22 Succulents that Grow Tall (The Best List Ever)

Succulents tend to grow tall naturally, especially when grown indoors. This is generally due to the controlled environment in which they are grown.

Furthermore, taller succulents can indicate inadequate light, regardless of where they are grown. Today I am going to list all the succulents that grow tall, and trust me you won’t be able to find a list like this anywhere else.

Considering how slow they usually are at growing, a light deficiency can speed them up. However, this article isn’t about the difficulties that succulents may face; instead, the certain species can grow taller than others.

The advantages of taller succulents are that they improve the look of a room by filling with more plant volume, they help to purify the air, as well as help to humidify the air.

This article will look into various species of naturally tall succulents and the issue of stretching due to insufficient light.

Succulents Growing Tall Naturally vs Stretching Out Due to Lack of Sunlight

There are 2 reasons that a succulent can be tall. The first is that the species of succulent grows taller naturally. The other reason is that the succulent is grown somewhere with an inadequate amount of light.

That can come in the form of both natural light, such as sunlight, as well as artificial light. The first scenario is pretty self-explanatory.

When it comes to the problem that can occur due to lack of light, a little more knowledge is required to help correct the issue.

Luckily, when a succulent begins to grow leggy, there is hope as long as you are proactive from the moment you notice it beginning to stretch.

The first course of action is to relocate the plant. Move it somewhere that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight. Indirect sunlight is best as it saves the leaves from scorching.

If it is impossible to allow this type of sunlight, it may be worth purchasing some synthetic grow light.

If the plant has been stretching for too long, it will not revert to its original shape. If you don’t like how it looks, then it’s best to trim the plant for cuttings and propagate.

Simply remove the length of the succulent, dry it out for a couple of days, use some root hormone and replant it into a new pot with a well-draining, loamy type soil.

22 Types of Succulents That Grow Tall Naturally

This next section will go through 22 of the most common types of succulents that grow tall naturally. We’ll also have a detailed look into their characteristics, including their size, growth rate, light requirements, etc.

Adenium Obesum (Adenium Obesum)

• Also Known As Desert Rose, Sabi star, Desert Azalea
• Dimensions: Height 3-9 ft (90-275 cm) Width 3-5 ft (90-152 cm)
• Life Cycle: Perineal
• Flowers: Pink, Red/Burgundy, White (bell, tubular)
• Leaves: Gray/Silver, Green (fleshy, leathery)
• Stems: Gray/Silver, Green (smooth)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of full sun, direct sunlight per day.
• Water Frequency: Daily during summer months; scale back to weekly otherwise.

Aeonium Arboreum (Aeonium Arboreum)

• Also Known As: Irish Rose, Tree Houseleek
• Dimensions: Height 2-5 ft (0.6-1.5 m) Width 7 ft (2 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Pale Pink, Bright Yellow, depending on species (sphere clustered, conical)
• Leaves: Deep Burgundy/black (leathery)
• Stems: Gray (rough, woody)
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Care Required: Low to Medium
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours per day full sun/part shade.
• Water Frequency: Once a week in the warmer months. Every 3 weeks during winter. Spring and fall should receive moisture in 2-week intervals.

Ocotillo (Fouquieria Splendens)

• Also Known As: Desert coral, Jacob’s staff, Buggywhip
• Dimensions: Height 8-20 ft (2.4-6 m) Width 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Red, Orange (scarlet, tubular)
• Leaves: Bright Green (small, fleshy, rounded)
• Stems: Green (woody, spiny, whip-like)
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours per day full sun (hardy/drought tolerant)
• Water Frequency: Once per month via misting of the cane.

Agave Americana (Century Plant)

• Also Known As: American Aloe, Mexican Soap
• Dimensions: Height: 6-10 ft (183-305 cm) Width: 6-10 ft (183-305 cm)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Gold/Yellow, Green (Tubular)
• Leaves: Green (fleshy, smooth)
• Stems: Leaves grow directly from the root system
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of full sun, direct sunlight per day.
• Water Frequency: 2-3 times per week. Do not overwater.

African Milk Tree (Euphorbia Trigona)

• Also Known As: Cathedral Cactus, 
• Dimensions: Height 9 ft (275 cm) Width 2 ft (61 cm)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: White, Yellow, Green depending on species (small, clustered)
• Leaves: Green (obovate/spatulate, thin, leathery)
• Stems: Green (wings)
• Growth Rate: Slow/Medium
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours per day full sun (hardy/drought tolerant)
• Water Frequency: Once a week during summer, once every 2 weeks during spring/fall. Once every 3 weeks during the winter. 

