How Big Do Succulents Get?

If you want to spruce up your living space with a houseplant, but you don’t trust yourself to keep it alive… enter: the succulent. 

The humble succulent looks great on any desk, coffee table, or windowsill – not to mention, they’re a great gift for any occasion, and they’re bang on-trend. 

However, ‘succulent’ is an umbrella term. If you’re thinking of buying one, you’ll have plenty of succulents to choose from and many factors to consider.

We know succulents are generally quite small, but how much space do they take up when they reach full maturity? Do you have the room to home a new plant friend? 

Stick with us to learn how big the average succulent gets, how to care for them, and more. 

What Is A Succulent?

Succulent’ is a name for a group of thickened, engorged, and fleshy plants. Succulents come in a diverse range of blooms, forms, and colors, and they’re considered one of the most manageable groups of plants to care for. 

Succulents store water in their leaves. This gives them their thick, fleshy appearance, and it’s the reason why most succulents can not just survive but thrive in incredibly dry climates.

Different Types Of Succulents 

As we’ve mentioned, ‘succulent’ is an umbrella term. There are plenty to choose from – some are big, and some are small, and there are an estimated 10,000 types of succulents worldwide. Most nurseries will continue to crossbreed them to create new cultivars.

With so many succulents to choose from, it would be hard for us to list them all. However, we’re going to walk you through some of the most popular succulents in the world, so you can choose the right one for your living space or gifting occasion. 

Small Succulents

• Zebra Plants: The Zebra plant is hard to kill and a slow grower. This succulent goes dormant in the summer and grows in the winter, so it has an easy watering schedule. The zebra plant only reaches between 5-8 inches tall at maturity. 
• Sedum or ‘Little Missy’: This succulent is fast-growing and creeping, and it can tolerate shade and partial sun. The little missy lives up to its name, coming in at a maximum height of 0.05m after 2 to 5 years. 
• Echeveria Minima: These succulents produce pink and yellow bell-shaped flowers and are incredibly low maintenance. They only grow between three to four inches in height. 
• Sempervivum: This petite succulent is ideal for growing in tight spaces, and in height and diameter, it will stay under three inches in both height and diameter. 

Large Succulents

• Baobab Tree: The baobab tree succulent is the largest succulent plant in the world and can reach staggering heights of up to 82 feet and 92 feet in girth. 
• Saguaro Cactus: The saguaro cactus can grow over 12 meters tall, and it’s native to Arizona and even California. 
• Agave ovatifolia: The agave ovatifolia or ‘Whale’s Tongue Agave’ boasts a stunning array of rosettes and can grow up to 1.5m high and 2m across. 

How Big Do Succulents Grow?

There is no simple answer to this question. There are so many varieties of succulents, and each one can reach different heights and sizes. Most will grow no taller than six inches. 

Most indoor succulents will stay smaller than their outdoor counterparts, largely due to a lack of sunlight. Mini succulents, which are slow growers, will eventually outgrow their containers but won’t grow as large as outdoor succulents. 

Most indoor succulents will also grow slower due to their container size. Many are put immediately into small containers and not given the room to grow or spread out.

If you plant a cutting of an indoor succulent in a small container, you can expect it to stay at this size for months or even years. 

What Factors Affect Succulent Growth? 

Although our list of larger succulents are predominantly outdoor growers, there are plenty of indoor succulents that can reach incredible heights. But, like any other plant, the succulent needs the right conditions to survive and thrive. 

Sunlight

Exposure to sunlight will determine the growth rate of your succulents. However, not all succulents need the same amount of light – some prefer sunnier conditions, but others can thrive in partial shade.

Make sure you know your succulents preferred level of sunlight before choosing a permanent position for it.