Succulents have always been my go-to for low-maintenance greenery, but some varieties take things to a whole new level. I’m talking about plants that look like coral, sea creatures, or even alien sculptures. It’s wild how nature pulls off such bizarre beauty with so little effort from us.
These strange and stunning succulents can easily become the stars of your plant collection. They’re perfect for adding a touch of drama to shelves, windowsills, or tiny indoor gardens. And the best part? Most don’t need much more than sun and a good soak now and then.
That said, not every quirky succulent is beginner-friendly. A few of the truly odd ones have super specific needs and can be tricky to keep alive. I’ve learned to admire those from afar and stick with the ones that look wild but don’t make me work for it.
1. Spiral Aloe
Growing in a perfect Fibonacci spiral, this mathematical marvel forms a mesmerizing symmetrical pattern that seems too precise to be natural. The spiral can form clockwise or counterclockwise, with up to five complete rotations of pointed gray-green leaves.
Native to the mountains of Lesotho, this aloe prefers cooler temperatures than most succulents and excellent drainage. I’ve found that morning sun with afternoon shade keeps the spiral pattern most pronounced.
Unlike common aloes, it rarely flowers in cultivation and grows painfully slowly. Worth the patience though – mine took seven years to form a complete spiral but now stops visitors in their tracks every time.
2. Baseball Plant
Perfectly round and ribbed like a baseball with subtle green and purple hues, this South African native brings geometric perfection to any collection. The ball-shaped stem stores water, allowing it to survive months of drought in its native habitat.
Caring for this living sphere requires minimal effort – just bright indirect light and watering only when completely dry. Mine sits on my desk in a shallow concrete dish where it’s mistaken for an artisan paperweight until visitors look closer.
Remember it’s actually a type of euphorbia, not a cactus, despite its appearance. The sap is toxic, so handle with care if repotting or propagating this architectural wonder.
3. Living Stones
Evolution’s master of disguise, these bizarre succulents have adapted to look exactly like the stones among which they grow in the deserts of southern Africa. Each plant consists of just two fused leaves with a split in the middle, resembling a tiny cleft rock.
Growing lithops successfully requires restraint – they need almost no water during winter dormancy and just occasional sips in summer. Their translucent “windows” on top allow light to penetrate deep inside the plant, an adaptation that minimizes sun exposure in harsh desert conditions.
When they bloom, a daisy-like flower emerges improbably from the fissure between leaves. My collection started with just three and now numbers fifteen different varieties, each with unique patterns mimicking different stone types.
4. Buddha’s Temple
Stacked with geometric precision, the leaves of Buddha’s Temple form a perfect square column that resembles ancient Asian architecture. Each tight stack of blue-green leaves creates a pagoda-like structure that grows upward rather than outward.
Bright light brings out the best compact growth and stress colors along the leaf edges. My specimen took three years to reach just four inches tall – patience is definitely required for this architectural wonder.
Keep this one on the dry side and provide excellent ventilation to prevent rot between the tightly packed leaves. Despite its slow growth, Buddha’s Temple rewards with one of the most distinctive silhouettes in the succulent world.
5. Medusa’s Head
Writhing snake-like stems emerge from a central caudex, creating the unmistakable appearance of the mythological Gorgon’s head. Each tentacle-like branch grows in wild, unpredictable directions, making every specimen uniquely sculptural.
The gray-green stems remain relatively thin despite their length, creating an airy, dramatic silhouette against minimalist pots. Surprisingly tough despite its alien appearance, this South African native tolerates neglect but hates overwatering.
After five years, my specimen has developed a character all its own, with some branches cascading downward while others reach skyward. Just remember that like all euphorbias, the milky sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation.
6. Crested Euphorbia
Fan-shaped and resembling brain coral from the ocean, crested euphorbias result from a rare mutation that transforms normal growth into undulating, folded patterns. Often grafted onto stronger rootstock and sometimes called “Coral Cactus,” these aren’t actually cacti at all.
