The different types of succulents in the LEGO® Botanicals collection
Succulents are a type of plant that retains water in dry climates, and you can usually spot them by their thick stems and leaves. While there are thousands of types of succulents out there, some of the most common ones are represented in the LEGO® Succulents set (10309).
This set includes nine miniature brick-built succulents, each in its own stylish black pot. These no-maintenance botanical beauties are a perfect gift for those who love plants but want something a little bit different.
Join us as we explore the inspiration behind the plants found in the LEGO Succulents building set.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a very common succulent, and you may have heard of it in relation to its medicinal properties. You can usually identify this type by its thick green leaves, often ridged with small teeth. These plants typically have either no stem or a very small one, and they thrive in indirect or artificial sunlight.
The LEGO® brick version of aloe vera doesn’t need any care, but the living one needs moderate temperatures and occasional watering, fertilising and repotting.
Cacti
Did you know that cacti are a type of succulent? There are lots of different cacti found all over the world. The LEGO® set includes a ball cactus and a moon cactus.
A ball cactus is just what it sounds like – a short, ball-shaped green plant with sharp spines on all sides. Don’t touch them! They generally grow between 7 and 15 centimetres in height, and they sometimes have a flower on top.
A moon cactus, specifically the Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, lacks chlorophyll in its colourful top portion, which is why it appears vibrant and bright. This lack of chlorophyll means it cannot perform photosynthesis on its own. Instead, the moon cactus must be grafted on to a different type of cactus that contains chlorophyll and provides the necessary nutrients and energy for the plant's survival.
Donkey’s tail
A donkey’s tail plant, also known as a burro’s tail, is a trailing succulent. You usually see them in a hanging basket because of how they hang down. The succulent’s stems come from the centre of the plant and hang over the side of the basket. Each stem has dozens of thick, round leaves that look like grapes. While the LEGO® version of the donkey’s tail doesn’t hang, it’s still a stellar addition to any botanical builder’s collection.
Donkey’s tail loves direct sunlight, but it needs to be introduced to the light slowly before you can leave it there. Like all succulents, it doesn’t need much watering, but when you do water it, it needs to reach deep into the soil.
Echeveria
Echeveria is probably the succulent on this list that looks the most like a flower. Its spoon-shaped leaves are arranged like a stunning circular bloom, and it can grow in multiple colours. The LEGO® Succulents set comes with 3 colourful specimens: red, orange and lavender echeveria.
Unlike LEGO echeveria, live ones need at least five hours of direct sunlight a day. They thrive outdoors in the summer months (as long as you give them a bit of shade to balance it out), and they don’t need much water.
Share your LEGO® Succulents with us
These types of succulents are only the beginning. Discover more buildable plant sets in the full LEGO® Botanicals collection.
Once you’ve built your LEGO succulent garden, share it with us on social media. Tag our official account and check out the community’s collections.