Austrocylindropuntia Subulata (Austrocylindropuntia Subulata)

• Also Known As: Eve’s Pin, Eve’s Needle
• Dimensions: Height 1-13 ft (30cm-4m) Width 10 ft (3 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Orange, Red/Burgundy (rosette)
• Leaves: Green (awl-shaped)
• Stems: Green (cylindrical joints, bumpy tubercles, with a spined areole)
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours per day of full sun, direct sunlight/Partial shade after that.
• Water Frequency: This plant is sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering. Keep the soil moist but not soaking wet at all times.

Hanging Chain Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida)

• Also Known As: Jumping Cholla
• Dimensions: Height 13 ft (4 m) Width 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: White, Pink, streaked with Lavender
• Leaves: Silvery-Yellow, Gray as they age (spines)
• Stems: Light Green (tuberculate, with small, wart-like tubercles on the stem)
• Growth Rate: Rapid once established
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 4-6 + hours per day of full sun (hardy/drought tolerant)
• Water Frequency: Minimal; check the soil to see if it is bone dry; if so, water sparingly.

Hedge Cactus/Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

• Also Known As: Lady of the Night, Orchid Cactus
• Dimensions: Height 8 ft (2.4 m) Width 
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Gold/Yellow, Pink, White (radial)
• Leaves: Green (fleshy)
• Stems: Green (thin straight)
• Growth Rate: Extremely slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/medium
• Light Requirement: 2-6 hours of direct sunlight, then strict shade. 
• Water Frequency: Frequent in warmer months. Allow soil to dry before watering again.

Crassula Ovata (Jade Plant)

• Also Known As: Baby Jade, Jade Tree, Chinese/Japanese Rubber Plant
• Dimensions: Height 3-6 ft. (0.9-1.8 m) Width 2-3 ft. (0.6-0.9 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Pink, White (star)
• Leaves: Green, Red/Burgundy (fleshy, glossy, broadleaf)
• Stems: Brown/Copper, Gray/Silver, Green, Red/Burgundy (straight)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours per day of full sun, direct sunlight/Partial shade after that.
• Water Frequency: Sparingly. Check the top 2-3 cms is dry before watering again. Dormant in winter

Cyphostemma Juttae (Cyphostemma Juttae)

• Also Known As: Wild grape, Tree grape, Namibian grape
• Dimensions: Height 6-7 ft. (1.8-2.1 m) Width 3 ft. (0.9 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Red, Purple (grape-like)
• Leaves: Blue, Green (serrated)
• Stems: Light Green, Brown (swollen bottle)
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of direct sunlight (drought tolerant)
• Water Frequency: Check moisture content in the soil. Usually once per week or as bone dry.

Senita Cactus (Pachycereus schottii)

• Also Known As: Totem Pole Cactus, Monstrous Whisker Cactus
• Dimensions: Height 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m) Width 9 ft. (2.7 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial 
• Flowers: Pale Pink (Spring only) Red, egg-shaped strawberry fruits
• Leaves: None
• Stems: Lime Green (smooth, waxy, columnar in candelabra arrangement from the base)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: Full sun, tolerant to drought and extremely warm, dry temperatures.
• Water Frequency: Minimal when soil is completely dry.

Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

• Also Known As: Date Palm
• Dimensions: Height 50-80 ft. (15-25 m) Width 20-40 ft. (6-12 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Creamy Yellow. Yellow, Golden Brown, Mahogany Red, Black dates.
• Leaves: Gray, Green (waxy, pinnate, divided into sharp pointy smaller leaves)
• Stems: Green, Brown trunk with rough overlapping nodes protruding from the base to the bottom of the leaves.
• Growth Rate: Medium
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium to produce quality fruits
• Light Requirement: Full sun, drought tolerant
• Water Frequency: Low, only when soil is dry

Euphorbia Milii (Crown of Thorns)

• Also Known As: Christ Thorn, Christ Plant
• Dimensions: Height 3-6 ft. (0.9-1.8 m) Width 1 ft 6 inches -3 ft. (0.5-0.9 m)
• Life Cycle: Woody
• Flowers: Gold/Yellow, Green, Red/Burgundy (cups)
• Leaves: Green, Variegated, White (simple, spatulated)
• Stems: Gray/Silver (zig-zags)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of direct sunlight (drought tolerant)
• Water Frequency: Apply moisture only when soil is dry

Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.)

• Also Known As: Rabbit Ears Cactus, Tree Cactus
• Dimensions: Height 10-15 ft. (3-4.5 m) Width 10 ft (3 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Gold/Yellow, Orange, Pink (cup, funnel), Pink, Red/Burgundy fruit
• Leaves: Green (large spines covered in thorns)
• Stems: Green (flat, smooth)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium to help produce quality fruit.
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Water Frequency: Light every 2-4 weeks for the first year. 2 times a month in summer, once a month in the other seasons.

