21 Fast-Growing Succulent Plants To Consider Growing

Whether you've just moved into a cute rental and are on the hunt for colorful succulents that will thrive indoors, or are looking for a unique ground cover to fill the crevices in that newly established rock garden, you need succulents that will expand quick-smart. Succulents, for the most part, are desert plants. Their fat, fleshy appendages are adapted to holding onto water where it's scarce. As such, they tend to grow either very slowly or very quickly, and not much in between. Fortunately, there are plenty of fast-growing succulents to choose from.

For example, sprightly Kalanchoes boast vibrant flowers and cute scalloped leaves in a range of shades, while the tendrils of most Senecios will quickly cascade out of hanging baskets. Not all large succulents are slow growing, either. Plant a pale leaf Yucca, Agaves and Mangaves, or the pencil tree, to quickly add some breadth, height, and geometric structure to backyard landscaping. Quick-growing Sedums remain popular because there are so many fun cultivars to choose from, while Cotyledons are underutilized — at least here in the U.S. — fast flourishers.

Remember that succulents need specific conditions to thrive. Though some are cold hardy, most prefer warmer climates, with outdoor temperatures between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also be prone to root rot when overwatered and need a well-draining growing medium. Pop them into the cracks in stone walls or fill a platter with different species, highlighting the diverse leaf shapes and hues.

The Kalanchoe genus encompasses many tropical succulents native to Africa and Asia that are quick to establish in a pot or garden, given the right conditions. If you live in a cold climate, grow and take care of Kalanchoe indoors only. Species to look for include mother of thousands, panda plant, flapjack Kalanchoe, mother of millions, lavender scallops, and the cheerful florist Kalanchoe. Kalanchoes are toxic to cats and dogs; keep your plant babies well away from your furry family members.

Often listed as Huernia schneideriana online, though now classified as Huernia coropegia, the red dragon flower is prized for its dreadlock-like fleshy stems and petite, blood red blooms that grow near the soil from spring through fall. This fast-growing succulent is native to Tanzania and hardy up to Zone 9a. Decided you need this succulent for your patio? Get a FlowerPotNursery Red Dragon Flower Cactus Huernia Schneideriana in a 4-inch pot for about $9. Though it's sometimes referred to as a cactus, its spines are soft, not sharp.

If you want something that grows fast in a garden bed or a balcony planter, try succulents from the Senecio genus. For example, the aptly named blue chalksticks boast long, thin, pale blue quick-growing leaves on spindly stems. Meanwhile, daisy-like yellow blooms make yellow puffs another rapidly establishing favorite. Soft, sage-leaved Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings' will survive down to Zone 8 outdoors. Some Senecios are better for quickly filling hanging baskets or overflowing retaining walls — string of pearls and string of bananas among them.

If you're tired of killing your houseplants, try this low-maintenance trailing succulent! Little pickles, also sometimes called ruby necklace, isn't just easy to grow. It gets going quickly once planted, too — perfect for impatient gardeners with a less-than-green thumb. This pink-stemmed, yellow-flowering creeper comes from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, so plant it in sandy soil and water it infrequently. If you live in regions colder than Zone 9, keep it indoors, not outside. Can't find the plant for sale at your local or go-to online nursery? They might be selling it under its former botanical name, Othonna capensis.

Gardeners looking for rapid spreaders and fast growers will do well with the immense Sedum, or stonecrop, genus. These succulents demand little care in return for plentiful blooms and colorful foliage. Try the economical 'Golden Glow', pretty evergreen Corsican stonecrop, the aptly named jelly bean plant, or the trailing Mexican stonecrop and its golden-hued cultivar 'Lemon Coral'. Likewise, consider vibrant ground covers like 'Angelina' and 'Spanish Selection', yellow-green blooming golden moss, and matt-forming creeping stonecrop.

The common name ice plant (sometimes written as "iceplant") encompasses a number of succulents under the family Aizoaceae. Dewplants (Lampranthus spp.) feature daisy-like flowers and are often trailing, while Delosperma spp., Malephora spp., and the Livingstone daisy are all fast growers. The popular common ice plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, was even identified for spaceflight! 

Love the look of the truffula trees in "The Lorax"? Then you'll be enamored with the tree houseleek (Aeonium arboreum). This speedy sprouter sports big rosettes of chunky lime green leaves perched atop long, woody stems. Prefer brighter-hued but still fast-growing succulents? Try the deep red cultivar 'Zwartkop', the purple rose tree 'Atropurpureum,' or the hot pink and yellow striped 'Mardi Gras'. These succulents grow best in well-draining planters lining a paved patio or sunny balcony or adorning garden bed borders.

Several species in the Euphorbia genus could work if you want a fast-growing succulent. The pencil cactus is named this way because its abundant branches are pencil thin. Its 'Firesticks' cultivar grows very tall, very fast, and makes an excellent filler plant indoors or out. The African milk tree is an architectural marvel, while the candelabra spurge boasts unusual yellow marbled limbs. For a more petite and unassuming option that's just as odd, try devil's backbone. Just be aware that Euphorbia succulents contain a sap, often milky, that can be toxic to people and pets.

Turtle vine (Callisia repens) is a North American native groundcover that quickly colonizes wherever it's planted. It's the perfect addition to a rock garden or a desert-themed backyard. The color of its string of bead-like leaves ranges from deep green to candy pink or creamy white depending on the variety you buy. For example, a YOKEBOM Callisia Repens Live House Plant costs about $25 and boasts foliage ranging from green to pink in hue. Watch turtle vine carefully if it's planted in a garden bed — it's such a vigorous grower that it can smother nearby plants.

