Aloe polyphylla? Is that your spiral succulent?

http://smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3058

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Or were you thinking of the Trachyandra in photos 14 and 15 at this Portuguese-language site?

http://vidasuculenta.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-55-imagens-mais-vistas-curtidas-e.html

(Two of the photos are from a GWeb member who's a landscape architect.)

This post was edited by missingtheobvious on Fri, Nov 8, 13 at 16:03

There are definitely succulents hardy in zone 6. For instance, there are sempervivums, which should do fine in your area. Also, look up Delosperma - in addition to the common species D. cooperi, a number of cultivars with interesting colors to their blooms have been developed. There are a surprising number of cacti that would be OK in zone 6, though in NJ the winter rains and humidity would be the main problem. A lot of people are "into" this part of the hobby!