The fundamental answer from a botanical perspective is yes, you can plant different types of succulents together, but success is entirely dependent on grouping species with highly compatible environmental needs. Succulents are not a single botanical family but a diverse group of plants from various families (like Crassulaceae, Aizoaceae, and Cactaceae) that have evolved the ability to store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. This adaptation allows them to survive in arid conditions, but the specific requirements for light, water, and soil can vary significantly between genera and species. The primary goal when creating a mixed succulent pot, or "succulent arrangement," is to mimic a natural habitat where all the selected plants would thrive under the same care regimen.
Light is arguably the most critical factor to consider. Succulents have varying needs for light intensity and duration. For instance, many Echeverias, Sedums, and Graptopetalums crave several hours of direct, bright sunlight daily to maintain their compact form and vibrant stress colors (the red, purple, or orange hues they develop). In contrast, a Sansevieria (Snake Plant) or a Gasteria is more tolerant of lower light conditions and may scorch if placed in the same intensely sunny spot as an Echeveria. Planting a sun-worshipper with a shade-preferring succulent will result in one plant etiolating (becoming stretched and weak) as it reaches for light, while the other suffers from sunburn, leading to irreversible damage and poor health for both.
Watering is another area where compatibility is essential. While all succulents require well-draining soil and are susceptible to root rot from overwatering, their ideal watering frequency differs. A String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), for example, prefers more frequent watering than a mature Pachyphytum oviferum (Moonstones). More importantly, many succulents have distinct summer and winter dormancy periods. A summer-dormant succulent like an Aeonium will drastically slow its growth and require very little water during the hot summer months. If potted with a winter-dormant succulent like a Corpuscularia lehmannii (Ice Plant) that is actively growing in the summer, the Aeonium could easily rot if the soil is kept moist to support its pot-mate. Aligning plants with similar active growth periods and drought tolerance ensures that a single watering schedule will benefit all inhabitants.
The physical growth patterns of the succulents must be considered to create a sustainable arrangement. Some succulents, like many Sempervivums (Hens and Chicks) or Aloe pups, are prolific offsetters, quickly filling space by producing numerous "pups" around the mother plant. Others, like Haworthias, are slower-growing and form solitary or small clumping rosettes. A fast-growing, spreading succulent can quickly overwhelm a slower-growing neighbor, hogging light, water, and root space. A well-designed pot often uses a "thriller, filler, spiller" approach: a taller, upright succulent as a centerpiece (the thriller), mounding or rosette-forming types to fill the middle space (the filler), and trailing varieties like Sedum morganianum (Burro's Tail) to spill over the edges (the spiller). This utilizes vertical space and gives each plant room to grow without excessive competition.
The physical environment of the pot itself is the final piece of the puzzle. All succulents in a shared container require the same fast-draining, gritty soil mix. A standard potting soil is unsuitable as it retains too much moisture. A specialized cactus/succulent mix, often amended with additional perlite, pumice, or coarse sand, is necessary to provide the sharp drainage that all succulents roots need to breathe and avoid rot. The pot must have adequate drainage holes. Furthermore, the size of the pot should be appropriate for the root systems of the plants, with a little room for growth. A pot that is too large will hold excess moisture in the soil, increasing the risk of root rot for all plants, regardless of their individual tolerances.
