• Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • greensnap

PUKUBOOK Succulent picture book

2024.4.6 This Year’s Blooms Are Here: ‘Succulent Flower Collection’ Brought to You at Peak Season

As cherry blossoms reach full bloom, it’s also the season when succulent gardens come alive with flowers. Of course, some species may bloom at different times of year, but this time, I’d like to showcase a variety of succulent blooms—including those out-of-season surprises. Succulents are usually prized for their unique shape and foliage rather than their flowers, but why not pick out your next favorite based on its blooms?

If you missed it, here’s our previous feature on Echeveria flowers:

草木の芽吹く春。桜も駆け抜けるように咲いて散るこの季節、山にも花壇にもたくさんの花が咲き誇って目を楽しませてくれます...

Cactus Flowers

Those who grew up with a certain TV drama might think of its theme tune when they hear ‘cactus flower,’ but like the song says, cacti can produce unexpectedly large, charming flowers that really mark the changing seasons.

Mammillaria 'Sakurazuki' While most cactus flowers show off tropical shades like bright pink or orange, this one sports a rare, nuanced color palette from soft orange to pink. Because it doesn’t usually bloom in shops, it’s easily overlooked, but as a personal favorite, I’m eager to introduce this charming flower in the hopes it’ll catch on!
Astrophytum 'Kabutomarub' Blooming in late May. Despite the unassuming body, it produces a surprisingly bold flower.
Gymnocalycium LB2178 variegated hybrid

Without realizing they’re cacti, people are drawn to glamorous blooms like ‘Queen of the Night’ or ‘Holiday Cactus’ in shop displays and botanical gardens.

Dragon Fruit Just like ‘Queen of the Night,’ dragon fruit produces dramatic, impressive flowers. Most people think of it only as fruit, so its grand flowers come as a real surprise.
Thelocactus 'Beni Taka'
Notocactus 'Seioumari'
Aztekium 'Benrou'

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe 'Benbenkei'

Kalanchoes are famed for their outstanding flowers—you’ll even find pots labeled simply ‘Kalanchoe’ in stores. With a wide range of hues and flower forms from ongoing hybridization, there’s plenty of variety to enjoy.

Echeveria

Last time, we did a feature just on Echeveria flowers. Now, I’ll highlight some particularly striking varieties—and share a few beautiful flowers I’ve discovered this past year that didn’t make it into the previous round-up.

Echeveria 'Bellbara' A rare bicolor flower
Graptopetalum 'Bellum' Larger and more lavish than your average Echeveria-type bloom
Graptoveria 'April Dawn' An equally grand hybrid, likely inheriting its striking looks from 'Bellum'
Echeveria 'Lauii' Big sepals give this flower a look closer to Pachyphytum than Echeveria—a clue to its origins
Pachyveria 'Shimo no Asanishiki' A flower spike that happened to develop into an ‘all-variegated’ pattern by chance
Cotyledon 'White Sprite' Cotyledon flowers dangle downward, like tiny handbells
Echeveria 'Lycoris' Flared, tubular blooms—a trait typical of Lenophyllum, hinting at its lineage

Crassula & Sedum

Crassula 'Tamatsubaki'

Crassula and Sedum species tend to produce clusters of small, tightly packed flowers, creating a delightful mass of color.

Aeonium & Sempervivum

Aeonium 'Sandersee'

Aeonium flowers have an almost spaceship-like look! Sempervivum, a close relative, blooms in a similar way.

Aloe

Aloe vera at Kyoto Botanical Garden
Aloe albiflora Exceptionally rare white blooms for an aloe—resembling Haworthia flowers, highlighting their close botanical relationship

When people think of aloe here in Japan, it’s usually the red-flowered ‘Kidachialoe’ growing at countless doorsteps. Have you ever seen a yellow aloe flower? They’re actually pretty rare.

Gasteria 'Baylitchiana'
Gasteraloe 'Manten no Hoshi'

Gasteria, a close aloe relative, gets its name from the ‘stomach-shaped’ look of its flowers. But honestly, I hope people focus on the lovely pink gradations when they bloom, rather than the less-than-glamorous name!

Tillandsia

Tillandsia ionantha

It’s already amazing just to watch an ‘air plant’ grow, since it looks almost nothing like a typical plant. When it goes on to bloom, it feels almost magical—as if it’s not just thriving, but multiplying! Proof that these are fascinating, living things.

Mesembs & Lithops

Conophytum 'Hanazono'

Plants known as ‘mesembs’ display a stunning spread of narrow, shimmering petals and a dazzling range of colors. Back in their native Namaqualand, the land seems barren during the dry season—until a miracle happens: the landscape bursts into bloom, blanketing the horizon with flowers. This ‘miracle flower carpet’ has even become a celebrated tourist attraction.

Namaqualand wildflower carpet By Martin Heigan

Haworthia

Haworthia 'Housou Nishiki'
Haworthia 'Koorizatou'

Almost every Haworthia produces more or less the same flower. Their charm lies in subtlety and consistency.

Other Standouts

Here are a few more blooms with standout personalities.

Pachypodium 'Horombense'
Euphorbia 'Hiryuu' Flowers of Euphorbia, sold as succulents, are so tiny and plain, you might not notice they’re there!
Othonna 'Retrolsa' As a member of the Aster family, Othonna blooms resemble dandelions—providing a cute contrast to their rugged stems.
Adenia perrieri Flowers bloom directly from the ultra-thick stems. The blossoms are small, white, and surprisingly delicate.

Search Our New Flower Photo Feature!

Since PUKUBOOK is an online encyclopedia, wouldn’t it be awesome if you could search by flower images? Guess what—now you can! Here’s another look at the ‘flower image search’ tool we’ve rolled out for you.

Just type a keyword in this search box, and you’ll get a list of succulent species with flower images! The world’s only comprehensive ‘succulent flower encyclopedia’ is here!

In Summary

Succulents are mostly known for their quirky leaves and shapes, but maybe that’s why their charming or wow-worthy flowers catch us off guard and make such an impact. Flowers only bloom when the plant is healthy, so seeing one feels like a special reward for your day-to-day care! Doesn’t that make the joy of growing them feel extra sweet?

コメントはSNSで!

  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • greensnap

記事のご感想など、SNSでいただけると、
とても嬉しいです!
お返事も書かせていただきます!

× App Icon

BenefitFewer ads for a cleaner display♪