25 Succulents to Try This Autumn As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, the gardening world shifts its focus. Autumn is not just for pumpkins and mums; it is, in fact, the prime growing season for a vast array of succulents. While many plants go dormant, these desert jewels, particularly the winter-growers, awaken, thriving in the cool, bright days. Transitioning your collection to include fall-friendly varieties ensures your indoor or outdoor garden remains vibrant, structurally interesting, and colorful just when the rest of the landscape starts to fade. Here are 25 succulents perfectly suited for an autumn refresh. The Dramatic Aeoniums and Echeverias
Autumn is the perfect time to introduce Aeonium species, as they begin their active growth cycle, pushing out fresh, vibrant rosettes. Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ brings an intense, nearly black hue that looks stunning against autumn tones, while Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ offers a variegated, creamy-yellow alternative. Aeonium urbicum provides dramatic architectural height with its large, lime-green rosettes. For color, the Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ continues to shine, but in autumn, its lavender tones deepen. Echeveria ‘Tippy’ shows vibrant pink tips, and Echeveria ‘Afterglow’ offers large, powdery, lavender-pink leaves. For a more intense color, try Echeveria agavoides ‘Lipstick’, which boasts deep red, sharp edges. Hardy Sedums and Sempervivums
For gardeners in colder regions, autumn is the season for hardy succulents that can handle the coming frost. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is a classic, turning from green to dusty pink, and finally to a deep rust-red. Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’ spreads quickly and turns a brilliant maroon. Sempervivum ‘Red Beauty’ and Sempervivum ‘Commander Hay’ offer deep, velvety red rosettes that intensify with the colder nights. The aptly named Sempervivum ‘Bronze Pastel’ brings warm, bronzy hues, while Sempervivum tectorum provides reliable, structural greens and reds. These, along with the deep purple Sedum ‘Voodoo’, are essential for bringing reliable color to the garden. Colorful Aloes and Gasterias
As light levels drop, many aloes begin to show off their best colors. Aloe cameronii is a standout, turning from green to a fiery red-orange when stressed by cooler weather and sun. Aloe ‘Crosby’s Prolific’ offers striking, orange-spotted leaves, while Aloe striata provides smooth, pale-green leaves with stunning reddish margins. For something smaller, Gasteria ‘Little Warty’ brings interesting texture and deep green colors to a shaded spot. Aloe descoingsii is a charming, miniature aloe that looks great in a small pot, and Gasteria bicolor offers white-spotted leaves that become more dramatic in autumn. Unique Textures and Trailing Favorites
Autumn is also a great time to introduce succulents with unique textures or trailing habits that fill in planters beautifully. Senecio rowleyanus, or String of Pearls, thrives with the bright, filtered light of the season. Crassula rupestris ‘Tom Thumb’ offers a dense, stacking texture that turns reddish. Graptosedum ‘California Sunset’ brings soft, peachy-pink tones to any arrangement, while Graptopetalum paraguayense, the Ghost Plant, offers a reliable, powdery, light-purple hue. Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’, with its tubular leaves, adds a whimsical, sculptural element, and the fast-growing Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi provides delicate, pale blue leaves that take on purple edges as temperatures drop. Autumn Care Tips for Success
While these 25 succulents are ideal for the season, they do require slightly different care than in the scorching summer months. As temperatures fall, the soil holds moisture longer, so it is crucial to reduce the frequency of watering. Always ensure your succulents are in fast-draining potting mix. The increased, softer light of autumn is perfect for bringing out deep colors in many of these varieties, but be prepared to protect them if an early frost arrives. By selecting these hardy and vibrant succulents, you can enjoy a flourishing, colorful, and low-maintenance garden right through the autumn season.
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