There’s much more to succulents than just how they look; however, the fact is that they are adorable and eccentric.
Their ability to withstand drought plus their cylindrical shape gives opportunities to grow very tall, even resembling trees and shrubs.
If you want to put an unexpected or impressive item in your yard or want something unusual to discuss when others visit your home, consider using one of these ten tall and stunning succulents in your yard or interior!
Tall Succulents Guide
Succulents
A succulent is a plant that stores water and has thick or swollen leaves and stems.
Height & Space
This plant grows tall; therefore, make sure to allow enough room for the plant to reach its full height. The higher the plant grows, the greater amount of shade it can provide to you when placed outdoors.
Succulents are perfect for a home garden because they can also grow very tall and large; therefore, having plenty of room outdoors where it is bright and sunny is the best place for these plants to thrive.
These can grow to ten feet or more, so unless you have designated areas in your kitchen or office where they can grow tall, they will be difficult to keep in containers.
Color
During their flower, succulents are incredibly colourful. Their colour will appear throughout their entire plant on the branches and leaves.
Plant Care
Taking care of your plants is an important part of caring for your plant, as many succulents are designed to hold water. There are many types of succulents that can survive without water for a day, but that doesn’t mean you should only do it once.
10 Large succulent Plants for the home and garden
Add some vertical interest to your home or yard with these ten remarkable succulents that achieve heights (or lengths) of a meter or more.
1. Foxtail Agave
- Latin name: Agave attenuata
- Alternate names: Lion’s Tail Agave, Swan’s Neck Agave, Century Plant
- Native to: Mexico
- Maximum height/ length: 1.5 meters
- Maximum spread: up to 2.5 meters
- Growing zone: 9b to 11b
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: none
Description
The foxtail agave belongs to the Agave genus and is related to those that make Tequilla and Agave beverages like Agave Nectar.
This succulent has greyish-green long tongue-like leaves that grow in a rosette shape from the stout trunk or thick stem that supports them.
Under the right growing conditions during the summer, you may see this plant produce a central flower stalk with a cluster of yellow flowers.
The foxtail agave can take more than 10 years to reach its mature height of about 1.5 meters.
Care tips for the foxtail agave
Foxtail agave thrives in a brightly lit area with plenty of sun exposure. They also have very low water needs like many succulents.
The foxtail agave prefers slightly acidic sandy soil; repot the plant about every two years as it matures.
Remove the basal leaves of the foxtail agave for pruning.
2. Madagascar Palm
- Latin name: Pachypodium lamerei
- Alternate names: Pachy, Summer-blooming clubfoot, Three-spined clubfoot, Ghost men plant.
- Native to: Madagascar
- Maximum height/ length: 4 meters
- Maximum spread: up to 2.5 meters
- Growing zone: 9 to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: toxic and sharp spines are harmful to pets
Description
While Madagascar Palms are called palms, they are not palms. They are actually succulents and have a very similar appearance to a palm.
As they require the same level of care as most other succulents, they make excellent houseplants because they are very easy to care for.
P. lamerei has a tree-like shape, with a primary stem that resembles a trunk, with many side stems that contain spiny leaves on the end of each stem, and the tree will produce clusters of white flowers in the summer.
This tall plant can reach heights of up to 6 feet indoors and as high as 20 feet high when grown outside.
Care tips
The Madagascar palm needs full sun for healthy growth; therefore, it should receive ample sunlight if indoors.
When growing Madagascar Palms in containers, pot the plant using fast-draining cactus potting mix or well-drained sandy soil.
Only water the Madagascar Palm after the soil has become dry completely, and do not water during the winter months (dormant period).
During the early part of spring, apply liquid fertilizer to the palm as a fertilizer boost to encourage new growth.
3. String of Pearls
- Latin name: Curio rowleyanus / Senecio rowleyanus,
- Alternate names: “String-of-beads”, “string of watermelons”
- Native to: Southern Africa
- Maximum height/ length: 1 meter
- Growing zone: 9 to 12
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: mild
Description
The plant curio rowleyanus can be easily identified by the small, pearl-shaped leaves which grow to be around ¼ inch (6 mm) across.
Curio rowleyanus produces long falling stems with pearls that have the potential to grow over 1 meter (3 feet) long and are ideal for hanging baskets displaying them.
The plant’s place of origin is Namibia, where they can be found growing and cascading down cliffs creating a dramatic look that is visually appealing as an interior foliage plant.
Each year curio rowleyanus produces small white colored flowers that have a soft cinnamon scent during the summer months.
