7 Rare Succulents

Rare succulents are so spectacular it doesn’t matter how many I own I can never have too many. Once in a while, every succulent lover seeks some rare succulents to add to their collection. Of course, rare is relative because it depends on what is available where you live.

Support Flowers and @flowerthings by using the affiliate links in my posts to buy succulents. I receive a small commission (no extra cost to you) which allows me to continue creating helpful free content. Thanks, I appreciate it!

Calico Hearts

The succulent does well indoors and is perfect for beginners. It produces flat grey-green oval leaves with or without dark purple spots. The leaves form small clusters or mats rising from very short stems.  

The succulent should be placed in a position with bright light. The plant flowers in the summer and produces tube-shaped blooms, however, when placed indoors the succulent rarely blooms.

The calico hearts is not cold-hardy and is also sensitive to overwatering. It is advisable to allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Always test the amount of water in the soil using your finger.

Propagation is done easily with leaves. The succulent also does well outside even on rocky gardens.

Buy the calico hearts here.

Aloinopsis Schooneesii

The succulent is commonly known as the living stone and is native to South Africa. It produces dense mats of clustered rosettes with small, thick knob-like dark green-blue finely warty, and textured leaves. The rosettes appear to have 8-10 roughly diamond shape.

At the end of winter, the succulent also produces daisy-like, yellowish bronze, silky blooms but only if it gets good light.

During summer the Living stone is dormant and minimal watering is recommended. The succulent does well either in a container or directly in the ground.

Buy Aloinopsis Schooneesii.

Lithops

The lithops are among the rare succulents because of their unusual appearance. They always spark a conversation every time. There are different varieties of Lithops. Many people refer to the Lithops as the Living stones.

The different varieties have different colors from whites, browns, and greens. Common varieties include:

• Lithops Salicola
• Lithops Leslieli ‘Albinica’
• Lithops salicola ‘Malachite’
• Lithops Hokkeri

Buy different varieties of Lithops.

Astrophytum ‘Bishop’s Cap’

The succulent is also commonly referred to as the Bishop’s Hat, Bishop’s Hood, and Bishop’s Miter Cactus.

It is also a perfect bonsai plant because of its slow growth and small size. The cactus is spineless and often grows in solitary or with few if any basal branches.

The succulent can grow up to 8” wide and a cylindrical to the globular stem which can be as high as 3.3 feet. The stem is bright green and covered entirely by minute white hairy scales.

Mature plants flower and produce fragrant glossy yellow blooms that are about 3”. The succulent is hard to kill and does well with minimal watering.

During summer it should be moderately watered and kept dry during winter. It does well in zones 9a to 11b.

Buy the Bishop’s Cap.

Echinopsis ‘Caterpillar Cactus’

The cactus has detailed stem growth that resembles a caterpillar.  The succulent has a stem that grows in a mound with finely spaced ribs and areoles that range in color from light green to dark green. They can also be brownish and have grey-brown spines.

The plant also produces blooms at the end of long floral tubes. The blooms have varying colors and only last for very short periods.  

The cactus is ideal for beginners because it is easy to grow and well-adapted to drought. Propagation is done through offsets that form at the base of the mother plant.

The cactus is perfect for growing indoors in a container because of its slow-growing nature. You should be cautious when handling the plant because it has spines and sharp edges.

Buy the Caterpillar Cactus.

Crested Myrtillo Blue Candle Cactus

The cactus is commonly known as the Crested Blue Myrtle, Crested Blue Flame, Dinosaur Back Plant, or the Crested Blue Candle.

The cactus is highly branched and produces dense columnar stems growing close together. The stem is greenish-white in color.

Just like most cacti, the succulent is low maintenance and easy to take care of even for beginners. The plant produces spectacular clusters making it a delight to look at.   

Buy the Crested Blue Candle.

Espostoa ‘Peruvian Old Lady’

The cactus is quite popular because of its fuzzy white hairy appearance. The appealing cactus is native to Peru and grows up to seven feet in its natural habitat. However, when grown in a pot, it only reaches about ten inches. It is one of the common hairy cacti.

The plants have a columnar stem. The plants rarely produce white flowers because they don’t reach full maturity when planted in pots.

The succulents should be moderately watered during summer and dry during winter since they are very sensitive to over-watering.

Should be planted in porous soil that has excellent drainage. The plants also thrive with bright light and ample airflow.

Buy the Peruvian Old Lady.

Related Posts:

• How and when to water indoor succulents?
• How to top dress your succulent plants (complete guide)

Final Thoughts

I hope the list of rare succulents provided some insight into what is available in the market. Whether you are a beginner or veteran, succulents are some of the easiest plants to keep both indoors and outdoors.

If you love growing rare and unique plants and flowers subscribe to my newsletter to receive updates and also follow me @flowerthings for more awesome posts.