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Winter Care of Succulents
By: Julie Day 
“I live in Zone 8a, and I’ve got a lot of succulent plants that do well in hot temperatures. While we don’t get much freezing weather, it does happen sometimes. How should I take care of succulents during the cold winter months?” -Meredith
If you are planting winter-hardy varieties, such as Sedum (Sedum sp.), Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum sp.), Ice Plant (Delosperma sp.), Lewisia (Lewisia sp.), or Yucca (Yucca sp.), you shouldn’t have to worry about any extra winter care. You may see them begin to wither, shrink, or change color as cold weather approaches, but this is part of their normal winter routine. These plants withstand freezing temperatures, with some varieties hardy down to zone 3.
For less hardy varieties, the problem during the winter is the deadly combination of cold temperatures and waterlogged, soggy soil from rains and snow melt. Many varieties will withstand colder temperatures if the soil can be kept dry enough. Some tips for caring for tender succulents during freezing weather include:
- Keep the soil as dry as possible. Stop supplemental watering and feeding around late fall.
- Be sure there is adequate air circulation, to keep the winter dampness at bay.
- Plant succulents in sheltered areas if your winters are rainy – a good spot might be a sunny location underneath the eaves or porch.
- Make sure your soil has good drainage – if you notice soggy soil around your succulents during wet weather, you need to improve the conditions to help your plant survive. Add sand, well-draining organic matter, or a product such as Perma-Till to increase water drainage.
- Cover tender plants when freezing temperatures are forecasted. You can use fabric covers, bushel baskets, or purchased frost covers. Just make sure the covers do not touch the leaves, and don’t keep them covered any longer than necessary – they need air circulation and sunlight.
- Don’t remove snow cover – it’s a good insulator.
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July 19th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
What is the name of the succulent plant at the top of this page?? I have been searching for the name of this plant for some time! It is a beautiful plant and I suspect it is in the sedum family or maybe hens and chicks. Please advise……thanks, Deb
September 7th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I also need to know the name of the pictured plant b/c I have several of them and am always asked by visitors what it is. It spreads easily so I do give away some. It has been rel fun to have. {zone 5-6}
Thanks, Norm
October 17th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I too need to know the name of the plant pictured at the top of this page. Two people above requested the name of this plant but I cannot find the answer anywhere. A friend has this growing all over her property up at an altitude of about 7500 and it grows great and spreads and doesn’t die in the winter from the snow nor do the deer eat it. Please let me know what the name of this plant is. Thanks!
Julie Day Says:October 18th, 2010 at 8:13 am
It’s a variety of sedum, but I’m sorry to say I don’t know which one! I contacted the gardener who provided the setting for the photo, and she doesn’t know either. Sorry I couldn’t offer the name this plant so well deserves – it’s a very hardy, wonderful succulent that works well by itself and also peeks beautifully out among other plants in the garden. For some great photos and possibly an answer, visit sedumphotos.net and prepare to be boggled by the choices!
November 19th, 2010 at 7:23 am
The plant above looks to me like myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites). I have it in my zone 4 garden
May 15th, 2011 at 8:13 am
I have two special dahlias, which I purchased potted from a garden center, they were beautiful last year. I dug them and stored them loose in a storage shed which stays in the 40′s-50′s all winter. We’re in zone 5, this spring the bulbs aren’t sprouting, although they look healthy and are firm.
November 10th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Succulent at top of page is a euphorbia biglandulosa AKA rigida ….a type of gopher plant.
I live in Tucson, AZ, where it lives in the full sun and survives the freezing winters,and spreads quickly after the blooms seed in the spring.
January 31st, 2012 at 7:48 pm
I also spent weeks trying to identify the above plant. It’s beautiful, but poisonous! I got some of the milky juice of the plant on my hand, and then touched my face. It burned my skin, burned my eyes, and left red welts anywhere that it touched me. Now I know!