Succulent Identification Tips and Resources
Identifying succulents is an underrated skill when it comes to keeping your succulents healthy. Knowing what types of succulents you own can help you better care for them because not all types of succulents need the exact same care. There are several different ways to identify your plants, so use the method that works best for you or a combination of these.
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Really quick, if you want to get started on the right track with succulent care, download my free cheat sheet to see what it looks like when your succulents need more or less water. Click here to grab that, it'll be super helpful.
Before you get into identification though, keep in mind that there are thousands of varieties of succulents and some look quite similar. While it's nice to know exactly what succulent varieties you own, getting close is usually good enough. The goal with identifying your succulent is to help you better care for it.
Even succulent experts have a hard time getting exact IDs, especially varieties like Sempervivum which change colors throughout the year. Growing conditions, age, and other factors can make it difficult to get an exact ID on your plant.
Ideally you'll find the genus and species of your succulent. But at a minimum, it's important to find the genus. Getting a close match on the name is important because each type of succulent has slightly different needs when it comes to light, water, and temperature.
For example, Echeveria and Sempervivum both go by the common name "Hens and Chicks" but they have very different temperature tolerances. Semps can survive snowy winters while Echeveria will struggle with even 2 or 3 nights below freezing.
With that, let's dive in. Here's a great walk through of how to go about identifying your succulent:
Start with a good photo
You'll always need a good photo to ID your succulent (unless you are asking someone in person). Try to photograph the plant on its own rather than in an arrangement.
If it is in an arrangement, try to crop or zoom in so that only the plant in question is visible. However, make sure you can see enough of the plant that people can identify it.
If your plant is in bloom it's generally even easier for people to ID it. Be sure to capture a separate picture of the flowers or include it in the main photo if you can. You don't have to have the photo of the bloom, but for specific species it makes things a little easier.
Make sure the succulent is well lit and that the plant is in focus, not blurry. If you are photographing in a dark area or sometimes indoors, you may get a weird color cast which can make the color of the plant look different.
The better the picture, the easier it will be to get an accurate ID for your succulent.
Free Succulent Identification Options
Google Search or Google Lens
If you're on a desktop computer, Google search has a function that will allow you to upload your photo and do a search on it. While it isn't 100% accurate (most of the ways here are not perfect) it's enough to get you started in the right direction.
I'll often use this to help me determine the Genus of a succulent and then do a few more "word" searches from there to narrow things down more.
You can also use the Google Lens app on your phone in the same way.
Once you have a name, then do a Google Image search for that name and see what comes up. Make sure you look at the sources for the photos that pull up. Sometimes search results will pull in similar plants or other succulents in the same genus. You'll also want to make sure the image source is reliable.
Post on Reddit
You can also post photos on the succulent sub-reddit to get name suggestions from other succulent growers. Similar to the Google Lens recommendation, once you have a name from other Redditors, search for the plant names they suggested and look at what photos come up to see if they're a good match for your plant.
Join a Facebook Group
Facebook Groups are another great way to get identification help from other succulent lovers. Often, people in these groups will share helpful care tips with you as well. A few groups I've enjoyed being part of include:
- Succulent Fanatics
- Kalanchoe Kelly and Friends
- SUCCULENT INFATUATION
- Succulents and MORE!
- Succulents and Cactus for Beginners
Types of Succulents Page
The best way to get better at identifying succulents is to look at pictures of different varieties. Paying attention to the leaf shape, thickness, growth patterns, subtle color changes, and more will help you better distinguish one succulent from other. You'll also start to notice characteristics within a genus, such as Crassula always grow with two leafs opposite each other, then the next two leaves are perpendicular to the previous set, creating tightly stacked leaf pairs.
Use the Types of Succulents Page here at Succulents and Sunshine to look through common succulent varieties and look for matches to plants you own.
There are images of specific succulents, along with care and propagation information, as well as reader's experiences!
Join the Succulent Lovers Club!
As you already know, I feel quite strongly that you should know the names of the succulents you own. That's why as part of the Succulent Lovers Club there's a section where you can upload your photo and the Succulents and Sunshine Team (along with other club members) will identify it for you.
You can post as many pictures as you want! Just sit back and wait for the reply. We'll do the hard work for you.
Plus, in addition to getting the name of your succulents, you'll also get an amazing course which teaches you how to help your succulents thrive! Plus, you can upload photos of succulents you need help with and get personalized feedback on how to help them.
Definitely check out the club to get help with your succulent IDs and learn a lot more!
Phone Apps for Succulent Identification
More and more apps are coming on the market that help with succulent identification. Some apps are free, others are paid, and the quality of results varies greatly. Starting with a clear, well lit photo of just your succulent will make a big difference in the result you get. Here are a few apps that our Succulent Lovers Club members find helpful:
- Pl@ntNet via Google Play Store or App Store
- iNaturalist via Google Play Store or App Store
- PictureThis via Google Play Store or App Store
As with other identification methods, use these apps as a starting point, not as a definitive answer.
Once you get a name…
Be sure to write down the name of the plant, and store it along with the picture, so you don't have to search all over again. I personally use the Cheerful Plants app to store the names and photos of my plants all in once place. You can use the app to keep track of when you water your succulents so you don't kill them too!
After you find the name of your succulent, start learning more about that particular variety. How much light does it need? What temperatures can it tolerate? How frequently does it need water? How large will it get? How can it be propagated?
The more succulents you grow, the easier identification and care will be. Just start with one or two plants and work your way up from there.
If you didn't grab it at the beginning, make sure to download the free succulent watering cheat sheet to learn how to tell if your succulent is getting too much or too little water. You'll also get a series of emails with the most important care tips for keeping your succulents happy.