There are many large outdoor succulents you can start to grow in your gardens. These large succulents come in a variety of sizes, colours and textures to help add a beautiful touch and landscape wherever you decide to grow.
Not only that, most succulents are simple and easy to grow without the need for knowledge or effort.
But, there is a twist…
Some succulents are prone to the worst.
Sudden meltdown, rot and dying of the plant can occur with complex species.
This is especially common with larger succulents that are grown outdoors.
Thus, if you are a beginner, it is best to avoid those and focus on large outdoor succulents that are a lot easier to grow.
Let’s dive in.
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The best large outdoor succulents to grow
#1 Firesticks
This evergreen shrub has thin individual ‘pencil’ branches, with a vibrant, reddish colour on its stems. This description explains why it is has the name- Euphorbia tirucalli (sticks on fire).
Landscape designers add firesticks to gardens to provide a professional touch for floral displays.
Size
Firesticks grow up to 4-8ft tall and approx. 120-240cm wide.
They are simple and easy to grow outdoors. They have excellent properties which make them ideal to be grown outdoors:
- Prefer full sun
- Resilient to most pests and diseases
- Salt-tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
- Drought tolerant and can grow in poor, rocky soils
Good Tip
The milky saps can be toxic. So be careful when handling the stems, as they can irritate the skin or eyes. Use gloves or protective goggles if needed.
#2 Snake Plant
The Snake Plant has stiff, pointy sword-like leaves and is native to tropical and sub-tropical regions.
The plant can improve air quality, which is an advantage if you decide to also grow indoor succulents.
Size
Ranges from 8 inches to 6 ft tall. Can grow even taller sometimes (up to 8-12 ft tall).
Leaves can grow 1-4 ft tall and are 3 inches wide.
For those who do not know plants, the snake plant is perfect to start with because:
- They are hardy succulents- thus able to grow in winter
- Able to grow in indirect sunlight and can tolerate low light levels compared to other plants
- Are toxic to cats and dogs.
- They need very little care. Have a high tolerance even if left unattended.
#3 Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is the most known succulent around the world because of its medical and cosmetic advantages.
Despite being a houseplant favourite, it can also grow outdoors if met with the correct conditions for growth.
Size
The succulent can grow up to three-foot-tall, but the height range can vary between 30-90cm depending on the type of Aloe Vera plant grown.
Aloe Vera requires very low maintenance, which makes it fitting to grow if you are a beginner:
- Plant is drought resistant therefore able to survive with very little water
- Grow best when exposed to around 5-6 hours of sun a day.
- No need for fertiliser as they grow well in harsh soil conditions.
#4 Jade Plant
Despite being one of the easy succulents to grow indoors, they have excellent properties that allow them to grow outdoors if they meet the right conditions.
Size
Native to South Africa, the Jade plant can grow up to 3-5 feet tall with some plants able to grow extreme heights of around 10 feet tall!
Jade plants grow slowly, which makes them ideal for those who want to trim to the desired size, especially to help ‘landscape’ a garden. For example, you can create hedges or borders and the maintenance will be easy to control as the plant grows slowly.
The Jade plant has attributes that make it ideal to be grown outdoors:
- Broken or fallen branches can make new roots.
- Can grow in full sunlight and shade.
- Can survive droughts, therefore able to grow with little water.
- Grow slowly, which it makes easy for you to design and control your garden
#5 Burro’s Tail
This easy to grow succulent is different as it grows downwards. This makes it ideal if you want a different outlook on your garden.
We can add the succulent to hanging baskets or mix with other succulents to give a different decorative look to the succulent garden.
Size
The Burros tail produces long thick stems that are covered with green-green leaves or blue-green leaves.
The ‘tails’ can grow up to two feet. Therefore, if added to hanging baskets, place the baskets somewhere high to allow the plant to hang downwards.
This is a fun, simple plant to grow for many reasons:
- Grow in full sun or partial sun
- Can survive cool temperatures but prefer a warm climate
- Water monthly
- Produces a chalky white wax to help protect it against sun exposure and help retain moisture
Good Tip
Avoid dry or windy areas.
How to plant large outdoor succulents
Succulents have become an indoor planting trend and for this reason, a lot of beginners choose to grow a home comforting indoor succulent garden. However, if you look at the history of succulents, you will come to know that succulents can grow outdoors.
There are succulents such as Cactus and Aloe Vera that originate from dry and hot deserts and can survive the harsh conditions that surround them.
Therefore, if you are fearful and believe your succulent cannot grow outdoors, my advice to you is… don’t worry.
Below are the steps on how to plant your large outdoor succulents:
Step 1– Succulents dislike moisture therefore, the first step is making sure you have the right potting mix and the correct pot.
Step 2– As you will grow large succulents, over time they will become heavier and spread, therefore it is best to use a dense pot that has holes to allow drainage. Likewise, add a special succulent potting mix to your pots that are porous and also allow good drainage.
Step 3– Remove the succulent from the nursery plant and place it in the centre of the container of your choice.
Step 4– Fill in any gaps with the potting mix by tamping lightly on top of the soil. Add a bit of top dressing such as rocks or stones to give a better look at your succulent.
