6 Pink Succulents for Your Valentine

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we're thinking pink with a collection of succulents in sweetheart shades. Unlike many plants, succulents can look their best when feeling "stressed" -- bright sun, high and low temperatures, and dry soil can bring out exceptional colors in some varieties. The six succulents above offer up a lovely pink palette, from pale rose to bold magenta. Learn more about each one below to find the perfect plant for your Valentine. 

1. Echeveria: Native to semi-desert regions of Central America and South America, Echeveria is a genus of succulents that contains around 100 species. Commonly known as "hen and chicks," Echeveria are characterized by their broad, fleshy leaves, which grow in symmetrical rosettes. Many varieties develop bright pink edges, as seen above, when grown in full sunlight.  

2. Graptopetalum pachyphyllum: This low-profile perennial grows in large colonies in rocky, mountainous regions of Mexico. Graptopetalum pachyphyllum is one of only two summer-flowering species; its rosettes of glaucous leaves are topped by tiny, yellow flowers with pointed petals. In bright sun, its silver-gray foliage takes on a reddish tint.

3. Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg': Vivid pink highlights stand out against the pale gray foliage of this Echeveria variety, which produces multiple, coral flowers on slender stems. Easy to cultivate and propagate from cuttings, it flourishes in the high heat of a summer garden but is sensitive to cold temperatures. 

4. Kalanchoe thyrsiflora: Commonly known as "paddle plant," "flapjack plant" or "desert cabbage," this South African native produces pink-edged leaves when grown in bright sunlight. Its flat, round leaves provide the backdrop for a tall spike of fragrant, yellow flowers in spring. 

5. Echeveria 'Afterglow': This silver-green succulent features pinkish-lavender leaves with a stunning edge of brighter pink. Its short, sturdy stem holds rosettes up to 16 inches wide, accented by deep orange flowers. This heat-tolerant hybrid was created by Don Worth, a succulent enthusiast and professional photographer from San Francisco. 

6. Sedum rubrotinctum 'Aurora': Sweetly nicknamed "Pink Jelly Beans," this cheerful stonecrop variety is ideal for container gardens or indoor plantings. Its bead-like leaves are accented in shades of pink and cream, with yellow-white flowers in summer. Though able to thrive in poor soil and full sun, it should be protected from frost. 

1. Orin Zebest; 2, 3, 4 . Quinn Dombrowski; 5. JMacPherson; 6. salchuiwt