Purple and White Succulent Flowers
Succulents and cactus are well known for their easy care and unusual designs. The often less appreciated feature of these wonderful plants is the beautiful flowers some produce. This is another reason to include these impressive plants in your indoor and outdoor gardens. The list and descriptions of succulent flowers seem endless. So I have described a few succulents with purple flowers and also white succulent flowers to peak your interest. It is also helpful to know when the succulent and cacti produce the flowers and when they bloom. The flowers are beautiful and you don’t want to risk missing the event.
You may have noticed that many succulents, such Ice Plant, Poinsettia and Kalanchoe, are available in a variety of attractive colors. Listed below is a small sampling of additional beautiful and interesting succulent flowers of various colors.
Purple Succulent Flowers
Mammillaria Luethyi
The Mammillaria Luethyi is a petite ½ inch to 6 inches. This rare cactus produces masses of tiny white puffs that cover the whole plant rather than the usual cactus thorns. It may remain a single plant or produce up to 7 heads. The purple flowers may appear singly or in amazing, large clusters.
Bloom Time: Night Blooming
Devil’s Tongue Cactus, Ferocactus Latispinus
Devil’s Tongue Cactus is a variety of barrel cactus only about a foot in height and 16 inches in diameter. The flowers are about an inch and a half across. This hearty cactus blooms consistently from late fall to mid-winter. The succulent flowers are a rich purple color.
Bloom Time: Late fall to mid winter
White Succulent Flowers
Disc Jade, Discocactus
Discocactus is a small cactus reaching only about 3 inches in height and 6 inches in width. The fragrant white flowers are stunning and give a fragrance similar to a lemon tree blossom.
Blooming Time: Open in the evening and close the next morning.
Mistletoe Cactus, Rhipsalis Pilocarpa
Mistletoe Cactus has thin pencil-like stems that gracefully drape over the side of a pot. It is best grown in a hanging basket as the stems may reach a length of 6 feet. Small, white flowers appear at the tips of the branches followed by pea size red fruit.
Blooming Time: Repeatedly throughout the summer.
Queen of the Night, Selenicereus Grandiflorus
Queen of the Night may at times be used to describe other cacti, but it certainly describes the Selenicereus Grandiflorus. This unusual cactus can be grown in soil but is actually an epiphyte in the wild meaning it grows on other plants. The dramatic white flowers appear at the end of a foot-long stem.
Blooming Time: One night
Golden Torch, Echinopsis Spachiana
The Echinopsis Spachiana cactus produces more than one color of flowers. This particular lime-green variety, Golden Torch, has a showy white flower approximately six inches across appearing at the end of long stems. In their natural habitat, they bloom from June to July.
Blooming Time: Appears one day from June to July
Pincushion Cactus, Mammillaria Albiflora
Mammillaria Albiflora is sometimes referred to as Pincushion Cactus, but this common name has been applied to many, many cactus varieties. The white flowers of this cactus appear from April to May. The individual plant rarely reaches a height of over 6 inches, but they often form a much larger clump.
Blooming Time: A night blooming cactus from April to May
These descriptions barely scratch the surface of the many beautiful and dramatic succulent flowers. These are just a few samples of succulent flowers that are white and succulent flowers that are purple. As can be seen, the best succulent plants offer more than just beautiful, lush plants. Be patient to view the flowers. Most plants must reach maturity before blooming. However, once you have seen one of your prize succulents decorated with purple or white flowers, it will greatly enhance your enjoyment of your succulent garden.
