If you are really into Korean dramas and pop music, you probably have seen their admiration for Korean succulents.
Do you also want to grow Korean succulents but do not know about them?
Continue reading to find out more about them.
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8+ Popular Korean Succulents
Did you know succulents are not only visually appealing but also an essential part of Korean culture?
The Koreans admire and love growing succulents as they hold solid cultural significance, including luck and prosperity, protection, and evoking romance.
Therefore, you are likely to find many households and offices displaying succulents, some commonly found worldwide, while others are native to the Korean peninsula.
Here is a list of some popular Korean succulents.
1. Green Dunce Cap
Green Dunce Cap (Orostachys malacophylla) is a tiny succulent native to the Korean peninsula and parts of China.
What makes it special is its unique rose-like fleshy, green spoon-shaped leaves with a silvery coating.
Ideal Care Tips:
- The cold-resistant succulent grows well in USDA zones 5a to 8b and temperatures as low as -10°F (-23°C).
- You can put it in ceramic or decorative clay pots in the window, tabletops, and the living room or kitchen.
- Use a well-draining soil mix or mix specifically formulated for succulents and cacti.
- Place it in indirect sunlight with a temperature range between 60-77°F (15-25°C).
- Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer once in a while, and change the pot once in 2-3 years.
2. Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria Agave (Victoriae reginae) is a beautiful succulent native to the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico.
Many growers prefer this flowering succulent for its thick, dark-green, pointed foliage, which gives it a symmetrical, architectural shape.
In fact, you can quickly grow them as landscape plants to add unique details.
Ideal Care Tips:
- You can grow these succulents anywhere within USDA zones 7 to 11.
- Provide bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade and loamy cacti soil.
- They do well in warm temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18-29°C).
- They can tolerate mild frosts but should be protected from continued freezing temperatures.
- Avoid fertilizing, or if desired, use balanced fertilizer once a year.
- Queen Victoria is slow growing plant; you can change the pot every three years or more.
3. Parry’s Agave
Agave parryi, Parry’s agave, or mescal agave, is a flowering succulent ‘Agave’ native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico.
However, since its popularity, many succulent lovers have brought this hardy succulent to the Korean peninsula.
Although it grows 1-3 feet in the wild, it may hardly grow over the foot when potted.
Nonetheless, it is primarily preferred for symmetrical rose-like blue-gray leaves that span up to 2 feet wide.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Choose a full-sun location with some partial shade, especially in summer.
- They do well in well-draining, chunky mix, preferably sandy or rocky soil.
- The temperature ranging form 65°F to 85°F (18-29°C) is ideal, although it can tolerate as low as 0°F (-18°C) for short periods.
- It does not require frequent fertilization.
- Choose them for landscaping, as the architectural shape of the leaves adds a unique appeal.
4. Copiapoa Hypogaea
Did you know Copia hypogaea, or underground copiapoa is also called a lizard-skinned succulent because of its dark, lizard-like appearance?
A decorative succulent native to Antofagasta, Chile, and Korea is a cactus with an underground growth habit, where only the top of the plant remains visible.
Most of all, it bears a beautiful yellowish flower on the top, which makes it appear unique.
Ideal Care Tips:
- It does well in bright sunlight with a sparse watering routine, allowing the soil to dry out completely.
- Use a well-draining, sandy mix to allow excess water to escape quickly.
- It prefers warm temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C) during the active growing season.
- Temperature above 90°F is suitable only for a short period.
- The cactus does not require fertilization, so avoid over-fertilizing it.
Note: Check whether the succulent is endangered in your state, as this plant is rare in most regions.
5. Korean Stonecrop
Korean Stonecrop or Sedum takesimmense is a beautiful, monochrome succulent known for its variegated dark green knife-like leaves with creamy, yellow margins.
It is native to Korea, adapted to dry conditions, and grows along the stones.