Care tips for a string of pearls
The maintenance of this stunningly unique trailing plant (the “string of pearls”) is simple.
With its preference for bright locations but no direct sunlight or excessive heat, temperatures below 50°F (10°C) are too cold for its health.
Water Once It Is Completely Dry – Water the string of pearls only when the soil becomes totally dry. During growing seasons (spring through fall), you can also use a diluted liquid fertilizer mixed with your water on a monthly basis.
4. Soap Tree Yucca
- Latin name: Yucca elata
- Alternate names: soapweed, palmella, soaptree
- Native to: Southwestern US and Mexico
- Maximum height/ length: 4.5 meters
- Maximum spread: up to 1.5 meters
- Growing zone: 6 to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: none
Description
The soaptree yucca is a unique tall succulent. If it is grown indoors or outdoors, it requires warm temperatures.
When grown in proper conditions, the soaptree yucca will grow to over 14 ft. (4.5 m) tall!
This massive plant comes in many different varieties or subspecies, all with the same long, brown, cylindrical trunk, multiple stems growing in a whorl pattern, and slender green leaves.
The soaptree yucca produces beautiful, pure white, bell-shaped flowers, as well as long, brown capsules filled with black seeds.
Care tips for the soap tree yucca
The soap tree yucca can successfully be grown in a temperate zone, as well as endure a winter environment regardless of its coldness.
Plant in an alkaline, free-draining soil with full-sun exposure to be successful growing this succulent. If you want a yucca that is tall, it will take some time to grow before it achieves its height potential.
As a result of very slow growth (one inch per year), the Soap Tree Yucca will take many years to grow to its mature height.
5. African Milk Tree
- Latin name: Euphorbia trigona
- Alternate names: good luck cactus, good luck cactus, candelabra cactus, friendship cactus
- Native to: Central Africa
- Maximum height/ length: 3 meters
- Growing zone: 9b to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: blistering with skin contact and digestive tract irritation if ingested
Description
If you want tall succulent plants that grow quickly, the African Milk Tree is among the best choices for both home and garden.
This unique plant can grow to approximately 10 ft/ 3 meters plus in height.
Be prepared for rapid growth – 2 ft (60 cm) or more annually!
The African Milk Tree is a glossy dark green upright ridged succulent with a central upright stem and upright stems that run off of it.
Each of the upright ridges contains thorns and thin teardrop shaped leaves.
Care tips
The African milk tree is a durable succulent that withstands chilly winters down to -3C (27F). It’s easy to grow and rapidly multiplies using cuttings.
Use well-draining loamy soil to plant your African milk tree. It thrives best with plenty of sunshine, either outdoors in the full sun or indoors on a south-facing windowsill.
Taking care of your plant is critical. The amount of sunlight is very important, if your plant doesn’t get enough light, it will fail to grow and may die.
Reduce watering during the African milk tree’s dormant winter months, and fertilise once or twice during its growing season.
Be Careful!: The African milk tree contains toxic sap and has shark thorns, so keep it away from pets and small children.
6. Fishhook barrel cactus
- Latin name: Ferocactus wislizenii
- Alternate names: Arizona barrel cactus, Candy barrel, Southwestern barrel cactus, Candy barrel cactus, Compass Barrel.
- Native to: Southwest US and Mexico
- Maximum height/ length: 2 meters
- Maximum spread: up to 0.9 meters
- Growing zone: 9b to 11b
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: yes – irritant sap
Description
The tall, barrel-shaped cartoon cactus is found in deserts in Arizona and Texas.
The cactus grown in desert areas has 25 distinct ribbed areas with sharp and hooked spines called areoles. These cacti are long-lived and can grow for over 100 years.
Although this cactus grows slowly, it can reach a height of 2m when grown in direct sunlight and warmth. In early summer, you will see colorful orange-red and yellow flowers on them each year.
Care tips
The upright tall succulent plants are rather fierce in appearance and can be cultivated both inside and out.
These plants are resistant to both disease and drought. These plants need sandy soil that can drain properly as well as an abundance of sunlight to grow successfully.
7. Organ Pipe cactus
- Latin name: Stenocereus thurberi
- Alternate names: pitaya dulce, sweet pitaya, sweet cactus fruit, Mehuelé, Órgano Marismeña.
- Native to: Mexico
- Maximum height/ length: 5 meters
- Growing zone: 9 to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes, but outside is preferable.
- Toxicity: none
Description
The organ pipe cactus is called an organ pipe cactus because it has long, skinny, vertical columns that grow up from a thick trunk of the cactus giving it the appearance of an organ pipe.
