15 Spiky Succulents That Add Edge To Your Home Décor

Spiky succulents are one of my favorite things to plant when I’m looking to add an air of edginess to my home décor. The varieties of colors and shapes are endless. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and textures that you really can’t go wrong in adding at least one succulent to any room in your home.

Popular Spiky Succulents for Your Home or Garden

Here is a list of the best spiky succulents you can find in the current market. Most of these species are readily available as we’ve tried to only mention plants that are not super rare.

Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe juvenna)

The Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe juvenna) is a small spiky succulent that originates from East Africa. It gets its name from its leaves’ sharp, teeth-like edges. The leaves are also dotted with white spots, adding to the plant’s overall appeal.

This aloe is a slow grower and will only reach about 12 inches (30 cm) in height at maturity. It’s mostly used as a houseplant. The plant’s leaves like to stack on top of each other, forming a sort of mini structure of a rosette. This growing habit keeps the plant compact, perfect as a potted plant.

Although it does produce offsets, you can easily detach them from the parent plant using a pair of pruning shears to keep the aesthetic clean.

When exposed to full sun, the leaves turn reddish-brown. This is a sign of the plant being happily stressed.

• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Watering: Infrequent, when the soil is dry

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is a succulent that’s native to Madagascar. It gets its common name from the sharp thorns that line its stems. The plant produces small, round red flowers that bloom throughout the year. The flowers are borne on thick, mini trunks that are covered with sharp spikes.

This is one of the more popular Euphorbias, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a fast grower and can easily reach 6 feet (1.8 m) in height if left unchecked. It is also quite low-maintenance, not requiring much care from the gardener overall.

It’s best to keep this spiky succulent plant in a pot as it can get quite large. And when placed outdoors, make sure it’s in an area that’s not trafficked by people or animals, as the thorns can cause injury.

• Light: Full sun 
• Watering: Regular (fast-draining soil)

Porcupine Tomato Plant (Solanum Pyracanthum)

The Solanum pyracanthum is an annual succulent native to Madagascar. It’s more commonly known as the Porcupine Tomato Plant.

This plant gets its name from the spines covering the surface of its leaves, resembling the quills of a porcupine. The spines not only make it an interesting plant to look at but also protect it from being eaten by animals.

The leaves are blue-green and heavily veined with orange to make a stark contrast. The spikes emerge from the midribs, making touching the leaf with bare hands a tall task. And if that wasn’t enough, the plant is poisonous as well. If you have curious pets, maybe rethink moving this plant to this home.

Porcupine tomatoes are easy to care for and make an excellent choice for beginners. They can be grown anywhere and require very little maintenance.

• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Watering: Occasional watering

Glassrim Haworthia (Haworthia mucronata)

The Haworthia mucronata, also known as the Glassrim Haworthia, is a small succulent native to the Western Cape in South Africa. It is a somewhat translucent species of Haworthia. Meaning the leaves are almost see-through but not quite. This characteristic is what makes this species of particular note. It grows in the shape of a rosette, with each leaf lined with small spikes or teeth that are white in color.

The Haworthia mucronata is a slow-growing succulent that only reaches about 6 inches (15 cm) in height. The flowers are small and white, blooming in the summertime.

This plant is perfect for those who want an easy-to-care-for succulent that doesn’t take up much space. It’s an ideal choice for terrariums, Fairy Gardens, or as a houseplant.

• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

Saw Leaf Agave (Agave xylonacantha)

The Saw Leaf Agave (Agave xylonacantha) is a spiky succulent that’s native to Mexico. It gets its name from the saw-like teeth that line the edges of its leaves.

This agave can grow to reach up to 1 foot tall and about 4 feet wide. The leaves are thick and fleshy, with sharp teeth along their margins. They’re arranged in a rosette pattern and can be either green or blue-green in color. The rosette is not quite as tight as some other Agave species.