It is a low-growing succulent that spreads, forming a dense mat of foliage. Therefore, you can use it as ground cover plants.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Korean stonecrop prospers in full sun to partial shade with temperatures between 60 and 80°F.
- Use succulent or cacti soil or potting mix.
- It is generally hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9.
- Use only a balanced fertilizer, applied once in the growing season.
Keep an eye out for common succulent pests, including mealybugs and aphids, and treat them if necessary.
6. Phedimus Aizoon
Phedimus Aizoon, also known as Sedum aizoon or Aizoon stonecrop, is a herbaceous succulent popular for being edible.
Although non-native to Korea, this is found in many households, grown for striking clusters of small, star-shaped yellow flowers.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Please place them in full sunlight to light shade to help with blooming.
- This herbaceous root plant thrives in cacti or succulent mix.
- They are cold-hardy and do well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.
- Repot only every 2-3 years and fertilize with balanced plant food once in the growing season.
Sedum aizoon can easily overgrow. Remove back leggy or overgrown stems to maintain a compact and tidy appearance.
7. Garden Stonecrop
Garden Stonecrop (Hylotelephium erythrostictum), commonly known as Showy Stonecrop, is native to Japan, Korea, and China.
You would mostly find them growing in grasslands and meadows, flowering from late summer to fall.
Grow these flowering succulents for their flat clusters of star-shaped flowers in colors light pink or red.
You can use them as ground cover plants or in rock gardens.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Garden Stonecrop prospers in full sun to partial shade and is well-suited for USDA zones 4 to 9.
- Use a well-draining mix and water sparsely to keep them thriving.
- They are resistant to cold and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
- Provide some protection, such as a layer of mulch, during harsh winter to keep them protected.
- You can grow them as both potted and garden plants.
8. Echeveria Glam Pink
Echeveria Glam Pink is unlike any other Echeveria because it is a hybrid succulent developed in Korea.
The Echeveria hybrid was only recently developed, making them quite rare in the market.
Remember, it hardly grows over 5 inches and spans 4-5 inches wide.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Provide bright, indirect sunlight to keep the foliage from changing color.
- Keeping them in the dark will likely turn the pink foliage to green.
- Ensure the temperature is warm, typical of other Echeverias.
- Use specifically formulated cacti mix and water sparsely.
- They require the change of pot and soil every 2-3 years.
- Fertilize once in the growing season with balanced plant food to keep them growing.
9. Lipstick Echeveria
Lipstick Echeveria (Echeveria agavoides), commonly known as Ruby Slipper, is a charming succulent from Mexico.
The thick, triangular leaves of this succulent have pointed tips with reddish edges, resembling lipstick.
It hardly grows over 6 inches tall, making it a popular decorative plant for homes, rock gardens, and offices.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Provide bright, indirect, or partial shade, as full light can damage reddish coloration.
- They prefer moderate temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C) but can also tolerate freezing temperatures for a short time.
- Use cacti mix, fertilize sometimes, and change pots every 2-3 years.
10. Pachyveria Avant Garde
Pachyveria Avant Garde is a Pachyveria hybrid created by Air Magic and Chang-jo Nursery.
You would love this succulent for its tiny size and round, pebble-like leaves.
It is a fast-growing succulent that grows well in poor soil, requiring minimal upkeep.
The coloration will change from intense pink to blue-green depending on the temperature or lighting.
Ideal Care Tips:
- Provide bright filtered light and avoid intense sunlight, which may ruin the coloration.
- Keep the temperature between 70-80°F and water only when the soil dries out.
- Use a well-draining mix or even coco peat with perlite but ensure the soil is well-draining.
- Fertilize every four weeks or twice in the growing season.
- It is a slow-growing plant and hardly outgrows its pot, making it great for landscaping.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
Despite their low-maintenance status, all succulents require an ideal condition to grow and remain problem-free.
Avoid overwatering your succulents; keep the temperature warm and humidity moderate.
Similarly, remove damaged leaves regularly to maintain their health and protect them from frost by bringing them inside or covering them with dried leaves.
