Double Dish Succulent Garden

Create a visually striking succulent display at home by using a double-dish garden. The simple system features two containers, where the inner pot rests on pebbles—which is perfect for optimal drainage. Pale sedum and pachyveria extend outward, complementing the beautiful, bold leaves of the variegated century plant. To add additional interest, include artificial coral as a bright focal point. 

• Pachyveria spp. 
• Pale sedum (Sedum sediforme) 
• Artificial coral 
• Variegated century plant (Agave americana ‘Mediopicta’) 
• Cobweb houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum) 
• Queen Victoria agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) 

Sculpture on a Pedestal

Highlight the distinct shape of your favorite succulents by placing them on a pedestal made from stacked pots. This gorgeous arrangement in an urn sits atop an upside-down square black pot, creating dramatic height that draws the eye. 

• Dwarf century plant (Agave desmettiana) 
• Ice plant (Lampranthus deltoides) 
• Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)

Fiery Forces

This stunning triangular metal container design features a delightful trio of creeping sedum and two hen-and-chicks varieties for a vibrant, low-growing composition everyone will love. As the yellow blooms of the sedum emerge, they cast a gorgeous, warm glow. These hardy succulents thrive in Zone 4 and beyond, making them suitable for outdoor growth across many regions of the country. 

Test Garden Tip: Ensure you drill multiple holes in your containers in order to create good drainage for succulents. 

• Creeping sedum (Sedum sarmentosum) 
• Firebird hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum ‘Firebird’) 
• Glowing Embers hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum ‘Glowing Embers’) 

Sleek Line Succulent

For an elegant and straightforward succulent container garden idea, cultivate a single multistemmed yucca inside of a stylish, modern pot. The ‘Golden Sword’ yucca boasts striking yellow-striped leaves with sharp edges. Make sure to place this plant out of high-traffic areas to avoid accidents, and ensure it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight every single day. 

• Yucca filamentosa ‘Golden Sword’ 

Urning their Keep

In this striking succulent container, the pretty pink blooms of ‘Brilliant’ showy sedum complement the pinkish-purple hues of ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ echeveria. A string of beads elegantly cascades over the edge of the container. These stunning plants capture the essence of a classic container garden, serving as the thriller (showy sedum), filler (echeveria), and spiller (string of beads). 

• Brilliant showy sedum (Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’) 
• Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ 
• String of beads (Senecio rowleyanus) 
• Echeveria shaviana 

Plant Tray

When it comes to succulent container gardening, choosing the right vessel is key. This standout display features an array of echeverias, kalanchoe, and silver squill, showcasing variegated leaves and artistic foliage. With most being rosette formers, a flat saucer perfectly complements and showcases their elegant, stunning forms. 

• Echeveria ‘Mauna Loa’ 
• Graptoveria acaulis 
• Echeveria lilacina 
• Silver squill (Ledebouria socialis) 
• Paddle plant (Kalanchoe luciae) 

Vintage Plant Container

You can easily repurpose a salvaged metal plant stand to create a dramatic pedestal for trailing succulents. The cascading Madagascar senecio provides an elegant drape similar to the string of beads plant, while the burro’s tail adds texture from the sedum family. If any parts break off, all you have to do is place them in soil, and watch new plants form. 

• Madagascar senecio (Senecio antandroi) 
• Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) 

Echeveria Collection

This gorgeous collection of echeverias, which are planted in mismatched terra-cotta pots, serves as a captivating centerpiece on a stone slab. With over 100 species and cultivars, echeverias offer limitless possibilities for creating stunning tabletop arrangements. As the plants start to grow and fill their pots, simply divide and replant them to manage their size. 

• Echeveria ‘Golden Glow’ 
• Echeveria elegans 
• Echeveria prolifica 

Concrete Garden Accessories

Utilize concrete planters to unify your succulent collection. Simply arrange each plant in its own pot, and create a dramatic container garden display by grouping those pots together. The neutral gray and black hues of the concrete allow the plants to take the spotlight. Add a concrete sphere for a cohesive look. 

Layered Garden

Accent sun-drenched entry steps in your front yard or backyard with vibrant succulent containers. Group several pots together to direct the gaze upward, creating a welcoming pathway to your home. Achieve unity by using the same plant, like echeveria, in every container. Add trailing succulents such as burro’s tail for an attractive cascading effect. 