The wavy crests come in striking colors – green, blue, or most dramatically, variegated cream and green. My specimen sits in a black ceramic container where the contrast highlights its otherworldly form.
These plants appreciate bright indirect light that brings out their colors without scorching. The sculptural shape develops more character with age, with no two specimens ever looking identical – nature’s way of creating one-of-a-kind living art.
7. String Of Pearls
Delicate bead-like leaves dangle from thin stems, creating living strands of botanical jewelry that cascade beautifully from hanging planters. Each spherical leaf stores water while minimizing surface area – a clever desert adaptation transformed into decorative elegance.
Bright indirect light keeps the “pearls” plump and evenly spaced along the stems. My plant started as a single cutting and now trails three feet from its hanging pot, creating a living curtain in my east-facing window.
The subtle translucent “windows” on each pearl allow light to penetrate deep inside – look closely with a flashlight for this hidden feature. When happy, tiny brush-like white flowers emerge with a sweet cinnamon scent that fills the room.
8. Rose Succulent
Nature’s perfect imitation of a rose, these succulents form tight rosettes with layers of mint-green leaves that overlap precisely like flower petals. During dormancy, they close into an even tighter ball, enhancing the rose-like appearance.
Native to the Canary Islands, these uncommon beauties prefer cooler temperatures than most succulents. The powdery coating on the leaves (called farina) creates a soft, frosted appearance that shouldn’t be touched – fingerprints permanently mar the delicate surface.
My collection includes several varieties, but the blue-green forms are most convincingly rose-like. They produce offsets readily, allowing you to create a “bouquet” of living stone roses that, unlike their floral lookalikes, can last for years with minimal care.
9. Starfish Flower
Fleshy, mottled stems form the backdrop for perhaps the most dramatic flowers in the succulent world – massive star-shaped blooms reaching up to 16 inches across. The leathery petals feature intricate wrinkles and hairs, colored in shades of burgundy, yellow, and purple.
Despite their beauty, these flowers are infamous for their scent – they smell like rotting meat to attract pollinating flies. Keeping them outdoors during blooming season (or accepting very good ventilation) is advisable! The plant itself grows easily in bright light with minimal water.
My specimen blooms reliably each fall, and despite the smell, the alien beauty of these massive stars makes them worth growing. The stems themselves form an attractive sculptural clump even when not in bloom.
10. Mermaid’s Tail
Upright bluish-gray fingers reach skyward from this architectural succulent, creating a sea-inspired sculpture reminiscent of coral or a mermaid’s flowing tail. The powdery blue coating serves as natural sunscreen in its native South African habitat.
Each cylindrical leaf grows in a slight curve, creating graceful movement throughout the plant. When happy, it grows surprisingly quickly, forming a substantial clump within a single growing season.
Mine thrives in a weathered terracotta pot where the rusty orange complements the blue-gray foliage perfectly. During cool winters, the tips may blush purple, adding another dimension to this living sculpture that requires almost no maintenance beyond occasional watering.
11. Whale’s Tongue Agave
Massive blue-gray leaves form a perfect rosette that can reach five feet across, each leaf featuring a distinctive spoon-like shape with a prominent terminal spine. The cupped form and imposing size create a living sculpture that commands attention in any space.
Unlike many agaves, this species remains solitary without producing offsets, maintaining its symmetrical form throughout its life. The chalky coating gives it exceptional drought tolerance and a ghostly appearance, especially when backlit by morning sun.
My specimen anchors a corner of my garden where its architectural form contrasts beautifully with softer plants. Though it will eventually flower after decades of growth, the spectacular bloom stalk signals the plant’s final chapter – flowering is followed by the mother plant’s death.
12. Zebra Haworthia
Distinctive white horizontal stripes adorn dark green triangular leaves, creating a striking zebra-like pattern on this compact rosette succulent. The textured tubercles (bumps) along the leaf surfaces add another dimension of visual interest.
