A colorful succulent makes a plant gift feel a little more special. Instead of giving greenery alone, you can choose varieties with pink, red, purple, orange, or multicolored foliage that naturally stand out on a desk, shelf, or windowsill.
From bright flowering cacti to pastel rosettes and succulents that deepen in color under bright light, these ten colorful plants make memorable gifts for beginners, collectors, and anyone who loves adding more color to their plant collection.
Christmas Cactus Thanksgiving Cactus
The Christmas Cactus brings color through its bright flowers, which can appear in shades of red, pink, white, or bicolor depending on the variety. Its blooms emerge from the ends of long, segmented stems, creating a colorful cascading display that feels especially festive during the holiday season.
Its seasonal flowers make it a particularly thoughtful gift for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or anyone who enjoys flowering houseplants. Unlike a bouquet, the plant can continue growing and flowering for years with proper care.
See how to keep it blooming for the holidays in our Christmas Cactus care guide.
Six Angled Kalanchoe - Kalanchoe sexangularis
Six Angled Kalanchoe is known for its broad, sculptural green leaves that can develop warm reddish to burgundy tones when exposed to brighter light. The contrast between green centers and colorful leaf edges gives the plant a naturally changing appearance throughout the year.
Its bold foliage makes it a great gift for someone who prefers colorful plants without relying on flowers. The upright form also looks striking in a simple ceramic planter, allowing the foliage to become the main feature.
See how to keep its red-edged leaves colorful in our Six-Angled Kalanchoe care guide.
Sedeveria Jet Beads
Sedeveria 'Jet Beads' produces small, tightly packed leaves along upright stems, with colors that can shift from green and bronze to deep burgundy or nearly black under the right growing conditions. Its darker tones make it noticeably different from the typical bright green succulent.
This compact succulent makes an especially interesting gift for collectors or anyone drawn to unusual foliage colors. Its rich burgundy tones also pair beautifully with fall, Halloween, and winter gifting.
See how to bring out its deep burgundy color in our Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’ care guide.
Callisia Repens Pink Lady Variegated
Callisia Repens Pink Lady is filled with tiny leaves variegated in shades of green, cream, and pink. New growth can develop particularly vivid pink tones, while the trailing stems gradually spill over the sides of the pot for a soft, colorful display. Succulents Box currently includes it among its rare and colorful plant selections.
The pastel palette makes this plant an easy gift for birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or anyone who loves pink plants. Its trailing growth also gives it more visual movement than a traditional rosette succulent.
See how to keep its pink variegation vivid in our Pink Lady care guide.
Graptopetalum 'Murasaki'
Graptopetalum 'Murasaki' forms broad rosettes in soft shades of lavender, dusty pink, and muted purple. Its pastel coloration gives the plant a delicate appearance, while the overlapping leaves create the classic symmetrical rosette shape succulent lovers often look for.
Its soft purple and pink tones make it a beautiful gift for someone who enjoys subtle color rather than bright, saturated plants. It also looks especially elegant in white, cream, or natural terracotta pots.
Echeveria Samba
Echeveria 'Samba' combines the classic rosette shape of an Echeveria with colorful leaves that can show shades of green, pink, red, and warm coral. The color becomes especially noticeable around the outer portions of the leaves, creating a layered effect across the rosette.
Its balanced shape and colorful foliage make it an easy gift choice for succulent lovers. It has enough color to feel special while still maintaining the clean, symmetrical look that makes Echeverias so popular.
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii - Grafted Moon Cactus (Red)
Few cactus gifts are as immediately colorful as a Red Moon Cactus. Its bright red upper cactus sits on top of a contrasting green rootstock, creating a vivid two-tone plant that looks almost like a small piece of living art. Succulents Box currently offers this red grafted variety.
The unusual shape and intense color make it a fun gift for beginners, coworkers, kids, or anyone who enjoys quirky plants. Its compact size also makes it easy to display on a desk or windowsill.
See how to care for this colorful grafted cactus in our Gymnocalycium care guide.
Sempervivum 'Reinhardt'
Sempervivum 'Reinhardt' forms neat rosettes with green leaves accented by deep red to burgundy tips. The darker color around the outer portions of the leaves creates strong contrast, giving each rosette a naturally painted appearance.
It makes a great gift for someone who enjoys classic succulent forms but wants something with more color. As the tones can become more pronounced under favorable growing conditions, the plant may continue changing in appearance after it is gifted.
Painted Echeveria Nodulosa 'Benitsukasa'
Painted Echeveria Nodulosa 'Benitsukasa' lives up to its name with green leaves marked by striking red lines and margins. Instead of a single solid color, the foliage looks almost hand-painted, with red markings tracing across the surface and edges of each leaf.
That unusual pattern makes it one of the more artistic succulent gifts on this list. It is a strong choice for collectors or plant lovers who appreciate varieties with distinctive markings rather than simple green foliage.
Sedum Orange Glow
Sedum 'Orange Glow' brings warm seasonal color with foliage that can develop shades of yellow, orange, coral, and reddish tones. Its compact growth and fiery coloring give the plant a cheerful appearance that stands out among greener succulents. Succulents Box describes it as a colorful, easy-care Sedum suited to both collectors and beginners.
Its warm orange tones make it an especially fitting gift for fall birthdays, Thanksgiving, housewarmings, or anyone who loves warm-colored plants.
Choosing a Colorful Succulent Gift
Think about the colors and plant styles the recipient already enjoys. For someone who loves soft pastel shades, Graptopetalum 'Murasaki' or Callisia Pink Lady makes a beautiful choice. For stronger reds and oranges, try Moon Cactus, Sedum Orange Glow, or Six Angled Kalanchoe.
Collectors may appreciate more unusual foliage such as Painted Echeveria Nodulosa, Sedeveria Jet Beads, or Sempervivum 'Reinhardt', while Christmas Cactus offers colorful flowers instead of colorful foliage.
Whatever you choose, a colorful succulent adds personality to a plant gift while giving the recipient something living that can continue changing and growing over time.
