These Are the Only Succulent Trends Worth Trying This Year – They'll Elevate Your Interiors in Seconds
Say goodbye to windowsill fillers and hello to statement living sculptures
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Succulents are houseplant staples. They bring greenery to homes without needing a lot of attention, while their unique silhouettes and colors add intrigue to interiors. Their popularity isn't dying down in 2026 either, as a plant expert reveals they make a key part of houseplant trends this year.
With so many types of indoor succulents to choose from, there really is one for every home. But it isn't just about the varieties you choose – succulent trends 2026 also celebrate styling succulents as living artwork, rather than charming fillers for windowsills and shelves. From vertical planting to decorative centerpieces, there are a number of innovative succulent ideas expected to make a bold statement this year.
You can get creative with succulent arrangements, repurposing old bowls and planters
5 Striking Succulent Trends for 2026
From statement succulents to eye-catching arrangements, there are lots of ways to turn succulents into a feature for the home. With just a little creativity and a careful selection of varieties, you can use these pretty plants to instantly enhance your living space.
1. Structural Haworthias
These unique succulents are native to South Africa
One of the most popular types of succulent is the haworthia, available in a wide range of interesting colors and variegations.
'Generally haworthia are desirable because they keep their compact form and don’t get leggy like other succulents,' says Shane. 'They’ve been very popular within the past five years, and the popularity is still growing, as more interesting cultivars continue to be introduced,' he adds.
From the standard green haworthia (like this one on Amazon) to the more unique ghost haworthia (from Amazon), there really is a never-ending list of these structural beauties to discover.
They're rigid foliage can sometimes be mistaken for a cactus, but, as Shane notes, it makes them extra low-maintenance.
Give them a partial sun position, water this succulent only when the soil has fully dried out, and dust its leaves occasionally to keep them clean.
Shane Pliska is the president and CEO of Planterra - a national leader in interior landscaping. Shane's team include Feng Shui specialists who use ancient principles to enhance interiors with living plants.
2. Living Succulent Sculptures
Tree houseleeks are hardy across USDA zones 9-11
In 2026, we're looking at succulents differently. No longer are they simply easy choices to fill gaps on windowsills, they are pieces of living art in their own right.
If you're keen to impress visitors, then choose oversized succulents that act as living sculptures, taking up floor space and demanding attention as you enter the room.
Top picks include tree houseleek (Aeonium arboreum, pictured above) and larger houseplants you may not realize are succulents, like ponytail palm (like this from The Sill).
If you're up for a challenge, you can even turn your smaller succulents into statement pieces by providing optimal care and allowing it to mature over many years.
These long-living houseplants will eventually be triple the size and may even develop a trunk-like stem. Though, this does require some patience, so make sure to enjoy them as they are in the meantime, too.
3. Colorful Echeverias
Echeveria is a large genus of plants in the Crassulaceae family
Succulents aren't all about green and pastel hues, Shane notes vibrant hybrid varieties are rising in popularity, like this unusual red Echeveria purpusorum on Amazon.
'Just remember that many of the brightest echeveria colors are enticed through growing conditions with exposure to light or temperature, and most will revert green in normal indoor conditions,' Shane notes.
'The genetics create the color potential, but environmental conditions determine how intensely those colors are expressed,' he explains.
For this reason, you might want to adopt the use of grow lights (like this bamboo one from Amazon) and seedling heat mat (like this one from Walmart) to maintain the brightest hues.
Other colorful picks include 'Orange Dream' (available on Amazon) and the striking 'Suyon' (available on Amazon).
4. Trailing Vines
You can place trailing succulents on shelfs, windowsills, and mantelpieces for a cascading effect
Over the last few years, succulents have increasingly found themselves in vertical indoor gardens in the form of succulent wall planters (like this from Amazon).
Now indoor gardeners are getting even more creative with ways to green up walls with succulents, including using trailing varieties.
From string of hearts (like this from The Sill) to string of dolphins (from Amazon), these charming vines can turn a plain wall into a living feature by cascading them from a high shelf.
With many of these vines, you can simply keep trimming them to the desired length, depending on how much wall coverage you want. You can then use the cuttings to propagate a string of hearts, for example, and double your vine collection.
Always use sharp, clean pruning tools to tend to your houseplants, like these houseplant snips from Amazon.
5. Bonsai Succulents
Bonsai succulents offer unique silhouettes in the home
The last of the succulent trends 2026 on our list draws on the art of bonsai, with many of the best bonsai tree types being succulents.
This includes the popular jade plant bonsai (like this one from Amazon), but also more unusual types.
'The crested aeonium (like this bonsai from Amazon) displays a rare fasciated growth pattern that creates dramatic sculptural forms,' Shane says.
These mini trees offers an elevated take on desktop succulents and are more low-maintenance than other types of bonsai trees.
However, it is important to be steer clear of bonsai mistakes to ensure they grow happily for years to come.
You may find bonsai pruning scissors (like these from Amazon) help prune your bonsai succulents precisely, keeping their shape neat.
No matter which succulents you add to your home this year, make sure read up on succulent mistakes to avoid. This will keep your succulents looking pristine and help them thrive for years to come.
Shop Succulent Accessories
This succulent plant food is a special blend to support succulent plant growth. Dilute with water to apply.
This succulent potting soil is specially mixed to support succulents, packed with nutrients and good drainage.
This gorgeous handmade planter is ideal for succulents which have shallow roots. It measures 8x12x12''.
This set of indoor garden tools has everything you need to aerate soil, repot plants, clean leaves, and more.
This set of five small succulents is great for starting off a collection of succulents.
Some succulents, notably the Christmas cactus, like higher humidity levels and can be placed on these pebble trays for extra moisture.