Perfect for indoor growing, these South African natives prefer bright indirect light rather than harsh sun. Their small size makes them ideal for desktops and tiny containers – my collection includes several varieties in vintage teacups where they’ve thrived for years.
Unlike many succulents, Haworthias don’t mind slightly more frequent watering and higher humidity, making them more forgiving for beginners. When happy, they produce offsets readily, allowing you to expand your collection or share with friends.
13. Trachyandra
Impossibly curly leaves spiral and twist in random corkscrews, creating living sculptures that seem designed by a whimsical artist rather than nature. Each leaf curls uniquely, ensuring no two plants ever look identical.
Native to South Africa, these unusual succulents remain relatively uncommon in cultivation despite their show-stopping appearance. The spring growth flush brings the most dramatic curls, with new leaves emerging already twisted.
My specimen sits in a simple white pot where the green curlicues create a living abstract sculpture. During summer dormancy, the leaves may die back, but the plant reemerges with fresh curls when temperatures cool in fall. Patience is required – they grow slowly but reward with one of the most unique forms in the plant kingdom.
14. Bunny Ears Cactus
Perfectly symmetrical pads grow in pairs resembling rabbit ears, covered in clusters of tiny golden or white glochids (hair-like spines) that catch the light like halos. Unlike many cacti, this Mexican native lacks the intimidating large spines, relying instead on these deceptively soft-looking tufts for protection.
The growth pattern creates a naturally sculptural form as new “ears” emerge from the tops of existing pads. Bright yellow flowers appear along pad edges in summer, followed by purple fruits if you’re lucky enough to have multiple plants for cross-pollination.
Despite its cuddly appearance, never touch the glochids – they detach easily and embed in skin, causing irritation. My specimen sits safely out of reach on a high shelf where its playful silhouette catches afternoon light beautifully.
15. Welwitschia
Often called a living fossil, this bizarre plant from Namibian deserts looks like the aftermath of a botanical experiment gone wrong. Despite living for thousands of years in the wild, it produces just two continuous leaves that split and tangle as they grow, creating a disheveled mess that resembles dried seaweed more than a living plant.
Attempting to grow Welwitschia at home is an exercise in frustration. They require precise desert conditions that are nearly impossible to replicate – extreme heat, cooling fog, and mineral compositions unique to their native habitat.
I’ve seen specimens in botanical gardens where even professional horticulturists struggle to keep them alive. Best appreciated in nature documentaries or during specialized desert tours rather than attempting to grow this ancient oddity in your home collection.
16. Hydnora Africana
Possibly the strangest plant you’ve never heard of, this underground parasitic succulent produces no leaves, stems, or chlorophyll. Instead, it sends up flesh-colored flowers that resemble alien mouths lined with teeth-like structures, emitting a smell of rotting meat to attract pollinating beetles.
Completely impossible for home cultivation, Hydnora only grows by parasitizing the roots of specific Euphorbia species in southern African deserts. The majority of its structure remains hidden underground, with only the bizarre flowers emerging briefly after rare rainfall events.
Even botanical gardens rarely attempt to grow this botanical oddity. I’ve only seen photographs from specialized botanical expeditions – this is one weird succulent best left to its natural habitat and appreciated through documentation rather than cultivation.
17. Brain Cactus
Resembling a miniature brain with convoluted folds and wrinkles, this mutated form of the Lady Finger Cactus results from a rare growth abnormality. While visually fascinating, these genetic mutations are notoriously finicky and prone to sudden death despite appearing healthy.
The bizarre growth pattern makes them extremely susceptible to rot, as water easily gets trapped in the folds. Even experienced growers find them challenging to maintain long-term, with specimens often deteriorating without obvious cause.
I’ve tried growing three different brain cacti over the years, and all eventually developed brown patches that spread until the plant collapsed. While they make for fascinating temporary oddities, I can’t recommend them for anyone seeking a long-lived collection piece – stick with the stable, non-crested varieties instead.