Echeverias are distinguished as much by their rainbow hues as they are by their compact rosette shape. While there are some sluggish species, most plants in this large genus will quickly fill out a plot or pot. The ever-popular Mexican hens and chicks, with baby plants sprouting around a parent, can grow 6 to 8 inches in a year. Cultivar 'Perle von Nürnberg' grows fast and has pretty lavender leaves. Other quick takers include the cold hardy 'Topsy Turvy' and the red-tipped chenille plant.

While many consider common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) a garden pest, it's also quite a pretty succulent. It will quickly take over a hanging basket with petite green fleshy leaves on stalks up to 8 inches tall and small, poppy-like flowers in vibrant hues. It's best grown in a container to corral its tendency to spread throughout your backyard. Worried about cultivating a weed in your backyard? Try rock purslane (Calandrinia spectabilis) instead. It looks similar to common purslane, with pretty blooms and feathery foliage, and grows fast, but won't take over your beds.

The Cotyledon genus is native to South Africa, where it thrives in rocky grasslands. This fast-growing, shrubby succulent has chunky, egg-shaped leaves that range in color from gray to green. The plant's bell-like flowers grow in spring and winter, and its woody stems take root quickly once they touch new ground. Add the rose-tinted pig's ear species, tubular canned finger aloe 'Flavida', or the lime green 'Macrantha' to your garden. Pick a sunny yet sheltered spot, plant them in dry, sandy soil, and water infrequently.

Silver ruffles (Cotyledon undulata) is a particularly odd and wild specimen that grows quickly and boasts large scallop shell leaves with a protective waxy coating. Plant it in well-draining sandy soil and feed it occasionally with a succulent fertilizer; you'll be rewarded with a tall stalk of peach-hued trumpet-shaped blooms. The smooth-leaved variegated variety (Cotyledon undulata f. variegated) is also a fast grower if you prefer a touch of pale yellow in your plants.

If you're looking for an attention-grabbing succulent that establishes itself quickly, give dunce cap (Orostachys iwarenge) a go. Few things say "look at me" more than tall gray-green cones sticking straight up from a cluster of scale-like leaves that appear to float above the ground. Once the teeny flowers appear, the cone dies, though it's quickly replaced. Like most Orostachys, dunce caps thrive in shallow soils — think large, low dishes and the crevices and depressions of a busy rockery. It will overwinter without issues right down to Zone 5.

There are more than 300 species in the Crassula genus, with most hailing from South Africa. String of buttons is a favorite because of its square, rose-tinted leaves and quick sprouting, so long as it gets lots of light. Jade plants, another popular species in the Crassula genus, typically grow slowly, but if you love them and want something speedier, try trailing jade. Other swift-sprouting Crassulas include pine tree Crassula, 'Burgundy', 'Variegata', watch chain, and miniature pine tree.

As we mentioned above, the ever-popular jade plant doesn't grow fast. Thankfully, there's a look-a-like that does: elephant bush (Portulacaria afra). Like the jade plant, elephant bush boasts small, bulbous lime-green leaves that sprout from woody branches. It grows tall fast, reaching heights of 15 feet, given the right conditions. It's decidedly not cold tolerant, being hardy in zones 9 to 11, so it's better as an indoor plant in cooler climates. The equally fast-growing variegated cultivar, 'Variegata', is smaller, with cream and pink leaves and blooms.

Agaves are hardy succulents that love rocks, sun-filled days, and little water. They grow so fast they're a bioenergy feedstock. The most well-known Agave is the blue-hued century plant. It grows 6 feet wide and 10 feet tall in just a few years. It blooms after a decade or so of life and then dies. For variegated vibes, plant Agave americana v. marginata. Mangaves were developed in the 1990s and are big, sprightly hybrids of agaves and the succulent genus Manfreda. Typically, they grow faster than Agaves. 

Yuccas are not considered fast-growing succulents. The pale leaf Yucca (Yucca pallida) is, however, an exception to the rule. This attractive blue-gray-leafed plant is endemic to north-central Texas and loves sun and sand (though it also does well in shade). These qualities make it the perfect addition to a native desert garden. It doesn't grow that large, where Yuccas are concerned, stretching up and out about 3 feet at most without a trunk. Bonus: the pale leaf Yucca is even a pollinator magnet and larval host to the native Yucca giant skipper butterfly.

Fast growth is a goal for many Aloe breeders, so there are lots of choices in this genus for gardeners looking for less snoozy succulents. If you're a bit bored of the well-known quick grower Aloe vera, try candelabra Aloe. Like its common cousin, you can expect about 2 to 6 inches of growth annually — right up to 10 feet in height eventually — and you get the bonus of spectacular flame-hued flower stems in the summer. If you want something fast and small, try the festive red Aloe.

The ghost plant or mother of pearl (Graptopetalum paraguayense) grows vigorously upwards, with a rosette perched atop each leggy stem. Plant it with the fast-growing Graptopetalum mendozae — a Mexican native with compact rosettes that contrast well with a ghost plant's roomy forms. Other quick movers to try in this genus are beautiful Graptopetalum, and the 'Mirinae' and 'Ellen' cultivars. Graptopetalums are sometimes confused with Echeverias; the former boasts rounder leaves and is a better choice for hanging containers.

Can't choose between Graptopetalum and Echeveria? Graptoverias are hybrids between these popular succulent genera, giving you the best of both. The 'Lovely Rose' cultivar is known for its rapid regeneration. It boasts squat leaves with pointed tips and turns from lime green to rose pink when temperatures start to fluctuate during swing seasons. If you prefer something fast and pudgy, get your green thumb on 'Opalina'. This cultivar looks equally as good spilling from a crevice in a rock garden as it does in hanging planters.