• Zebra haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) 
• Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) 
• Echeveria elegans 
• Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) 

Tabletop Succulent Garden

A bright, charming blue ceramic bowl presents a medley of small succulents, creating a captivating tabletop centerpiece for your garden space. Combining rosette-shaped, upright, and trailing forms, this arrangement promises a delightful showcase that requires minimal care for years to come. 

• Miniature pine tree (Crassula tetragona) 
• Tiger jaws (Faucaria tigrina) 
• Paddle plant (Cotyledon macrantha) 
• Narrow-leaf haworthia (Haworthia angustifolia) 
• Ox tongue (Gasteria verrucosa) 
• Variegated creeping crassula (Crassula sarmentosa variegata) 

Cluster of Containers

Achieve a simple and stylish arrangement of easy-care succulents by placing three similarly sized containers on top of a table. Rosette varieties like echeverias and dyckia shine when viewed from above, making them ideal for low, casual table displays throughout your home. 

• Dyckia marnier-lapostolle 
• Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ 
• Echeveria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy’ 

Creeping Container Plants

Silvery blue foliage often signals that a certain plant requires minimal moisture, making it perfect for low-water gardens. In this beautiful, shallow bowl, the plants mimic the container’s blue hue. Grasslike, upright forms such as stemless senecio and variegated Kamchatka sedum bring vertical interest to this collection of low-growing groundcovers.

• Variegated Kamchatka sedum (Sedum kamtschaticum variegatum) 
• Jungle Fire hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum ‘Jungle Fire’) 
• Echeveria elegans 
• Sedum lydium 
• Stemless senecio (Senecio acaulis) 

Succulent Mix

This dish garden contains both familiar and unique succulents. Some, such as the silver jade and warty panda plant, are close relatives of the more common green jade and panda plant. Medicinal aloe is renowned for its ability to soothe burns. Black mondo grass is usually considered a groundcover, rather than a succulent, but because it has low water needs, it works well in the mix.

A. Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis)—1

B. Harpoon daisy (Senecio cuneatus)—1

C. Moonstones (Pachyphytum oviferum)—1

D. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’)—1

E. Silver dollar jade (Crassula arborescens)—1

F. Warty panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)—1

G. Medicinal aloe (Aloe vera)—1

Vintage Appeal

Surround a large-leaf succulent with a ring of rosette-forming ones for a quick container fix. For a decorative touch, mulch with dried sheet moss. Keep the moss dry, so it doesn’t cause the succulents to develop stem rot. This vintage pedestal and bowl provide the perfect backdrop to the plants.

A. Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)—7

B. Echeveria shaviana ‘Mexican Hens’—1

C. Paddle plant (Kalanchoe luciae)—1

D. Lola echeveria (Echeveria ‘Lola’)—6

Delightful Dozen

Display a mix of succulents, still growing in their four-inch nursery pots, in a vintage wood carrying case. Move the plants around to vary the look, or switch them out with different varieties to keep the combination fresh. A thin mulch of sphagnum moss disguises the nursery containers.

A. Coral aloe (Aloe striata)—1

B. Stemless senecio (Senecio acaulis)—1

C. Sedum furfuraceum—1

D. Echeveria ‘Easter Bonnet’—1

E. Watch chain plant (Crassula lycopodioides)—1

F. Zanzibar aloe (Aloe zanzibarica)—1

G. Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)—1

H. Two-row sedum (Sedum spurium)—1

I. Sedeveria (Sedeveria spp.)—1

J. Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis)—1

K. String of buttons (Crassula conjuncta)—1

L. String of beads (Senecio rowleyanus)—1

Rosette Succulents

This combination of rosette-forming succulents makes a simple but elegant statement. Washed river rocks act as decorative mulch that echoes the bluish gray leaves of the echeveria. The strong lines of the metal grill provide a contrast to the rounded forms of the plants and the container.

A. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) — 1

B. Echeveria elegans — 1

C. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum marmoratum) — 1

D. Aeonium ‘Kiwi’ — 1

E. Hairy houseleek (Sempervivum ciliatum) — 1

Barrel of Sedums

This collection of cold-hardy sedums flows out of a wooden barrel. Upright Autumn Joy sedum, which tops off the combination, will develop dusky pink blooms in late summer, after the yellow flowers of Kamchatka sedum have faded. As the season progresses, newly planted tricolor sedum and white blooming cup flower will grow to cover the sides of the barrel.

