Needing regular watering or watering more often does not disqualify plants from succulent'ship, AFAIK, though finding a cut'n'dried, simple definition of succulent isn't as straightforward as one might think. There are many wildly varied definitions out there. Being able to cope with drought seems pretty important to me. Not wilting/transpiring, and the ability to callous over while an attempt is made at new roots, both qualify plants in my opinion, though it IS just my opinion after reading many vastly different definitions of "succulent" from many sources. Depending on the context, the word has different meanings, even in regard to plants.

I think the cuttings are an important indicator. Succulent cuttings kept wet usually rot vs. something like a Coleus that could not survive, even as a cutting, if the soil dried out, and which one would never attempt/allow to callous before propagating as a cutting. Many epiphytes like holiday cacti, Rhipsalis, Epiphyllum break the 'rule' about not being able to cope with drought like many Kalanchoes, Crassulas, Sedums, or Senecios, but are still considered succulents.

Give wax Begonia the same care as Coleus, very little sun, moist soil, it will rot. Put it in a few hours of sun, stop watering so much, big beautiful bodacious plant. It may not fit some textbook definitions, but that's a succulent in my book. I've had the same experience with cane types, dragon & angel wings, rhizomatous Rex types.

My opinion coincides with TX A & M Horticulture department.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...
And succulent-plant.com.
http://www.succulent-plant.com...

Thanks for the links Tiffany... for me I water and care for my as I would coleus, if I treated mine how I treat my succulents they'd be dried up
both links are interesting though thanks!

Greg, I hesitated to use that (or any) anecdote since it wouldn't match everyone's experience, but that's what anecdotes are, personal stories. For a little more perspective, I am in recovery from being a classic and prolific overwaterer. Throughout my former spree of water crimes against plants, I've killed ferns, rotted Colocasia bulbs, sweet potato vines, dozens of peace lilies and Coleus, and only once ever had one die because I forgot to water it. I have 2 categories of watering while plants are outside. Those that always get a drink every 2-3 days, vs. those that I check to see if they are dry first because past experience tells me they will rot if not. So for those looking at things through similar swim goggles, I hope it has some meaning. (While inside, no plants get watered unless/until dry.)

There's also no reason to assume I'm caring for all of my plants perfectly, regardless of descriptive labels. I try not to make that mistake anymore, and I'm always in learning mode, constantly trying to improve from excellent advice, mainly that shared so generously on forums. Thanks for sharing some of yours!

I consider some begonias succulents!

Just like some euphorbia are succulents, yet others are drought sensitive hardy ground cover, or tropical shrubs...

Some genus fit the mould ! Succulent or not!

Others sneak outta the mould here and there, a few blow that mould away!

I believe by definition a succulent plant will have water storage in its anatomy, be it stem or leaf, or even root!
Consider the ever popular ( super popular here on ATP) daylily!
Few would consider it succulent, but dig one up, look at those thick juicy SUCCULENT roots!
If you doubt their succulent nature, dig one, put it in a clay pot and treat it like a succulent, as long as don't use gritty mix, or live in hot hot fenix, you can I. Fact grow them side by side with other c&s, as a matter of fact, you may find yourself watering bonified succulents more often, crown of thorns, aeonium, some kalanchoe, some crassula, come to mind, but there's many others!

In my book, if I can take a coin sized piece of the plant, single layer , not folded over, and crush it between my finger and thumb, and a drop of water emerges from it, then it's a semi succulent, bare minimum! Maybe even a true succulent!
Begonias defiantly fall into this category for me!

Interesting conversation!

I just thought that if a plant stored water in its stems or leaves that was enough to qualify. If you get into roots, it really opens the doors on it ....Asparagus ferns, etc....?

Indeed it does!

Clearly there's no hard and fast answer...

It's a topic I wrestle with a lot in my mind...

My collection now consists of mainly tropicals, elephant ears to be exact, I can't imagine a more succulent plant, they are over 85% water!
Yet c&s culture would kill every single elephant ear that exists!

I felt at one point that I'd abandoned succulents, having focused on tropicals since my return to the ornamental plant world...then it dawned on me, I'd neglected the desert succulents, but had amassed many a tropical succulent in my EE and bananas...

Again, crush a stem( petiole) of either plant, wipe off the copious amounts of juice quick, it'll burn you, but then tell me that plant is not of a succulent nature!
I dare ya!😋

Sway, interesting method, that crushing of leaf and looking for drop of water...

I am a new parent!
I was able to cut off the top of one of the flowerets I picked up from the throw away table at Home Depot and after taking off a couple of leaves and letting them callus over I planted my own first plant, plus two leaves.
I have also discovered that a few of the leaves that I laid out on the 6th of December are starting to show signs of roots. Oh happy day!!!
If watching and looking for activity has any growth producing effects I should have a nursery full of plants by now.

Fabulous! Merry Christmas to you, from the plant world! Love to hear of a new convert, lol.

Now, there are some that are a bit trickier, but these first lessons are a great start. Just be careful not to over water (or under water!) - this is a bit of a tricky time. Many succulents are actually dormant at this time, depending on their environment, and will resent being watered very often. Have you identified which plants you have? That is always the first step to figuring out their particular needs.

Congrats puzzle!