Asked by: Driss Steindecker
home and garden interior decorating

Are Succulents Cactus?

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Cacti are fleshy plants that store water, making them part of this group. Therefore, all cacti are succulents. Cacti are simply a family, or sub-category within the group of plants collectively known as succulents. In order for a succulent plant to be considered a cactus, the plant must have areoles.


Besides, is aloe vera a cactus or succulent?

Although similar in appearance to cacti, aloe vera is not a cactus but a succulent and a member of the lily family. Aloe plants are more closely related to tulips and asparagus than to cacti.

are Succulents desert plants? Succulent plants store water in fleshy leaves, stems or roots. All cacti are succulents, as are such non-cactus desert dwellers as agave, aloe, elephant trees, and many euphorbias. To cope with these conditions, nearly all succulents have extensive, shallow root systems.

Consequently, which succulents are not cacti?

Succulents that are not cacti include:

  • Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre Angelina)
  • Autumn Joy stonecrop (Sedum Autumn Joy)
  • Chocolate Drop stonecrop (Sedum Chocolate Drop)
  • Purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi)
  • Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
  • Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
  • Agave (Agave americana)

What family are succulents in?

In some families, such as Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Crassulaceae, most species are succulents.

Cheirolepidiaceae:

Family or subfamily Crassulaceae
Succulent # 1300
Modified parts Leaf (root)
Distribution Worldwide

Related Question Answers

Wenli Himonenko

Professional

Is Christmas cactus a cactus or succulent?

Cactus and succulents don't like wet feet. Unlike actual cactus, the Christmas cactus isn't completely drought tolerant. It needs watering but, like a succulent, it can store water in its leaves. So allow the soil in the plant's container to dry at least half-way down into the soil before watering again.

Mesalina Sanvicente

Professional

What is difference between Cactus and succulents?

Understanding the relation between the two will help properly distinguish them and help with identification. Succulents are plants that store water in their stems, roots, and leaves. Cacti are fleshy plants that store water, making them part of this group. Therefore, all cacti are succulents.

Carla Elten

Professional

How often should I water my succulent?

How often to water and fertilize: While growing, cacti and succulents should be watered at least once a week. Some people water more often than this. During each watering, give the soil a good soaking, so that water runs out of the 'drainage holes' of the pots.

Hiroshi Geslin

Explainer

Are Succulents good luck?

The jade plant is a succulent and a renowned good luck plant to attract wealth. Let's take a more detailed look at why most Feng Shui practitioners recommend Jade as good feng shui plants. The Jade plant gives off nourishing “chi” the positive energy. It is a traditional gift for businesses and business owners place.

Sora Pierce

Explainer

Can you eat succulents?

Although some succulents are toxic to pets or children, many are not only edible, but delicious. They can be eaten in a variety of ways: raw, grilled, juiced, or mashed.

Mahmood Rembo

Explainer

How do you name succulents?

Names for Green Succulents
  1. Jade (could be funny for jade plant, very literal; or ironic for a non-Jade succulent)
  2. Greenie.
  3. Esmeralda.
  4. Emerald.
  5. Irvin.
  6. Sage.
  7. Peridot.
  8. Mint.

Yeniffer Fridy

Pundit

Can you put succulents and cacti together?

Desert cacti, forest cacti and succulents can all be grown together. They make stunning displays for your houseplant collection. They don't take a lot of care, but you still need to know what they like and need.

Sami Mikhailidi

Pundit

What is the difference between sedum and succulents?

Succulents have some parts of the leaves, roots or stems that are thickened and fleshy, and retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. Sedum is a genus of flowering plants that also have the succulent characteristics of water storing leaves and stems. Sedums are part of the Crassulaceae family.

Ole Isidor

Pundit

What's the difference between a cactus and a cacti?

Cactus plural: Cactuses is an alternative spelling of the same plural noun. According to Bryan Garner (2016), both are accepted variants. Cactuses is more common in speech and ordinary usage, while cacti is favored in print sources and scientific uses.

Katarzyna Noe

Pundit

Is a saguaro cactus a succulent?

Saguaros grow slowly from seed, and may only be 0.25 in (0.64 cm) tall after 2 years.. They are stem succulents and can hold large amounts of water; when rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3,200–4,800 pounds (1,500–2,200 kg).

Chao Balashev

Pundit

Is artichoke a succulent?

truncata (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming tight rosettes of broad, short, thick, silvery-blue leaves with conspicuous reddish-brown teeth and terminal spines. While infrequent, mature plants (over 10 years) flower only once.

Stefanica Eskenazi

Teacher

What is the difference between cactus and aloe vera?

Aloe vera, renamed Aloe barbadensis, is a succulent, but not a cactus. The group of plants called succulents includes plants with spines or thorns that arise from areoles (cacti) and those without areoles. So a cactus is a succulent, but a succulent isn't necessarily a cactus.

Raducu Weisenburger

Teacher

What are the pricks on a cactus called?

Cactus Thorns— Spikes and Glochids
Cactus thorns could be grouped into two, depending on their sizes. For a larger part, they range from long to medium, well-attached to the plant and occur singly. For these ones, the only way of getting them off is by breaking them. And they're the ones commonly referred to as spines.

Adham Groisman

Teacher

Are there male and female succulents?

To complicate matters more, all Adenia are dioecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Male and female flowers of individual species look pretty distinct and differ a bit from what we have come to expect out of the passionflower family. Often collections were made on only a single sex.

Guiem Churyukin

Teacher

Is cacti singular or plural?

Cacti is the Latin plural form of the word. One cactus. Two cacti. However, in American English it is common to hear the plural "cactuses".

Boubou Frohlig

Reviewer

How do you care for a succulent and cacti plant?

Succulent and Cactus Plant Care
  1. Water - If your container has drainage holes, water thoroughly once a week during active growth period.
  2. Light - Place plant in a brightly lit south facing window indoors or an area with bright, indirect light outdoors.
  3. Soil - Succulents and cacti like soil that is well aerated and fast draining.

Lizbet Koinegg

Reviewer

What is the difference between cactus and euphorbia?

Cactus spines are different from euphorbia thorns in one very noticeable way: cactus spines grow out of areoles. In contrast, euphorbia thorns appear to grow directly out of the stem. Cactus spines are highly modified leaves, and can occur singly or in groups, depending on the species.

Hussam Renpenning

Reviewer

How long do succulents live?

By understanding the basic core needs of succulent plants, you can expect to have them with you for many years. The lifespan will depend on the type of succulent you have. Some greenhouse succulents can live for decades, while others may enjoy a 6 or 8 year lifespan with proper care.

Lixiao Ibargoien

Reviewer

What is the point of succulents?

Adding succulents and cacti to your home, help keep your fresh air and remove toxins from the environment. Plants absorb our respiratory waste (carbon dioxide), and they convert it into plant carbohydrates to build strong bodies that in turn create pure, clean, life-empowering oxygen for us to breathe.