A. Sedum telephium ‘Autumn Joy’—1

B. Russian stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum)—9

C. Tricolor two-row sedum (Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’)—6

D. Cup flower (Nierembergia scoparia)—6

Mini Trough Garden

This collection of succulents balances upright forms with ruffly rosettes and trailers in a lightweight concrete-look trough garden. Sculptural twigs and a bird figurine complete the habitat. Smooth river stones serve as the pot’s feet.

A. Red jade (Crassula coccinea)—1

B. Echeveria shaviana—1

C. Chinese sedum (Sedum tetractinum)—1

D. Flower dust plant (Kalanchoe pumila)—1

E. Turkish rosularia (Rosularia muratdaghensis)—1

F. Crassula pellucida—1

Faux Bois Feeder

Create a concrete faux bois trough planter filled with trailing burro’s tail and echeverias to make a colorful, drought-tolerant display for a hot, sunny site. The texture-rich foliage of the succulents enhances the rough bark appearance of the container.

A. Hens-and-chicks echeveria (Echeveria imbricata)—2

B. Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum)—2

Two-Tiered Container Garden

Build a tiered planter to gain height and drama. In this container, a variegated century plant rises several inches above the level of the main matching pot. The small pot nestles in one corner of the large one, creating a riserlike effect. Large chunks of broken aquamarine glass fill gaps between the succulents.

A. Opal century plant (Agave americana ‘Opal’)—1

B. Pachyveria spp.—2

C. Echeveria shaviana ‘Mexican Hens’—1

D. Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum)—1

E. Echeveria agavoides—1

F. Graptoveria ‘Margaret Reppin’—1

G. Echeveria ‘Afterglow’—1

H. Echeveria imbricata—2

I. Senecio mandraliscae—2

Rounded Flower Pots

Circular clay containers create the perfect home for sedums and echeverias. The porous clay pot allows the plant’s roots and soil to dry out quickly—this is key because succulents need well-drained soil to thrive. A soil mix specifically formulated for succulents is available to buy, however you can also make your own soil mixture to provide the essential drainage these plants need. An upright showy sedum anchors the large terra-cotta pot and is surrounded by clumps of echeveria. The trailing ‘Angelina’ sedum offers textural contrast and flows from a second, smaller container.

A. Showy stonecrop (Sedum spectabile)—1

B. Echeveria secunda—3

C. Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)—4

Collection of Succulents

A large timber post serves as an easy tabletop garden for a spectacular flower dust plant displaying its splendid pink blooms. Several containers of echeveria accompany this flowering kalanchoe. One pot mounts to the post by means of a plant hook. The others rest on board benches.

A. Flower dust plant (Kalanchoe pumila)—1

B. Echeveria imbricata—5

C. Echeveria secunda—3

Stone Trough Succulents

A mix of upright, rosette, and trailing succulents fill this round stone trough to overflowing. Aeonium, showy sedum, and silver dollar jade draw your attention upward, while sprawling sedums and variegated elephant bush trail over the edge of the container. Mounding Cuban Oregano, echeveria, and pachyveria do their best to fill in the gaps.

A. Tree aeonium (Aeonium arboreum)—1

B. Variegated showy sedum (Sedum spectabile)—1

C. Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus)—1

D. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp.)—4

E. Echeveria runyonii ‘Silver Spoons’—1

F. Sedum furfuraceum—3

G. Silver dollar jade (Crassula arborescens ‘Blue Bird’)—1

H. Variegated elephant bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’)—1

I. Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’—1

J. Pachyveria spp.—1

Sunken Container Garden

A shallow metal tray resting on a stone slab makes an attractive base for this outdoor decor project. Soil in the tray mounds for extra height to provide ample room for root growth. A bronze statuette tucked among the succulents creates a whimsical focal point.

A. Giant echeveria (Echeveria gibbiflora)—1

B. Echeveria shaviana—1

C. Echeveria elegans—1

D. Angelina sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)—1

E. Graptoveria spp.—1

F. Sedum spp.—1

G. Hen-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp.)—1

H. Echeveria runyonii—2