Home & Garden

Review: The Best Cacti & Succulent Plants

Choosing the right cacti or succulent plant can transform any space, boost your wellbeing, and fit your lifestyle—whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a curious beginner. After extensive research, hands-on testing, and expert feedback, we’ve identified four standout options that excel in care, design, and value.

Our selection process centered on three key factors:

  • Real-World Performance: We evaluated plant health, growth rate, and resilience under typical home conditions.
  • Expert & Consumer Feedback: Insights from horticulturists and hundreds of verified buyer reviews helped us gauge satisfaction and long-term success.
  • Value & Diversity: We compared features, variety of species, and price per plant to find options that suit budgets, gifting, and decorative needs.

Each candidate underwent a minimum four-week trial period, where we monitored watering frequency, light tolerance, and overall appearance.

Best Budget Pick
String of Pearls Plant

String of Pearls Plant

An affordable live String of Pearls succulent that adds an elegant draping effect to shelves and hanging planters. Low-maintenance and fully rooted, it’s perfect for beginners seeking a budget-friendly introduction to succulents.

$3 from Amazon

Why We Chose It

The String of Pearls from THE NEXT GARDENER.COM delivers impressive visual impact for just a few dollars. Its bead-like foliage cascades beautifully, creating a living curtain that requires minimal care. During our trials, it thrived in bright, indirect light with weekly watering, proving itself one of the toughest and most eye-catching budget succulents on the market.

Premium Choice
Endless Summer Succulents

Endless Summer Succulents

A vibrant collection of 20 mini succulents showcasing diverse colors, shapes, and textures. Each plant is hand-selected for health, making it a premium choice for terrariums, gift sets, or expansive indoor displays.

$25 from Amazon

Why We Chose It

Shop Succulents’ Endless Summer Pack stands out for its exceptional variety. From rosette-form Echeverias to spiky Haworthias, each of the 20 live plants arrived in peak condition, supported by a quality guarantee. In our tests, the assortment maintained robust growth across changing light and humidity, earning its spot as the go-to splurge for serious collectors.

Best Value for Money
Assorted Succulent Pack

Assorted Succulent Pack

A curated set of 20 mixed succulents offering a balance of familiar favorites and unique varieties. Ideal for party favors, office desks, or DIY arrangements, it merges quality, diversity, and affordability.

$22 from Amazon

Why We Chose It

This Assorted Pack from Shop Succulents delivers unbeatable value by blending popular and rare species. Our evaluation highlighted the uniform health of each 2-inch plant, with consistent soil moisture retention and minimal leaf drop. At just over a dollar per plant, it’s the smartest way to build a succulent collection without breaking the bank.

Editors Choice
Mystery Jade Trio

Mystery Jade Trio

A three-pack of live jade (Crassula) plants randomly selected from premium varieties. These drought-tolerant succulents bring unique leaf shapes and colors, perfect for windowsills or gifting.

$7 from Amazon

Why We Chose It

The Jade Mystery Collection from The Succulent Cult offers both surprise and quality. We received three distinct Crassula types—Gollum, Tricolor, and Sunset—each thriving in low-maintenance conditions. Their compact form and varied hues made them stand out in our display tests, earning high marks for novelty and overall health.

Comparison at a Glance

FeatureString of PearlsEndless Summer PackAssorted Succulent PackMystery Jade Trio
Price$3.99$25.99$22.09$7.99
Plant Count120203
VarietySingle trailingHighMediumSingle species category
Light RequirementsBright, indirectBright, directBright, directBright, indirect
Maintenance LevelVery lowLowLowVery low

Top Overall Pick: The Endless Summer Pack combines exceptional diversity with top-tier quality.
Budget Alternative: String of Pearls is unbeatable for cost-conscious beginners.
Value Alternative: Assorted Succulent Pack strikes the perfect balance of variety and affordability.

Through rigorous testing and consultation with plant experts, these four selections represent the best cacti and succulents available today. Whether you’re decorating, gifting, or growing your own indoor oasis, there’s an option to suit your needs and budget. For collectors seeking the ultimate variety and guaranteed health, our top recommendation is the Endless Summer Succulent Pack. Beginners or budget-minded shoppers will find the String of Pearls an outstanding starter plant, while those wanting a mix of colors at a great price should opt for the Assorted Succulent Pack. Lastly, the Mystery Jade Trio adds an element of surprise and diversity beloved by enthusiasts. Happy planting!