Aloes, Echeverias and Kalanchoes bring a broad range of colors, leaf shapes, textures and flowers to the indoor garden. From delicate rosettes to tall spires, these plants like the bright sun and require little maintenance. They prefer low water, good drainage, and little fertilizer. They have few pests – indoors or outdoors. Their bold forms work well as a focal point, a repeated pattern or combined with other succulents or other house plants.

Many people are familiar with Aloe Vera, the healing aloe that is easily grown and thrives in many homes. However, there are more than 450 species of aloes collected from southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Madagascar. Aloes produce a showy spike that has bright orange to red tubular flowers. Many aloe species are available at local nurseries. Look for Aloe humilis (dwarf hedgehog aloe) with its white teeth on the margins, blue-green leaves and prickles on the leaf surfaces. It has scarlet tubular flowers with yellow tips. Or fall in love with Aloe variegata, which has dark green leaves with white bands. It blooms with red to pink flowers in the spring. Look for many new colorful Aloe hybrids that are being introduced over the next few years.

Many gardeners also are familiar with Echeverias, more commonly known as hen and chicks. Many of these plants look like flower rosettes hugging the ground. They may have fat, blue leaves or ruffled, rose tinted leaves or leaves frosted with white webs and hairs. Leaf colors range through white, gray, blue, green, pink, mauve, orange, red and brown. These plants originated in Mexico and surrounding countries. The bell-shaped flowers cling to stems above the plant and bloom in shades of yellow, orange, red or pink.

Echeveria runyoni ‘Topsy Turvy’ features leaves that reflex down and produces long-lasting apricot colored flowers. This plant is available locally. For an interesting new plant, look for Madre de Sur (Echeveria sawiana), an elegant silver with ruffled edges.

Kalanchoes have been sold as a blooming plant in grocery stores for years. These tough plants with their thick green leaves and bright clusters of flowers bloom for a long time with little attention. Who can resist a plant called the “panda plant” Kalanchoe tomentosa has green oval leaves edged with brown and covered with silver hair. This native of Madagascar can reach 20 inches tall. For a vertical accent, consider Kalanchoe daigremontiana, called mother of millions for the masses of plantlets along the leaf margins. The leaves are notched, red edged and flecked with purple on the reverse side – quite dramatic.

Succulents look wonderful in a wide range of pots that will fit any decor. Low bowls can hold a colony or a mixed garden. Tall containers can showcase some of the larger plants, such as Aloes. Hanging baskets work well for many of the Echeverias. Any containers should have good drainage holes, as a constantly moist soil is fatal to these plants. The best fertilizer is one that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus.

Succulents reward novice and experienced indoor gardeners with exotic beauty. Beware; collecting succulents with their many shapes and colors may become an obsession. Feel free to indulge since the plants are easy to grow, inexpensive to purchase and come in hundreds of interesting forms.