Which Succulents Like Full Sun?

 

Succulents are known for their hardiness and ability to hold water for long periods of time. Along with requiring little maintenance, these properties make them ideal for beginners as well as expert gardeners.

Succulents come from tough environments like the desert and mountains, so they are prone to lots of light throughout the day.

But only some succulents love the full sun. Others cannot tolerate it and are actually harmed if they are exposed to full sun for too long.

So, which succulents like full sun?

Read on to find out.

Agave

Agave thrives in full sun. There is a wide range of Agave species, ranging from dwarves to huge plants that can reach ten feet tall. Agave are attractive and can be grown in pots as well as the ground to make for an interesting arrangement. 

Some Agave plants are also more winter hardy than others, depending on where they originate from.

Aloe

Aloe is one of the most popular succulent species. Like Agave, there is a wide range of Aloe, from dwarf plants to large tree-like species that can grow up to ten metres tall. They have thick, fleshy, green leaves, while some varieties have white flecks on the stem. 

Dwarf Aloe plants are excellent indoor plants and look great in containers. Larger plants do very well in full sun and require little to no attention at all, aside from the occasional water.

Just beware to keep them away from pets as they can be poisonous.

Euphorbia tirucalli (Firestick/Pencil Tree Plant)

Euphorbia covers more than 2,000 species of succulent. They originate from Africa and Madagascar, so they are very used to full sun conditions.

Euphorbia tirucalli is such an example. It has small and slender leaves with cylindrical branches. It also has a gorgeous red-orange color that gets even brighter in the winter. In fact, full sun contributes to its unique coloring.

Note that this succulent requires a little more water in heat waves, but doesn’t need much care throughout most of the year.

Aeoniums (Tree Houseleek)

Aeoniums are well known for their striking rosettes and waxy leaves. Their stems vary in size, either looking long and branched-out, or short and stubby. 

Aeoniums are unique in the way that they reproduce. They multiple via offsets that emerge from a single flowerhead. 

They come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Most Aeoniums are monocarpic. This means that they die after they’ve flowered.

Aeoniums are very hardy plants. They enjoy partial shade but grow best in full sun. During hot weather, Aeoniums go dormant; their leaves curl to prevent excess water loss.

Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalk Sticks)

This is a small, evergreen succulent that spreads from the base. It has a lovely blue-green, silvery hue that makes it very attractive for garden or container plants. Senecio mandraliscae has thin, fleshy leaves that look like fingers too, so they will certainly bring something unique to your arrangement.

And of course, this succulent likes full sun. It needs as much exposure to bright light as it can to bring out its leaves' true colors. If you grow them indoors, take them outside in the summer so they get more sun. 

Sedums (Stonecrops)

Sedums are really easy to grow. This succulent is a low growing, evergreen perennial that makes for an excellent groundcover. 

Sedums grow vertically, either in containers or in the ground (they’re easier to control in a container). Due to their verticiality, they can grow into all sorts of very interesting shapes and sizes.

This succulent is low maintenance and requires little attention. It’s probably easier to kill this plant by caring for it too much than with neglect. Sedums thrive in full sun so place them in areas of the home or garden that get a lot of sunlight.

Sedums are also to propagate. Shorter species will grow as long as a part of it touches the soil. The roots grow out from where the stem touches the ground, which is usually enough to grow an entirely new plant.

It can withstand a lot of heat without much watering, while being winter hardy in the cold winter months, making them the ideal outdoor plant.