Large Succulents for Outdoor Landscape

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When we say succulent plants, what is the first thing that comes to mind? We thought you would picture these interesting-looking small plants in a diverse pot atop colorful stones.

Yes, succulents come in all shapes, sizes, and hues. But the fact is that not all of them are minute. You can find some extravagant ones that grow huge in outdoor landscaping.

Today we want to share some of our favorite gigantic mammoth-sized succulents with you. You can astonish guests and neighbors with a plant that can grow as big as a tree in your front or backyard.

Most Beautiful Large Succulent Plants for Your Succulent Gardens

These are some of the most popular drought-tolerant succulent plants you can grow in big pots or directly into the landscaping.

Mountain Aloe With Reddish Spines

Aloe marlothii

The Aloe marlothii is one spectacular species named after the botanist Rudolph Marloth from Southern Africa. Young plants start small, growing up to 20 feet tall. It is sure to become the focal point in the garden.

The Mountain Aloe grows a dense green-grayish rosette from a single stem. It has reddish spines lined on the edge of the leaves and other parts of the plant. Once the leaves die, it forms a petticoat around the stem.

As with most succulents, the Mountain Aloe needs well-draining soil with full sun to thrive. So, between May to September, you see this gorgeous orange-yellow to red flowers. A single plant can produce up to 30 racemes with blooms.

The plant looks fabulous in a succulent garden or rock garden, and it is deer-resistant while resistant to most insects and diseases.

Agave Americana or The Century Plant The American Aloe Vera

agave americana

The century plant comes from the southern parts of the United States and Mexico. It is also known as the American Aloe, growing up to six feet tall and spread to ten feet wide. It grows these gorgeous blue-green arching leaves when they mature.

The Agave americana can take up to ten years to age and produce flowers on stalks reaching up to 15 feet in length. The bloom displays in a greenish-yellow color. While the Agave prefers full sun, it does well in part shade compared to other succulents in the genus.

It makes for an excellent collection plant in gardens or as part of a hedge. It also attracts birds, and it is deer resistant. But we do not recommend planting it where there is a lot of foot traffic as the leaf tips can trip people.

Crassula Ovata Species

jade plant

Another plant that makes up part of the large succulents is the Jade plant or Crassula ovata. The fantastic thing is you can grow them in succulent gardens or indoors. Other popular names are Lucky Plant and Money Plant.

When left in the garden, it will grow huge, and in full sun, the leaf edges become red, creating a beautiful contrast. It can survive temperatures of hot summers growing compact but can tolerate part shade.

Agave ovatifolia

Agave ovatifolia

The whale’s tongue is a statement plant outdoors with its striking look. The perennial succulent you find native to northeastern Mexico. It can grow up to five feet tall and six feet wide. So, ensure you have enough space available in your garden.

It is an evergreen with chunky yet broad grey to a powdery blue cupped leaf growing compact with a tight rosette. The pointy leaves have thorns looking like teeth growing up to an inch long.

After about ten years, when the whale’s tongue matures, it will bloom once with dense clusters of green-yellow flowers from a flower spike up to 14 feet tall. You can set these succulents and forget to grow in light shade to bright sunlight.

Neither does it produce offsets, but it reproduces through bulbils and seeds. It thrives in well-draining soil and can have an off-putting smell when it gets root rot from overwatering. In summer, with regular watering, they grow large, hardy plants that can handle frost.

So we would not plant it at the front door as those thorns can stick to you and the sap it releases irritates the skin. Hence, you can leave this plant outside for winter without worrying that it will die.

Aloidendron dichotomum Related to The Aloe Vera Genus

Aloidendron dichotomum

At first glance, you would not think this plant should belong in your yard. But the quiver tree comes from the Karoo Desert in South Africa, and they grow tall. So when grown in landscaping, you need to choose a site for it to grow huge without getting in the way of other features in the garden.

Formerly the quiver tree was known as the Aloe dichotoma and related to the Aloe. It grows dichotomum, pointing to how the stems fork midway into two similar branches. In Afrikaans, we call it the Kokerboom, as the farmers would hollow out those tubular branches to make the quivers for their arrows decades ago.

The tree grows dark green leaves in the shape of a rosette on the tips of stumpy tree branches. It grows in such a way as if it is growing a crown, and the foliage is covered with a white powder.

Another fascinating thing about these species is that it has three water reservoirs the swollen fibrous stem, fleshy leaves, and roots. When the tree matures, it produces a long raceme with up to 30 vibrant yellow flowers in late September.

After the flowers die, it develops seeds that burst open for pollinators to spread them further. Still, it is a sought-after succulent plant that people grow in containers making a statement piece in the courtyard, patio, or entranceway.

Adansonia digitata

Adansonia digitata

The African Baobab has the right to be called large succulents and goes by Tree of Life. It can grow up to 98 feet tall, with a trunk diameter between 23 to 46 feet. These trees are all deciduous, meaning they shed annually during dry seasons, and the leaves regrow when it rains.

At first glimpse, the tree looks strange, as if planted upside down. It has thick branches looking like roots growing at the top. The tree can bloom flowers in the rainy season and is huge and white, drooping down, looking like a pendulum from the stalks. But it only blooms for a night.

The baobab bears fruits hanging from the flowers with a velvety shell. The fruit has an acidic yet citrus flavor filled with healthy nutrients. These trees are hardy and are suitable succulents to grow in poor soil with immense heat and drought.

If you decide to grow it in containers, provide them with soil that drains well, like a cactus potting medium.

Spineless Yucca

Yucca elephantipes

Yukka plants are grown around the world as indoor plants. But you can find some varieties that grow much better outdoors in the garden, like the Spineless Yucca.

The Yucca elephantipes is one of the tallest species reaching up to four feet. The succulent has a smooth, spineless green leaf with a thick trunk and sparse branches.

It is also deer and rabbit-resistant and thrives in sandy potting medium in the full sun.

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi

Kalanchoe fedtschenki

For a plant that spreads and grows with height, the Kalanchoe fedtschenki is a star in this department. The succulent can spread over huge spaces with its unusual leaves. In addition, the blue color of the leaves with a red edge adds color to any garden.

You can find variegated versions that look striking, developing white and pink leaves. Still, some mothers of thousands can take up any available space in your garden and are challenging to eliminate as some are invasive weeds.

Delosperma cooperi

Delosperma cooperi

The ice plant might not be large succulents for height, but they are huge, growing as ground cover in the garden. The plant has the most striking daisy-like flowers in vibrant colors. So, you can grow the ice plant on a wall to spill over or on the edge of the garden.

We recommend looking for miniature versions at your nurseries to make managing them easier.

African Candelabra Tree

Euphorbia ingens

Euphorbia ingens many people mistake for the Euphorbia candelabrum as the features look similar. Yet, this cactus grows into a massive tree with a height of up to 26 feet. The leaves grow in different shapes and do not last very long as they have no proper function.

Hence, the African candelabra tree depends on the stems to make photosynthesis. Once young plants mature, they no longer need your special care and only need full sun with warm temperatures.

Unfortunately, the tree cannot survive the cold winter months, and the sap can irritate the skin. In some African parts, people use the plant for treating ulcers.

Large Succulents Make For a Welcome Addition

The truth is that large succulents, whether they have sharp thorns or none, are staples in landscaping. The reason is that the care and maintenance are low and have a unique appearance.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

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