Although the plant does produce offsets, it rarely happens in cultivation. In most cases, it remains a solitary rosette for the entirety of its lifetime. Propagation needs to be done using alternate methods. This striking plant is mostly used as an accent for showier, more vibrant species of plants. If planted in a pot, it can be moved around easily; this plant isn’t easily stressed.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Deeply (after the soil dries out)

Pearl Plant (Tulista pumila)

The Pearl Plant (Tulista pumila) is a small, spiky succulent that is native to South Africa. It is called Pearl Plant because of the way its leaves are heavily dotted with white, raised tubercles that look like pearls. It is also miniature aloe due to the heavy resemblance it has with aloe plants.

This plant is fairly slow-growing and can reach up to 12 inches tall and 6 inches wide. The stems support a rosette of vibrant, dark green leaves that are dotted with white spots. These little guys are very drought tolerant and can go for long periods without water.

They do best in bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate some shade. They are not cold-hardy and should be brought indoors or protected if there is a chance of frost.

• Light: Semi-shade
• Water: Deeply, when soil is dry

Tiger Jaws (Faucaria tigrina)

Tiger Jaws (Faucaria tigrina) is a small, slow-growing succulent that originates from South Africa. It’s called Tiger Jaws due to the shape of its leaves, which resemble the jaws of a tiger. The leaves are lined with sharp teeth that can give you a nasty cut if you’re not careful. They grow in stemless clumps, growing in a star-shape spread out on the ground.

This plant is definitely one of the tougher spiky succulents on this list and can tolerate some neglect. It’s drought-tolerant; able to survive long periods without water. But it will start to look limp and unhealthy if it doesn’t get enough water. It’s best to water less rather than water more. 

It can tolerate shady conditions but will start to stretch if it doesn’t get enough light. So if you want it to maintain its compact, bushy shape, give it plenty of bright, indirect light.

Tiger Jaws is a relatively slow grower but can reach up to 6 inches (30 cm) tall and twice as wide. It produces yellow or white flowers that bloom in the wintertime.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)

Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi) is a slow-growing succulent that can reach up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It’s a native of Northern and Central America.

The Parry’s Agave has a rosette shape and can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter. Its leaves are thick and fleshy, with sharp spines on the edges and tips. The leaves are slate-grey in color, edged with short, sharp spines that can cause injury if touched without gloves. What makes this particular variety of agave attractive are the broad, grey leaves that look wider than they really are. The leaves form a rosette that looks brilliant when surrounded by desert foliage, perfect for a rocky garden.

This agave is one of the slowest-growing spiky succulent plants in the world. It can take up to 25 years for it to reach its full size. But once it matures, it will produce long-lasting blooms. Unfortunately, once this plant blooms, it will die out immediately afterward, leaving only an impression of where it once stood.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

Different Types of Spiky Cactus

Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)

The Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is a spherical cactus native to Mexico. It’s one of the most popular cacti in the world, widespread in cultivation.

This cactus is covered in spines that vary in color from yellow to brown. The spines are arranged in strictly symmetrical order along the ribs that give the plant a striking appearance. The resulting spectacle is that of a big, green ball with starkly contrasting yellow spines.

Although this spiky cactus is called a barrel cactus, it remains globular for much of its life. It’s only in the later stages that the globe elongates to form a tall barrel.

When it blooms, the Golden Barrel produces beautiful yellow flowers that complement the yellow spines nicely. The flowers only last a short time, but they’re definitely worth waiting for. Due to their highly ornamental nature, it’s best to grow them indoors in a medium-sized pot.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Rarely

Goat’s Horn Cactus (Astrophytum capricorne)

Astrophytum capricorne, commonly known as Goat’s Horn Cactus, is a small cactus that originates from northern Mexico. It’s called Goat’s Horn because its spines are so elongated that they resemble the horns of a goat.

The plant can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 6 inches (15 cm) wide. The stem is green and cylindrical, with 8-10 flat ribs. It has sharp spines that are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The flowers bloom in spring and summer, and they’re white or yellow with brown spots.

Goat’s Horn Cactus is easy to care for and requires little maintenance. It prefers a bright, full sun for a few hours every day but can tolerate some shade. Water it moderately, and allow the soil to dry out between watering. It’s best to use cactus potting mix or well-draining soil.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Regularly, when soil is dry

Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria spp.)