These columns have multi-ribbed and spiny edges that reach heights of more than 16 feet (5m) and can be as wide as 6 inches (15cm).
Organ pipe cactuses grow very slowly, reaching maturity in 150 years.
When the cactus matures, it produces large white funnel-shaped flowers; however, the soft, inner part of the cactus is also edible and has a pleasant sweet taste similar to watermelon.
Care tips
The Organ Pipe Cactus can thrive outdoors in warmer weather conditions.
The ideal soil for an Organ Pipe Cactus is sandy and gritty with good drainage. Use unglazed terracotta pots to avoid excess moisture, as this type of pot will allow your wide-ranging root system to dry thoroughly.
If you’re not ready to put your Organ Pipe Cactus in the ground, you can keep small versions in a pot and grow them indoors.
Grow Mini Organ Pipe Cacti by using the same care methods as above; just be sure to water sparingly and fertilize with diluted feed once or twice during the summer months.
8. Snake plant
- Latin name: Dracaena trifasciata
- Alternate names: viper’s bowstring hemp, Saint George’s sword, mother-in-law’s tongue, Sansevieria trifasciata.
- Native to: West Africa
- Maximum height/ length: 3.5 meters
- Growing zone: 9b to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: none
Description
The snake plant is one of the most common types of indoor plants and has thick green or striped green leaves that have a tongue-like shape and rise from a cluster of leaves (basal rosette).
The length of these leaves can reach approximately 3 ft/1 m, and the total height of this plant can be over 12 ft.
Over 70 varieties of snake plants come from Africa.
Because they are able to remove impurities from indoor air (air purification), they are also very popular as houseplants. The snake plant rarely produces flowers; when it does, they are greenish-white.
Care tips
Although the Snake Plant is quite a dramatic-looking plant when compared to other types of house plants, it’s actually one of the easiest to take care of; you really can’t neglect this plant.
The Snake Plant produces new shoots at a fast rate when propagated and will grow well even if grown in very low light conditions.
You should plant the Snake Plant in a well-draining potting mix to prevent root rot.
The Snake Plant doesn’t require much moisture and actually does very well without water in the winter, but you may use a general purpose fertilizer on the Snake Plant from time to time.
9. Hedge cactus
- Latin name: Cereus repandus
- Alternate names: Cereus peruvianus, kayush, giant club cactus, hedge cactus, cadushi.
- Native to: Colombia and Venezuela
- Maximum height/ length: 10 meters
- Growing zone: 9a to 11bas
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: none
Description
This classic ornamental cactus is popular for its tall tree-like habit.
It easily as excess 33 feet or 10 meter with cylindrical stems measuring 6-10 inches in diameter. Its 9 to 10 ribs have areoles with greyish spines of up to 5cm.
The world’s largest cactus, at 110 feet or 24 meter is a hedge cactus growing in India.
Hedge cactus produces large cream-coloured nocturnal flowers and is thornless with edible fruits. Locals in its native environment use this cactus for food and the wood.
Care tips
The Hedge cactus prefers a sunny location in a bed of sand, and needs little watering, except once every month or two.
It should be kept in a warm place, as it will be destroyed by severe frost, and will require fleece protection.
10. Aloe Vera
- Latin name: Aloe vera
- Alternate names: plant of life, rokai, sabilla, single bible, Curacao Aloe, Elephant’s Gall, first-aid plant, Kunwar, Ghikumar, Ghi-Kuvar, bitter aloe, Burn Plant, laloi, Lily of the Desert.
- Native to: Tropical regions around the world
- Maximum height/ length: 1 meter
- Growing zone: 8 to 11
- Suitable for indoors? Yes
- Toxicity: none
Description
Known for a myriad of health benefits, from burn therapy to nutrition and air purification.
This classic succulent can reach a height of approximately 26 inch (3.2 ft) topped with fleshy leaves with small white teeth up to 90cm (35.4 in) long.
It is a moderate grower, taking 3-4 years to reach a mature size of leaf length of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) long.
Care tips
Aloe vera enjoys a bright spot indoors or out, but its leaves will burn in too much direct light.
They need very little watering – just keep the earth moist and let dry out between waterings.
If you keep aloe vera in a pot, you should repot your plant every two years. It needs feeding only in its active growing season.
You will find the plants easy to propogate from the small offests from the base of the plant.
Rounding up
The unique feature of tall succulents is that they will stand out in your home or garden.
They have the potential to grow significantly higher than most other succulents, which are relatively short.
Tall succulents are also very easy to cultivate.
The majority of succulents grow very slowly and continuously. It will be many years before they outgrow their original pot or vase!