An uncommon variegated succulent that is compact and colorful. As it matures, it can give offsets and grow into a colorful cluster of small rosettes.

If you look close between the leaves, you might notice tiny white hairs or bristles. These are a natural feature of Anacampseros.

What Makes It Special?

The variegation is what makes Sunrise special. Each leaf can have colors of green, cream, pink, and purple.

Light plays a big role in how the plant looks. Lots of bright light helps it stay small and compact and keeps it super colorful but since its variegated, its sensitive to direct sunlight more than the non-variegated kind.

Key Facts

Scientific name: Anacampseros telephiastrum ‘Variegata’
Common name: Sunrise
Family: Anacampserotaceae
Native range: South Africa
Growth form: Compact, clump-forming succulent
Common use: Containers, windowsills and succulent arrangements

How to Care for Anacampseros ‘Sunrise’

Light

Give it plenty of bright light to help keep its compact growth and beautiful colors.

Indoors, a very bright window is great. Outside, some gentle direct sunlight but gradually acclimate it rather than moving it into intense sunlight.

If its new growth starts stretching or coming in less compact, it may need more light. If the leaves get bleached, scorched or get dry burned areas after giving it more sun, it may have increased too quickly.

Water

Sunrise stores water in its leaves so it does not need to remain constantly wet.

Follow our favorite method:

Dry → Drench → Dry → Repeat.

Let the soil to dry all the way, then water until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Let the soil dry again before watering.

Avoid little sips of water. Give it a deep watering then let it dry.

Your watering frequency will change with light, temperature, airflow, pot size, soil, and the season. A plant growing outside during warm weather will dry much faster than one sitting inside during winter.

Soil

Use a gritty, fast-draining succulent mix. 

Inside with not as much air flow, adding pumice or perlite can help water move through the soil and let it dry faster.

At Succly, we generally aim for succulent soil to dry within 3-5 days rather than staying wet for a week or more.

Always use a container with a drainage hole so extra water can flow out.

Temperature

It likes warm growing conditions and should be protected from frost.

Normal household temperatures are generally fine for it and approximately 65–80°F is a good range for active growth but that doesn’t mean it suddenly becomes damaged at 64°F. It’s just a preferred growing range rather than a hard survival boundary. 

Just be sure to protect it from become cold especially when temperatures get freezing. Cold combined with wet soil is especially not good for it.

Fertilizer

During active growth, use a diluted fertilizer  for succulents or cacti. A 1/4- half-strength periodically during growing season is great.

Stop feeding when the plant’s growth slows during colder months.

Blooming

It does flower and its flowers are large compared to the leaves.

It grows dark pink flowers about 30–35 mm in Summer time.

The flowers open for only a short period. They usually open for just a few hours in the afternoon.

So if you see a flower, keep checking on it. You might have a short window to catch the flower fully open!

Pet Safe?

Because we couldn’t verify this exact plant in a major veterinary plant-toxicity database, we don’t want to label it “pet safe”.

We recommend keeping it out of reach of pets. Eating the leaves can also cause stomach upset even when a plant isn’t known to have a specific harmful compound.

Humidity

It does not high humidity.

Its leaves store water and normal household humidity is fine. Good airflow is more important than trying to create a humid environment around the plant.

Propagation

One of the easiest ways to propagate is stem cuttings or offsets.

For a stem cutting make a clean cut on a stem. Let the cut end callus before putting it into a fast-draining succulent mix.

If your plant is producing offsets around its base those can also be separated once they are large enough and grow as individual plants.

It can reproduce from seed but seed grown ones might not have the exact variegation. So cuttings and offsets are the better choice when your goal is another Sunrise that resembles the parent.

Troubleshooting Anacampseros ‘Sunrise’

The Colors Are Fading

Light can have a big impact on the colors of Sunrise.

If its becoming mostly green or its growth is becoming stretched, look at how much light its receiving. Moving it gradually into a brighter spot will help it be more compact and colorful.

Remember that its colors can naturally vary with different growing conditions, so a greener plant isn’t automatically unhealthy.

Brown or Scorched Areas Appeared After Moving It Outside

The variegated form is sensitive to intense and strong sunlight.

Increase its direct light gradually so it has time to acclimate.

Leaves Are Mushy or Translucent

Soft, mushy, or translucent leaves is usually a warning sign that the plant has too much water.

Check how long the soil is staying wet. If it stays wet for an long time try to increase airflow with a fan, improving its drainage or add more grit like pumice or perlite.

Make sure your soil is drying between waterings.

The Plant Is Stretching

It naturally grows compact so if new growth becomes long and spaced apart light may the reason.

Move it gradually to brighter light rather than making a sudden jump into direct sunlight or consider adding a growlight.

What Are Those White Hairs Between the Leaves?

Those little white hairs are supposed to be there.

Anacampseros naturally grows hairs in the leaf axilsc called axillary bristle hairs.

They are a normal part of the plant and one of our favorite details about Sunrise.

The Lower Leaves Are Drying

An older lower leaf drying as the plant grows isn’t usually a problem.

A lot of leaf loss, mushiness, or changes occurring fast I would look at the roots, wetness in soil and growing conditions.

Pests

Sunrise can develop common pests such as mealybugs.

Its tightly packed leaves can provide places for pests to hide so be sure to inspect the plant periodically, especially around new growth and where leaves meet the stem.

Why We Picked This Plant

We picked Sunrise because of those beautiful colors!!

It’s colorful shine from across the room and is exactly the kind of plant we love putting in a Succly box.

Your Sunrise Has Arrived!

If this Sunrise showed up in your Succly box, congratulations, you’ve got one colorful little succulent to watch grow!

Snap a pic, tag @Succly, and show us where your Sunrise lives. Bonus points if it’s in bloom 🌼

Keep Learning About Succulent Care

New to succulents or want to learn even more? These guides will help you grow healthier, happier plants.

Watering Succulents
Learn why overwatering isn’t about how often you water, but how long the soil stays wet.
→ Read our Watering Guide

Find the Right Succulent Soil
There isn’t one “perfect” succulent soil. Discover how to choose or mix the best soil for your growing environment.
→ Read our Succulent Soil Guide

Succulent Care 101
Everything you need to know about light, watering, repotting, dormancy, and keeping your succulents thriving.
→ Read Succulent Care 101