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)

• Also Known As: Monument of the Desert, Sage of the Desert, Giant Cactus.
• Dimensions: Height 50 ft. (15 m) Width 10 ft. (3 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: White blossoms. Egg-shaped, fleshy, green/red/purple fruits.
• Leaves: None
• Stems: Green (cylindrical stems coming from a single thick trunk)
• Growth Rate: Extremely Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of direct sunlight per day, drought tolerant.
• Water Frequency: Once per month.

Soaptree Yucca (Yucca elata)

• Also Known As: Soap Tree, Soap Weed
• Dimensions: Height 6-20 ft. (1.8-6 m) Width 8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Green/Pink tinged, White (clusters)
• Leaves: Blue, Green (dense, spiny, linear rosette)
• Stems: Straw-colored trunk with fiber, shaggy skirting
• Growth Rate: Extremely Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: hardy, drought tolerant, 6 + hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Water Frequency: Once a week during the summer months; otherwise, when the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry. 

Kalanchoe Beharensis (Elephant’s Ears)

• Also Known As: Felt Plant, Felt Bush
• Dimensions: Height 2-3 ft. (60-90 cm) Width 1-2 ft ft. (30-60 cm)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Red, Orange, Green, Yellow (urn-shaped clusters)
• Leaves: Bronze (top) Silver/Gray (under) with fine silver hairs and fang-like protuberances underneath
• Stems: Green (velvet, triangular, lance-shaped, long stalks)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: hardy, drought tolerant, 6 + hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Water Frequency: Minimal when soil is dry.

Monadenium Magnificum (Euphorbia magnifica)

• Also Known As: Spurge
• Dimensions: Height 6-12 ft. (1.8-3.6 m) Width 3.5 ft. (0.9-1.5 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Dark Pink (enveloped in scarlet bract)
• Leaves: Dark Glossy Green (large, oval with reddish-purple tinged older leaves)
• Stems: Gray, Green (Tubers)
• Growth Rate: Slow/Moderate
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade, light shade.
• Water Frequency: Regular without overwatering.

Pachypodium Lamerei (Madagascar Palm)

• Also Known As: Club Foot
• Dimensions: Height 10-20 ft. (3-6 m) Width 3-8 ft. (0.9-2.4 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: White (saucer-shaped, golden yellow throats)
• Leaves: Green (glossy, elongated)
• Stems: Brown/Yellow fade (Thick, spiny, cigar-shaped trunk)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low/Medium
• Light Requirement: Full Sun/Light Shade
• Water Frequency: Liberally in the Summer months, as the soil becomes dry and twice a month at most for the rest of the year. Winter is sometimes less.

Fishhook Barrel (Ferocactus wislizenii)

• Also Known As: Candy Barrel, Southwestern Barrel Cactus
• Dimensions: Height 3-6 ft. (0.9-1.8 m) Width 2-3 ft. (0.6-0.9 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Bright yellow, Red, Orange (forming a ring at the crown). Grow pineapple-shaped fruits after flowering
• Leaves: None
• Stems: Yellow, Red (Barrel shaped columnar trunk)
• Growth Rate: Very Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: Full to partial sun
• Water Frequency: Water regularly but allow the soil to dry completely between drinks. Never wet the trunk, as it can cause fungus to spawn. 

Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)

• Also Known As: Mother-In-Law’s Seat, Golden Ball Cactus
• Dimensions: Height 2 ft. (0.6 m) Width 2-3 ft. (0.6-0.9 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: White (discreet ring at the crown)
• Leaves: None
• Stems: Pale Green (Barrel shaped, ribbed with bright golden spines)
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: 6 + hours of direct sunlight per day. Shaded/Partial sun after that
• Water Frequency: Once a week during summer, minimal for the remainder of the year.

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ (Variegated Snake Plant)

• Also Known As: Golden Bird’s Nest, Good Luck Plant, Snake Plant
• Dimensions: Height 2-4 ft. (0.6-1.2 m) Width 1-2 ft. (0.3-0.6 m)
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Flowers: Green, White (raceme)
• Leaves: Cream/Tan, Gold/Yellow, Green, White (fleshy, leathery)
• Stems: None, leaves grown from the root system
• Growth Rate: Rapid during the growing season
• Care Required: Low
• Nutrition Intake: Low
• Light Requirement: Direct sun 2-6, then partial shade after that

Water Frequency: Fortnightly, when soil is completely dry. Minimal during the winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)

Conclusion 

As we have learnt, there are a ton of naturally tall growing succulents. These species’ benefits far outweigh forcing your plant to stretch via unnatural measures.

They end up just looking droopy and worn out. We hope that this article has been insightful and helped to answer any questions you may have had regarding tall succulents.

We look forward to creating more content like this to help you on your journey in the garden. Thanks for tuning in again, and as always, happy growing!