Desert Plants for US Gardens: Succulents and More

Desert plants are the easy ones to love and the easy ones to drown: the common cause of loss in our succulent sources is too much water, not too little. Illinois Extension names overly moist soil as the number one killer, and its rule is to water only when the soil is completely dry. This collection groups the plants our registry places in the Desert and succulents family. One is published, and the rest are on the way.

What we have published

Succulents is our general care guide for the group, not one genus. It covers light (about six hours), soil (a cactus mix, or one part organic to two parts mineral), pots with drainage holes and a winter rest. Two supporting guides go further: growing succulents indoors and propagating succulents from leaf and stem cuttings.

Hardy or soft decides everything

“Succulent” is a wide label, so check what you bought before you plant it outside.

Type	Outdoors	Source
Hardy succulents	Usually to zone 5, some to zone 4	Illinois Extension
Soft succulents	Zones 9, 10 and 11 only	Illinois Extension
Range across types	From about -20°F to indoor-only	Oregon State

Our sources name a few examples but do not sort them into lists, so we do not either. If the label gives no zone, keep the plant in a pot and bring it in before frost (Penn State says containers can go out once the danger of frost has passed).

Still to come

Aloe vera, agave, cactus, prickly pear and desert rose show below as tiles without links. We have not published their guides, so we make no claims about their zones, water or winter limits. Our succulent sources do not say which plants are native to deserts, so we do not label any plant here that way either.

Where to start

• Brand new to succulents? Read the succulent care guide and its indoor companion.
• Want more plants for free? Try propagating succulents from cuttings.
• Looking for indoor flowers? See flowering houseplants.
• Planning a bright window? Potted jasmine has its own indoor light rules.