Winter Dormant Succulents (Grow in Warm Weather)

Succulents are no different to other plants in that they grow at different rates according to the seasons. So if you’ve just bought yourself a beautiful (and expensive) Echeveria Rainbow West and winter is just around the corner then you’ll have to be patient as your new succulent is about have rest from actively growing. If you’ve just purchased a new Aloe Vera at the same time though you’ll see some new growth over winter as they click into active growth mode during the cold season.

Generally it is only the very hottest and coldest months where succulents will go into dormancy and the seasons in between (fall/autumn and spring) will be growing time for all succulents.

Why do Succulents go Dormant?

Succulents will grow when the conditions are right for them but they’ll slow right down or stop growing completely when the environmental conditions don’t suit them. They will become dormant as a way to survive the extremes of weather, whether that is dryness, high temperatures or the extreme cold. Succulents will conserve their energy to get through the challenging conditions.

So if a succulent comes from a harsh desert area where there is a very hot period with very little rainfall it will adapt by slowing growth right down as growth uses energy. It’s only concern is survival and expending energy on flowers or new leaves is just going to use up valuable resources faster. Succulents will bide their time and click back into growth mode as soon as the rain comes or the environmental conditions are more favorable.

List of Winter Dormant Succulent Plants

These are succulents which tend to grow faster in the warmer months. So you’ll see active growth in spring, summer and fall (autumn) but they’ll slow down or completely stop growing in the coldest months of winter. The list includes cactus plants, air plants and some of the more popular succulents grown in cultivation. See our list of Summer dormant succulents for winter growers.

• Agave
• Ceropegia
• Echeveria
• Echinocactus
• Euphorbia
• Ferocactus
• Ficus
• Huernia
• Lithops
• Mammillaria
• Opuntia
• Pachypodium
• Pseudolithos
• Rhipsalis
• Schlumbergera
• Sempervivum
• Stapelianthus
• Tillandsia

Let us know in the comments below if we have missed your favorite succulent plant that goes dormant in the colder winter months. See the Winter growing succulents too.