations. H. cooperi and H. truncata show them most clearly; the windows look like tiny glass panels set into the leaf tip. This is the most distinctive visual cue in the genus and is not seen in Aloe, Gasteria, or Echeveria.

What is the difference between a succulent and a cactus?

All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. The distinguishing feature is the areole: a small woolly or bristly bump found only on cacti, from which spines, flowers, and new branches grow. If your plant has areoles, it is a cactus. If spines grow directly from the stem with no areole (as in Euphorbia or Agave), it is not a cactus. Aloe, Haworthia, Agave, and Euphorbia are often mistaken for cacti but belong to entirely different families.

What succulent has red-tipped leaves?

Several genera develop red or orange tips under stress from high light, temperature swings, or drought. The most reliably red-tipped is Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Bean Plant), whose plump bean-shaped leaves stay red at the tips year-round. Echeveria agavoides (Lipstick Echeveria) has a distinct red leaf margin. Crassula ovata develops red edges in full sun. In most genera the red color is an anthocyanin stress response that fades when the plant returns to lower light or more consistent watering.

Related reading: Houseplant Care Guide for Beginners · Indoor Plants Safe for Cats · Flowering Plant Identification

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