How Long Do Succulents Live?

Getting a new plant is a bit of an investment. Depending on the plant, you will have to water it regularly and continuously provide it with beneficial conditions.

You might even have to get someone to look after your plants while you are away! It’s a bit like having a cat, or a child, but the plants are much quieter…

You might be pleased to hear that most succulents require very little care, and quite infrequent watering. However, when deciding to purchase a new plant, you might want to think about how long they will live.

Do they live long enough to make them worth the commitment? Do they live so long that you might lose interest in them?

If you want to know how long succulents survive, carry on reading. The answer varies depending on the type of succulent, which is why we have explored how long all different types of succulent plants live.

Take a look below to find out exactly what you are signing yourself up for.

What Are Succulents?

First of all, let’s make sure we are all reading from the same hymn sheet. For those of you who are plant experts, feel free to skip this section!

Succulents are a variety of plants that tend to have thick and fleshy bodies or leaves, and which are able to store water in their stems, leaves, and roots.

Succulents are often kept as indoor decoration plants, partly because they are really easy to look after and do not need frequent supplies of rain water.

The most well-known member of the succulent plant family is the cactus, but there are many other plants that also fit into this category. 

What Affects How Long They Live For?

As with any living organism, the length of a succulent’s life depends partly on its environmental factors. Also, as we previously mentioned, the different types of succulents all have different predicted life spans. 

One factor that affects the lifespan of a succulent is the amount of water it receives. Because of their amazing ability to store lots of water inside them, succulents are usually able to go for long periods of time without being given fresh water.

However, if they are watered too often, or too infrequently, this can affect their health and their lifespan – overwatering succulents often cause them to die. 

The Lifespans of the Most Popular Succulent Plants

If lifespan is something you are factoring into your decision to buy a succulent, take a look below at some of the most popular succulents available to buy and compare their expected lifespans. 

Saguaro

When you picture a cactus, you are probably imagining a saguaro cactus. These plants are the multi-armed cacti that are often dotted across deserts and arid landscapes. One of the reasons it is so well known is because it is one of the oldest existing cactus species.

These plants can live for very long periods. When we say very long, we don’t mean ten or twenty years, we mean longer than most human lifetimes! The oldest recorded saguaro cactus to have lived lasted a full three hundred years.

So, if you think your love for plants is just going to be a phase, maybe don’t opt for one of these guys, that is likely to live alongside you for the rest of your life.

Also, these cacti don’t tend to be kept as ornamental plants; they do best in their natural habitat. Plus, saguaro cacti can be a bit too large for your living room – the 300-year-old plant grew up to forty feet tall and had 52 arms! 

Aloe Vera

This plant is praised for its health and cosmetic benefits, and is a common ingredient in beauty and health products. It is no surprise, then, that some people want an endless supply of it in their own home!

Depending on their conditions, Aloe Vera plants can live anywhere from five to twenty-five years old! So, if you look after your plant well, you could share a home with it for a couple of decades or more.

Equally, if you are looking for a medium-to-long-term plant, you might luck out and get one that dies before then! Either way, these amazing plants make a great addition to any household. 

Jade Plant 

There is no black and white answer when it comes to the life span of jade plants. Some varieties live for around two years, while others have been known to surpass 100 years!

How long your own jade plant lasts will depend entirely on how well you care for it, and what variety it is.

Hens And Chicks

These succulents are gorgeous to look at, and are often used as decorations in people’s homes. Their thick petals grow in ever-increasing rows, in a way that makes them resemble flowers and their petals.

As with most succulents, there is no definitive lifespan, but most of these plants tend to live for three years or more.

A great benefit of hens and chicks, if you are looking to have plants for a while, is that they produce offshoots that grow into other individual plants. Because of this, even if the mother plant dies, you will likely always still have a plant to look after. 

Barrel Cactus

These are the little rounded cacti that you often see in cute little colored pots. Barrel cacti are as resilient as they come, and can survive through extreme heat and droughts, thanks to their sturdy structure.

Get one of these cacti if you want a plant that will be around for the long haul; barrel cacti tend to live for centuries! If you look after it well, your barrel cactus could outlive you. 

Final Thoughts

Depending on the type of succulent and the conditions it is grown in, these plants can live anywhere from one year to five hundred! In order to get the most out of your succulent, make sure you are looking after it as best you can.

Things you need to monitor include the amount of sunlight it gets, the type and quality of soil it is in, how often it is watered, and what size pot it is in.

Every different plant requires different conditions, so make sure you thoroughly research the species of succulent you want before you get it. If you look after your plant well enough, you could have a friend for life – and beyond!