Identification of Succulent Plants

Cactus

• Succulents are plants with thick stems or leaves that store water for dry conditions. Their unusual leaf colors, which include shades of green, blue-green and even purple, add interest to landscapes. Besides cacti, many other succulents grow throughout the world, such as the jade plant and century plant. These plants are also good houseplants because they can go for extended periods without water.

Common Purslane

• Plants making up the cactus family (Cactaceae) have stems and ribs that slowly contract during drought. Cactus flowers are generally eye-catching and differ from those in other plants. The orchid cactus has scented flowers growing as wide as 8 inches, notes Texas A&M University Extension. Besides their flower structure, cacti are known for their spine cushions, which distinguish the different cactus varieties.

Jades

• Jades (Crassula ovate) are also known as money plants or dollar plants. When grown outdoors as shrubs, these upright succulents reach up to 10 feet tall, notes the University of California at Irvine. Their green, elliptical leaves that sometimes have red margins typically grow opposite one another. This succulent has numerous branches and thick, fleshy stems. The plant's star-shaped flowers are white or pale pink. Jade plants are commonly grown indoors and require little maintenance.

Ponytail Palm

• The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is named for its palm-like stems, but it does not belong to the palm family. It usually has twisted leaves and reaches up to 20 feet or more when grown outdoors. As houseplants, ponytail palms only grow up to 1 to 3 feet tall. These succulents only produce flowers and fruit if they're exceptionally large.