Mammillaria is a genus of cacti that contains over 200 species. They’re native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. The plants are usually small and globular, with spines that vary in length from 0.4 to 2 inches (1-5 cm). The flowers bloom in late spring and summer, and they’re white, yellow, pink, or red.

Pincushion cacti are easy to care for and require little maintenance. They prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade. Water them moderately, and allow the soil to dry out between watering. They’re best grown in cactus potting mix or well-draining soil.

These plants like to form clumps, growing offsets from the base of the main plant. This makes propagation easy as you simply twist off an offset and plant it in a new pot to get a completely new plant quickly.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

Rebutia (Crown Cactus)

Rebutia is a genus of small cacti from Bolivia and Argentina. They’re typically globular in shape and can grow to be about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.

The flowers of rebutia are some of the most beautiful of any cactus. They come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, red, and pink. And they tend to bloom in the late spring or early summer. In addition, their flowers are quite large in relation to their body, making each blooming season a treat to behold.

They’re not the easiest cacti to care for as they require more water than most other types of cacti. But if you can give them what they need, they’re definitely worth the effort.

• Light: Bright, direct light
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

Sea Urchin Cactus (Echinopsis spp.)

The Sea Urchin Cactus (Echinopsis spp.), also known as the Hedgehog Cactus, is a popular genus of spiky cactus plants native to regions of South America. It grows in a wide variety of habitats, from hot, dry deserts to cool, moist forests. The Sea Urchin Cactus has distinctive spiny stems and flowers that range in color from light pink to deep red. But what makes these cacti unique is their strong resemblance to sea urchins. In addition, these cacti tend to stay small throughout their life, making them quite suitable as desktop plants.

These spiky succulents are a popular choice for gardeners because of its easy to care for and drought tolerant. In fact, the Sea Urchin Cactus can survive long periods of drought without water and can even tolerate light frost. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and grows well in containers or on the ground.

The Sea Urchin Cacti are a beautiful addition to any garden and are sure to attract attention with their unique shape and brightly colored flowers.

• Light: Full sun
• Water: Moderate

Scarlet Ball Cactus (Parodia Haselbergii)

The Scarlet Ball Cactus (Parodia Haselbergii) is a globe-shaped cactus with crimson flowers. It’s native to Brazil and Uruguay, where it grows in sandy, well-drained soil.

This spiky cactus gets its common name from the shape of its flower; the red color really stands out against the white spines that cover the rest of the plant body. The spines are soft and hairy, hiding the main body underneath due to their dense spread. The blooms last for a long time when they do bloom, encouraging gardeners to strive for the perfect season.

The Scarlet Ball Cactus is a slow-growing plant that can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. It’s best suited for growing in containers, where it can be kept as a houseplant or patio plant.

• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Watering: Drought-Tolerant

Compass Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)

The Compass Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) is a cactus native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. As its name suggests, it’s shaped like a barrel and can grow up to 6 feet tall. The plant is covered in spines that vary in color from yellow to red. They can grow to be about 3 inches long, and they’re quite sharp, so handle with care.

Interestingly, as it ages, it always leans south. Each specimen, in the wild or in cultivation, has a south-leaning trunk. This earned the plant its name as the Compass Barrel Cactus.

This cactus is slow-growing but can reach a large size if given enough time. It’s best suited for use as a specimen plant in a garden bed or as part of a cactus collection.

• Light: Full sun
• Watering: Moderately, when the soil is dry

The Best Spiky Succulents For Your Home Décor (Video)

References

1. “Solanum pyracanthum ‘Porcupine Tomato'” by FarOutFlora
2. “Agave xylonacantha” by amantedar is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
3. “Agave parryi” by andrewtoskin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
4. “仙人掌-雪光(雪晃) Brasilicactus haselbergii (Notocactus haselbergii, Parodia haselbergii) [香港公園 Hong Kong Park]” by 阿橋花譜 KHQ Flower Guide is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
5. “2019.03.29_17.26.04_IMG_0955” by AndreyZharkikh is licensed under CC BY 2.0.