Succulent Identifier
Identify your succulent from a photo, or browse types of succulents with names and pictures, from echeveria to jade plant, with care tips for each one.
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To identify a succulent, check its leaf shape and growth habit: rosettes are usually echeveria or aloe, thick oval leaves on woody stems mean jade plant, and spines from fuzzy areoles mean a cactus. Or upload a photo, and PlantIn will name it in seconds. Most succulents die from overwatering, so learn the signs early.
Succulent Varieties
Succulents come in thousands of varieties, but most home plants belong to a handful of common types. Use these clues to match yours:
Echeveria: tight, symmetrical rosettes in blue, green, pink, or purple, often with a powdery coating.
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum): small rosettes that spread by producing baby offsets around the mother plant; very cold-hardy.
Aloe vera: long, thick, upright leaves with soft-toothed edges and clear gel inside.
Haworthia: small, firm rosettes, often striped or dotted with white bumps; one of the few succulents that tolerates lower light.
Jade plant (Crassula ovata): glossy, thick oval leaves on woody stems that look like a mini tree.
Sedum (stonecrop): small fleshy leaves on trailing or upright stems; popular as a ground cover.
String of pearls: long trailing stems lined with round, bead-like leaves; perfect for hanging pots.
Kalanchoe: scalloped, fleshy leaves and clusters of bright red, orange, yellow, or pink flowers.
Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa): fuzzy, silver-green leaves with brown-tipped edges.
Agave: large rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves with sharp tips; best grown outdoors in warm, dry climates.
Not sure which type you have? Upload a photo to the succulent identifier above, or browse the full list of succulents below.
How to Identify Succulents
Succulent is a very unusual, mythical-looking plant that you definitely want to have at home. However, it could be challenging to provide proper care without being able to identify succulent plants. There are 2 ways how you can easily identify a species of your plant:
Characteristics to Identify Your Plant by
The first way to identify your succulent is by hand. All you need is just to look at your plant, provide some research, and learn about little details that make the difference. There are three main characteristics:
The shape of leaves (strappy or spiky)
Growing habits (the way leaves grow, rosette forming)
Peculiar characteristics (babies growing on the edges of foliage, different colors of leaves, spikes, and hairs on leaves)
This way is effortless but your identification might not so accurate because there are a lot of visibly similar species which differ in their care requirements.
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Myplantin Succulent Identifier
The second way is to use PlantIn’s succulent identifier. Upload a photo right here on this page, or snap one in the PlantIn app, and you’ll get the name of your succulent in seconds. Identifying a succulent by picture is faster and more reliable than guessing, especially among look-alike types like echeveria and graptopetalum.
For the most accurate match, follow a few simple photo tips:
Use natural daylight. Avoid flash and dim rooms, because many succulents change color under stress or strong sun, which can lead to a wrong match.
Show the whole plant. Take one photo from above to capture the rosette shape, then a close-up of the leaves.
Keep the background plain, so the plant stands out.
PlantIn doesn’t stop at the name. Along with the species, you’ll get a care plan for your particular succulent, with how much light it needs, when to water, and which soil to use, so it stays healthy long after you’ve identified it.
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Benefits of Digital identification
Of course, you might just go to the nursery and ask, “what kind of succulent do I have?” But let's take a look at the benefits of digital identification, which will make you change your mind. This feature:
Provides clear growing information (light preferences of your plant, how often you should water it, etc.);
Uncovers all the details (app includes all the information about your succulent);
Protects us from potential harm (there are a lot of toxic plants that look similar to safe ones but are poisonous for humans or pets).
FAQ
How do I identify my succulent?
To identify your succulent, check its leaf shape, color, and growth habit: rosettes, trailing stems, or tree-like branches. For a faster answer, use a succulent identifier: upload a photo, and PlantIn names the plant in seconds.
What are the most common types of succulents?
The most common types of succulents are echeveria, aloe vera, jade plant, haworthia, sedum, hens and chicks, string of pearls, and kalanchoe. Most houseplant succulents belong to one of these groups.
Can I identify a succulent by picture?
Yes, you can identify a succulent by picture with PlantIn’s succulent plant identifier. Take a clear photo in natural daylight showing the whole rosette and a close-up of the leaves for the most accurate match.
