Succulents are unique plants with fleshy, water-storing leaves and stems that make them well-adapted for dry environments. Their striking and varied forms offer gardens and home interiors a touch of drama, mystery, and deep-rooted beauty. Athough common succulent varieties like aloe vera and jade plant are well-known, there are numerous exotic species that can provide a captivating focal point for any succulent collection. This piece uncovers twelve rarely-talked-about succulent species that can weave an element of exoticism into your green space.
1. Lithops (Living Stones)
Native to South Africa, Lithops are renowned for their pebble-like appearance, earning them the nickname “Living Stones”. Solar-powered and drought-tolerant, these succulents are minimalist in their watering needs, requiring negligible amounts during the winter months. Their curious, sculptural form and their varied patterns and colors serve to intrigue and delight succulent enthusiasts.
2. Crassula Umbella (Wine Cup)
Rediscover the world of succulents with the Crassula Umbella, an exotic species revered for its unique shape. Native to South Africa, this quirky succulent is colloquially termed ‘Wine Cup’ due to its light green, saucer-like leaves encompassing a yellowish central stem, resembling a wine glass. This year-round bloomer produces stalks of beautiful star-shaped yellow flowers.
3. Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora (Paddle Plant)
Boasting jade-green leaves with a characteristic red rim, the Paddle Plant promises to be a spectacular addition to your succulent collection. The paddle-shaped leaves that give it its name, when exposed to bright sunlight, develop a fascinating reddish hue on their margins. This sight, together with its striking yellow flowers, creep through the winters, leaves an impression you can’t ignore.
4. Graptopetalum Pentandrum Superbum
This mesmerizing succulent hailing from Mexico comprise rosettes of silver-blue leaves adorned with pinkish tones in cool weather. What’s unique is the way this exotic species blooms; it produces exquisite starry clusters of dainty white flowers that contrast beautifully with its fleshy foliage.
5. Pachypodium Lamerei (Madagascar Palm)
Though native to Madagascar, this exotic succulent has won hearts globally for its unique semblance to a palm tree. Lofty and leafy, this succulent can reach staggering heights of 6 meters in their natural habitat. Its cylindrical trunk adorned with spiky spines, and lush green leaves crowning its top, make it a striking addition to any indoor or outdoor setting.
6. Echeveria Laui (Mexican Hens)
Indigenous to Mexico, Echeveria Laui lures succulent lovers with its soft blue-gray leaves forming rosettes of unimaginable beauty. The plush, powdery texture of its leaves are exacerbated by soft touches of pinkish hues along the edges, adding to its allure. Meticulous care should be exercised to prevent the powdery coating from being rubbed off.
7. Dudleya Brittonii (Giant Chalk Dudleya)
Native to Baja California in Mexico, Dudleya Brittonii’s striking silvery-white rosettes seem kissed by winter. It reigns as a prime pick when considering exotic succulents, adding a distinctive touch to your green space. In its blooming phase, it showcases tall blooming stalks featuring stunning yellow flowers.
8. Euphorbia Obesa (Baseball Plant)
This South African native succulent grows in a sphere’s shape, often likened to a baseball. With its ribbed and subtly striped green exterior, its appearance is otherworldly yet charming. It’s both dioecious, meaning it has distinct male and female plants, and a slow-grower, adding to its peculiar allure among succulent hobbyists.
9. Aeonium Tabuliforme (Dinner Plate Aeonium)
Termed so because of its expansive, plate-like shape, it is a native Canary Islands succulent that grows flat to the ground. A sight to behold, Aeonium Tabuliforme forms rosettes that could reach up to 45cm in diameter. The geometrically arranged leaves rosette, coupled with its miniature yellow flowering spikes, promise an exotic aesthetical appeal.
10. Fockea Edulis
Find Africa’s gems in the writhing, root-like branches of Fockea Edulis. Beautifully grotesque, this deciduous succulent displays a swollen, warty, grey trunk with luxuriant stems from the top. Their pendulous pinkish flowers only add icing to this cake.
11. Pleiospilos Nelii (Split Rock)
Charismatic and bizarre, Pleiospilos Nelii, or the ‘Split Rock’, as it is commonly known, is a fascinating addition that can be found in the arid landscapes of South Africa. Mimicking a split rock, it has two opposing leaves with a cleft in the middle where it sprouts attractive, daisy-like, lavender flowers.
12. Orostachys Iwarenge (Chinese Dunce Cap)
This succulent, a native of the mountainous regions of China and Korea, has captivating conical rosettes resembling a dunce cap. Orostachys Iwarenge forms trailing clusters of rosettes, with grey-green leaves. The drama increases when it starts blooming, flaunting attractive towers of small white flowers that paint a pretty picture.
In conclusion, every succulent has a story concealed within its leaf folds, making them an inviting prospect for succulent enthusiasts and plant lovers. These twelve exotic succulent varieties merely scratch the surface of the wealth of unusual, diverse succulents out there, just waiting to be discovered. So, nurture your wanderlust for exotic vegetation, and let’s begin the succulent-adventure today!