Ground vs Pots
It is possible to grow your succulents from the ground up, but this is not something I would recommend because of the limitations that come with ground planting.
The limitations/ drawbacks of planting in the ground include:
Succulents need to be repotted every once in a while. This can range from every few months to a few years, depending on the succulent. However, when planted in-ground, it is difficult to repot and add fresh soil. The succulent roots are fragile, and digging up the ground to reach the roots can be very difficult. Whereas, if grown in a pot, you can easily lift the succulent out of the pot, change the soil and repot.
When growing in pots, it is easier to control what comes and leaves your soil. However, if you grow in-ground, you are susceptible to more diseases, pests or other things that may affect plant growth.
Also, succulents prefer to be dry. Therefore, most planters use pots with drainage holes to allow the excess water to leave the soil. If planted in the ground, water will not drain as quickly and this can affect the plant.
Large outdoor pots for succulents
All succulents ranging from the beautiful, vibrant Korean Succulents to the hard, dull Cactus have one rule in common- use a pot with drainage holes.
Aside from this, you should also consider:
Size– Make sure the pot you choose is big enough for the plant to grow. Normally, the pot should be around 5-10% bigger than the plant. Therefore, don’t use a pot that is too small or large.
Style– There is no point in growing a beautiful succulent in an awful, dull pot. Choose a pot to match not only your décor but also the succulent itself. For example, for trailing plants such as Burro’s tail, use a hanging basket. While for upright succulents like the Snake plant, a tall narrow pot may be more suitable.
Material– Terra- Cotta and ceramic are strong pots that allow good drainage and air circulation. However, they can be heavy. If you are planting in one place- it will be okay.
But, if you plan to reposition your plants, then lighter pots made of plastic or resins may be ideal.
How to care for large outdoor succulents
Succulents require little care for them to grow. This is the same with large succulents as well. They can grow tall and large in harsh conditions.
However, to reach full size, larger succulents require outdoor care. They rely on certain conditions to be met:
Water your large succulents
Succulents can survive weeks without water due to having excellent properties in their sacs to allow water retention.
The best time to water succulents is when the soil becomes dry.
The dry and soak method is best to establish whether the succulents need water.
If you are not comfortable with the ‘finger poking’ method, try using a moisture sensor to measure water levels.
Give light to outdoor succulents
Succulents originate from areas of intensive light. They love the light and most succulents cannot grow without a sufficient influx of light reaching them.
Aim for around 5-6 hours of light per day but avoid direct sunlight. The leaves will burn and turn yellow/brown and the plant will fail to grow.
Good Tip
Large succulents will be heavy and will be difficult to move around. Therefore, do plan where you plant them! Ideally, plant somewhere to avoid direct sunlight.
Correct soil for outdoor succulents
Use soil that drains quickly. As mentioned above, succulents do not like the soil to stay moist. This can cause the roots to rot and the plant will fail to grow.
Fertilisers can to aid the growth of the plant.
Grit can also increase drainage properties. This can be ideal if you live somewhere where there is a lot of rain.
Season for large outdoor succulents
Summer may be an easier time to leave your plant and just let it grow.
However, in winter, the succulent is prone to frost. This can be a concern and can lead to plant damage or even death!
Hence why it is important to use a frost blanket in the winter months.
For those who want to keep it simple, Hardy succulents are a good option. Hardy succulents can survive low temperatures (up to minus 20 degrees), and can grow in gardens through the four-season climate.
Also, hardy succulents should be the primary choice for those who live in cold areas.
Insecticides
Large succulents will have big leaves. This will attract all those tiny insects who will want to feed.
It is ideal to spray your succulents with insecticides every couple of weeks to kill off any pests.
A pest-free succulent will grow better and avoid the chance of the plants catching any diseases.
Pots
First, aim for a lot that has holes to allow drainage. This is always rule number one for choosing a pot.
Holes allow excess moisture to leave the soil, and this prevents root rot and damage to the plant.
Second, large succulents will be heavy. Therefore, it is important to choose pots suitable to support the plant.
Third, choose a pot that is dense enough to allow the succulent roots to grow freely. Large succulents will have very long roots and this is something to note.
Therefore, it is best to choose a large, dense pot made of Terra Cotta. This hard pot will help to keep the plant stable and prevent tipping compared to a weaker pot.
Can large outdoor succulents survive winter?
Yes, they can!
Most people often think that succulents only prefer warm climates and they will not tolerate the cold, chilly weather.
However, hardier succulents are different.
They can survive freezing temperatures, which is ideal for those who live in geographical areas with very little sun. Also, they are a fantastic option for those who want to grow year-round.
Examples of hardy succulents include Agave and Aloe Vera.
Final Words
Succulents are marvellous and the joy of growing large outdoor succulents can’t be explained.
Don’t you think it is pretty outstanding to see your baby succulents grow 10-15x bigger than when you first potted them?
And the crazy part is they need little care- they don’t want constant feeding nor do they require a lot of water or attention.
The main ‘ingredient’ for these plants is time- just give them time and they will grow!
Therefore, if you have fear- lose it.
Growing large outdoor succulents is a lot easier than you think. Now is the best time for YOU to grow these beautiful, loving succulents.
