The Colors of a Succulent

Hey succas! Thanks for coming back to the blog! We appreciate your loyalty to succulents.

For today's blog post, I want to start out with an activity... Picture a succulent...Do you have it?...What'd you picture? If I had to guess, it was a somewhat small, green, thick leaf plant. Am I right? That is what most people would picture at least. This is because that is the most common and popular succulent. We have talked many times about the different types of succulents. However, we have only touched on the different colors they come in and mostly on the post about rare succulents. While green succulents are more common, not all colorful succulents are rare. If you are looking for a succulent to add some color in your life, then this is the post for you!

First we will start with green. I know it is weird to start with green since that is the most common color, but there are many shades of green. There are many factors that go into why a succulent is a certain type of green. How much water and sunlight they get are factors. Also, what type of succulent they are will determine their shade as well. Some succulents cannot change colors or shades while others can. A fun fact is that plants react to the sun the same way our skin does. So this means the more sun exposure the darker the plant will be. Having different shades of green succulents can bring out the different colors of one.

Succulents can also be colors other than green though. One of the most common other colors is purple. Plants produce Anthocyanins to help protect themselves. These are what turn the plant a different color. The more Anthocyanins in a plant the deeper the color. So plants that are purple have more than plants that are red. One of the most common type of purple succulents is the Purple Beauty. These are most commonly outdoor plants and they survive better in cold weather than most other succulents. These are cool succulents because they are green succulents with purple tips on the ends. The Purple heart is probably my favorite purple succulent. These succulents are rare but they look like flowers. They have longer, thinner leaves. This was one of the rare succulents mentioned in a previous blog post.

Another color that succulents can be is blue. This color is closer to green so it is less surprising that succulents can be this color. However, it is less common than purple. These are less common because the same Anthocyanins make plants blue also. However, the usual colors it turns a plant are red or purple so getting a blue color is scarce. There are some really pretty blue succulents though. Blue glow is a blue agave that has a blue green tint. It is beautiful especially when it is changing colors. The center can also turn a white and a flower looking leaf can blossom from it. There is also a blue spruce succulent that is also pretty and unique. It is different than all the other succulents because it grows like a tree.

The second most common color of colorful succulents is red. Like I talked about previously, succulents become red from Anthocyanins. Only a small amount make a succulent red. Most of the red succulents look more like flowers. They have thinner leaves. One of my personal favorite red succulents is the red campfire plant. It is a small, skinnier plant that have thin leaves that grow in cup like shapes. The leaves are mostly a redish color, and then the top, center is green. Another red succulent is called the desert cabbage. It is a super thin leafed succulent. It is all red. It looks somewhat like a flower. It doesn't really look like cabbage that much though, but when they were naming it someone probably thought it did. Another cool reddish succulent is called sticks on fire. This one is cool because it looks so unique compared to other succulents. It literally looks like sticks/branches of a tree. However, the color is an ombre. The top of them are a red and they fade to a light orange at the bottom, like a fire. The last commonly known red succulent is nicknamed "Lipstick." This is a darker red, with thicker leaves. This succulent gets its nickname from the leaves shaped like closed lips, and the color looking like lipstick. It is a great succulent for someone who wants a typical looking succulent, just in a different color.

While finding colorful succulents isn't as normal as green ones, colorful succulents can really add to a room or a garden. There are many Pinterest posts for someone needing inspiration. One of my favorite things to look up is pots/decor of different colored succulents schemes. Having gradually changing colors of succulents in the same pot is so satisfying. Colored succulents are also cool because the same succulent can change colors depending on exposure to light and water. With a little research, one might even be able to determine Succulents are a great, low maintenance way to add color to a room or any place needing that little extra.

I hope you found this post somewhat helpful, or informational, or inspiring in some way!