Succulents are some of the most popular houseplants and landscaping plants today. Their unique shapes, textures, and colors make them eye-catching additions to any indoor or outdoor space.
But one question many succulent owners have is – how long do succulents live?
The answer isn’t straightforward since there are thousands of succulent species and varieties out there, each with different lifespans. Some succulents live only a few years while others can survive for decades or even centuries!
In this complete guide we’ll explore the factors that determine succulent lifespan and break down the expected lifespans of popular succulent varieties so you know what to expect from your succulent collection.
What Determines How Long Succulents Live?
Many factors influence how long succulents can live, including:
Succulent Type
There are three main categories of succulents that have different lifespans:
- Tender succulents – Include echeveria, crassula, and other succulents native to warm climates. They have shorter lifespans of just 3-10 years indoors.
- Hardy succulents – Such as sedum and sempervivum that thrive outdoors. They can live for decades.
- Semi-hardy succulents – Such as agave and yucca. Have intermediate lifespans of 10-30 years.
Growing Conditions
Providing optimal growing conditions tailored to each specific succulent variety will maximize its lifespan. This includes:
- Proper sunlight
- Well-draining soil
- Ideal temperatures and climate
- Infrequent, thorough watering
- Good air circulation
- Protection from pests/disease
Succulents that don’t get the right conditions will have shortened lifespans.
Natural Life Cycle
Some succulents are monocarpic, meaning they die after flowering. How quickly they reach maturity and flower depends on the plant.
Others produce offsets as part of their natural life cycle. The mother plant dies after several years but is replaced by the offsets.
Expected Lifespans of Popular Succulents
Now let’s take a look at the typical lifespans of some of the most popular succulent varieties when given proper care:
Echeveria
Lifespan: 3-30 years
There are hundreds of echeveria cultivars and hybrids. Most tender varieties grow indoors and live around 3-10 years. Some hardy outdoor types can survive up to 30 years.
Aloe
Lifespan: 5-25 years
Aloe is a common succulent known for its medicinal gel. Most aloe plants live around 10 years indoors. Some hardy outdoor aloes can live to 25 years.
Christmas Cactus
Lifespan: Over 30 years
Christmas cacti are epiphytes native to the rainforests of Brazil. They can live for decades when grown indoors. Some specimens over 50 years old are known!
Living Stones
Lifespan: 40-50 years
Living stones (Lithops) are mimics that blend in with surrounding rocks. Their long taproots allow them to survive up to 50 years in ideal conditions.
Crassula
Lifespan: 20-100+ years depending on variety
Crassula is a large genus including the popular jade plant. Jades can survive 100 years indoors. Other crassulas have varying lifespans between 20-100 years.
Hens and Chicks
Lifespan: Indefinitely through offsets
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum) spreads rapidly by offsets. The mother plant dies after 3-4 years but is continually replaced by new offsets.
Agave
Lifespan: 10-30 years
Agaves are large semi-hardy succulents. Different agave species and hybrids live 10-30 years on average. Some can survive even longer in ideal settings.
Sedum
Lifespan: 15-20 years outdoors
Hardy sedums are cold-tolerant succulents perfect for outdoor landscaping. They often survive 15-20 years in the garden.
As you can see, succulent lifespans vary greatly depending on the variety. With proper care, most will thrive for many years in your indoor or outdoor collection.
Tips for Maximizing Succulent Lifespans
Follow these tips to help your succulents enjoy long, healthy lives:
-
Choose suitable varieties – Select succulents well-suited for your climate and growing conditions.
-
Provide ideal growing conditions – Learn each succulent’s specific needs and provide the right amounts of sun, water, soil, etc.
-
Avoid overwatering – This is the #1 cause of premature succulent death. Let soil dry out between waterings.
-
Fertilize lightly – Use diluted, balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
-
Repot when necessary – Re-pot rootbound plants every 2-3 years in fresh soil.
-
Monitor for pests – Catch infestations early before they damage plants.
-
Propagate often – Take cuttings to keep succulents growing even after the mother plant dies.
Succulent Lifespans Are Variable
While it’s tricky to definitively answer “how long do succulents live?”, you now have a helpful overview of the lifespans of popular succulent species and what impacts their longevity.
Follow the care tips outlined to help your succulents thrive for as long as possible. Then sit back and enjoy watching your succulent collection grow over the years!
Q1- How much does a succulent grow in a year?
How fast a succulent grows in a year depends on what kind of succulent it is and how well it is cared for. Without fertilizer, most succulents will grow slowly to moderately, getting a few inches bigger over the course of a year. Using the right fertilizer can speed up the growth, making the plants a little bigger in a year by adding a couple of inches or more. But you should be careful with fertilization because too much of it can cause problems like leggy growth and poor plant health in general.
General Lifespan of Succulents: 20 years
Even though succulents can have very different life spans, it’s helpful to know how long some well-known species usually live:
Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks): Sempervivum are hardy succulents known for their rosette-shaped clusters of leaves. Under favorable conditions, they can live for many years, with some individuals reaching a decade or more.
Echeveria: Echeveria are tender succulents prized for their attractive, rosette-like growth patterns. Echeveria can live for 5 to 10 years or longer if they are grown as houseplants and given the right care.
Agave: Agave species are semi-hardy succulents known for their architectural shapes. Agaves can live for 10 to 30 years, depending on the species and care provided.
Selenium: Hardy types of Selenium are great for gardening outside, and they can live for 10 to 20 years or more.
Plants in the genus Crassula, like the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata), are soft succulents that can live for years if they are grown inside and given the right care.
HOW LONG WILL YOUR SUCCULENTS LIVE? | HOW TO EXTEND YOUR SUCCULENT LIFESPAN
How long do succulents live?
Some succulents don’t live long but grow offsets to replace themselves. A great example is Chicks and Hens. The main plant only lives around 3-4 years but sends out lots of offsets during its life. You may not even notice the main plant’s death because of how many offsets take its place. Monocarpic plants, like aeonium kiwi, die after flowering.
What is the longest living succulent?
One of the longest living succulents is the Saguaro cactus, which has an average lifespan of 150 to 175 years. However, under the right conditions they are capable of living for over 200 years. The oldest known Saguaro, known as Old Granddaddy, was estimated to be around 300 years old at the time of its death in the 1990’s.
How to keep succulents alive?
Overall, the best way to keep your succulents living a long life is to take good care of them. Let’s start off with everyone’s favorite kitchen plant, the aloe vera. Of course, you don’t have to literally keep it in the kitchen, any spot with lots of full sun will do.
Can succulents survive without soil?
Succulents can survive for long periods without soil. They can be grown in water or in a hydroponic system. The plant’s roots will absorb all of the nutrients and moisture that they need from the water. This can be an excellent option for those who want to have low-maintenance plants.