succulentlike

Succulentlike is an informal, descriptive term used in botany and horticulture to refer to plants that resemble true succulents in having water-storage tissues or drought-tolerant habits, without being classified as succulents by formal taxonomy. It is not a formal taxonomic category, but a heuristic used to communicate morphology and cultivation needs in garden and wild plants.

Plants described as succulentlike may show several features: thickened or fleshy leaves or stems, a compact growth form, and some capacity to store water in tissues. Their tissues may persist through dry periods, but these traits are not as pronounced or as consistent as in established succulent groups. In some cases, the appearance is seasonal or dependent on growing conditions, and not all individuals display the trait.

Succulentlike contrasts with true succulents, which are defined by persistent, well-developed water-storage tissues across the plant and a broad taxonomic representation. Succulentlike plants can occur across diverse families and may not share a common evolutionary origin for their succulent traits. The term is therefore descriptive rather than evolutionary.

In horticulture, calling a plant succulentlike signals that it may require fast-draining soil and careful watering, similar to succulents, but it may have different long-term care needs and greenhouse tolerances. See also succulence, CAM photosynthesis, and xerophytes for related concepts.