Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’: How to Care for This Color-Changing Succulent

Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’ is a colorful, variegated Aeonium grown for its beautiful colored rosettes.

Its leaves have shades of green and cream with pink-to-red colors along the edges. And one of the best parts about growing it is that those colors don’t always stay the same.

Light, temperature, the season and growing conditions can all affect the way an Aeonium looks. Your O’Carrie may be greener at certain times of the year and then get much stronger pink and red colors under other conditions.

As it grows, its rosettes grow at the ends of stems, giving it that signature Aeonium look.

What Makes It Special?

That variegation.

O’Carrie gives several colors in one succulent. Cream, green, pink and red can all show up within the same rosette.

Give it good light and you will notice its coloring become much more dramatic.

It’s also an Aeonium, which means it doesn’t always follow the same seasonal routine as many of the other succulents in your collection.

Aeoniums are adapted to climates with dry summers and generally grow more actively during cooler conditions. When summer gets hot and dry, growth can slow down dramatically or the plant might enter dormancy.

During dormancy its rosette may become tighter and it may shed some of its older lower leaves. That doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Your Aeonium might just be taking its summer rest.

Key Facts

Scientific name: Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’
Common name: O’Carrie Aeonium
Family: Crassulaceae
Native range: O’Carrie is a cultivated variety and does not have a documented wild native range. The Aeonium genus is native to Macaronesia, southwestern Morocco, parts of eastern Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, with many species occurring in the Canary Islands.
Growth form: Rosette-forming succulent
Common use: Containers, succulent arrangements and outdoor succulent gardens in suitable climates

How to Care for Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’

Light

Give O’Carrie plenty of bright light. Its pink and red tones may become more noticeable when it receives plenty of light.

Outdoors, morning sun with some protection from intense afternoon sun is a great place to start, especially if you live somewhere with hot summers. Indoors, place it close to one of your brightest windows. Just remember that more sun isn’t always better if your plant isn’t used to it. 

If it has been growing indoors, in a greenhouse or in a shaded area, gradually introduce it to stronger direct sunlight. A sudden jump into bright sun can burn the leaves. If the rosette begins stretching or opening more than usual, it may be asking for more light.

Water

Aeoniums can be a little different from other succulents when it comes to watering because their growth can change with the seasons. During active growing, water it deeply so water reaches the entire root system and extra water drains from the bottom of the pot. Then wait....and let the soil dry before watering again.

During hot, dry summers, an Aeonium might Islow its growth or enter dormancy. A dormant plant uses much less water, so you’ll usually need to reduce your watering.

This is why we don’t recommend watering on a schedule. Check the soil. Check the plant. Then decide whether it actually needs water.

Soil

It needs a gritty, fast-draining soil. A commercial cactus or succulent mix can work well, but you can also increase drainage by adding an amendment like perlite or pumice.

Your environment matters too. If you live somewhere humid or grow your plant indoors where soil dries slowly, you may need a more gritty mix than someone growing outdoors in a hot, dry climate. And always use a pot with a drainage hole. The goal is to let the roots to get a good drink without leaving them sitting in wet soil for a long time.

Temperature

Aeoniums prefer relatively mild tempatures but they can respond to hot, dry summer weather by slowing their growth or becoming dormant.

Your O’Carrie should also be protected from freezing temperatures. If you grow yours outdoors and temperatures are expected to get close to freezing, move it somewhere warmer.

If you’re growing it indoors, normal household temperatures are generally fine.

Fertilizer

Aeoniums aren’t heavy feeders. If you want to fertilize your O’Carrie, use a diluted balanced fertilizer while the plant is actively growing in Winter.

You don’t need to fertilize every time you water. And if your plant has entered summer dormancy or is otherwise stressed, skip the fertilizer and let it rest. Fertilizer helps a plant in active growth. It shouldn’t be used to try to force a dormant plant to start growing again.

Blooming

A mature Aeonium may eventually send a flower stalk up from the center of a rosette. Aeonium flowers are small and star-shaped and grow together in larger flower clusters. Depending on the species, flowers within the genus can be yellow, white, pink or red. We haven’t found reliable documentation identifying the exact flower color of the O’Carrie cultivar, so this is one characteristic you may have to wait and see for yourself. ☺️ Then report back to us.

But there’s something important to know before yours ever blooms. Aeonium rosettes are monocarpic. That means a rosette flowers once and then that individual rosette dies. That sounds much scarier than it usually is.If an Aeonium has multiple branches and rosettes, the other rosettes can continue growing after the flowering rosette finishes its life cycle. They also don't flower right away. Aeoniums need to reach maturity before flowering, so you can grow yours for years before you ever see a flower stalk.

Is Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’ Pet Safe?

There isn’t enough reliable information available specifically for Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’ for us to confidently classify this cultivar for pets. We recommend keeping it out of reach, especially if you have a cat or dog that likes to chew on plants. Even plants that are generally considered safe can cause stomach upset when eaten.

Humidity

It doesn’t require high humidity. Normal household humidity is generally fine. What matters more is airflow and how quickly the soil dries after watering. If you live in a humid environment, water may remain in the soil longer. That means you’ll want to pay extra attention to drainage and check the soil before watering again.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate an Aeonium like O’Carrie is with a stem cutting that includes a rosette. Choose a healthy rosette and cut it with a section of stem attached. Allow the cut end to dry and callus before placing it into a gritty, well-draining succulent soil.

Once you feel resistance when gently tugging the stem, roots are beginning to establish and you can gradually start the cutting into its normal care routine.

Troubleshooting Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’

My O’Carrie Is Getting Greener

First, check its light. Aeonium colors can change with different conditions and a plant receiving less light may show more green in its leaves. Gradually increasing its light will help bring out stronger color. But remember that seasonal changes can also affect their appearance, so a greener plant isn’t automatically an unhealthy plant.

The Rosette Is Closing Up

If it’s summertime and temperatures are high, your Aeonium may be entering dormancy. Aeoniums can tighten their rosettes and slow or stop active growth during hot, dry conditions. Don’t try to force it back into growth with extra water or fertilizer. Let it rest. It will thank you.

Lower Leaves Are Drying Up and Falling Off

A few crispy lower leaves are usually nothing to worry about. Aeoniums naturally shed older leaves and leaf loss can become more noticeable during its dormancy.

The Rosette Is Stretching

If the spaces between the leaves are becoming larger and the rosette is losing its compact shape it may not be receiving enough light. Move it somewhere brighter gradually. Remember that an Aeonium developing a visible stem isn’t automatically stretching. Many Aeoniums naturally grow rosettes at the ends of stems.

The Leaves Have Brown or Bleached Areas

Think about whether you recently changed its light. A plant moved suddenly from lower light into intense direct sun can develop sunburn. Aeoniums sunburn really easily. Espeiclaly young ones. Once a leaf is burned, that burned area won’t turn green again. But new growth can still be totally healthy.

The Stem Is Soft or Mushy

Soft or mushy stems, especially when it has wet soil, can indicate that the plant has remained wet for too long and stem has started to rot. Stop watering and take a look the stem and roots. If needed remove affected tissue and save a healthy rosette or section of stem as a cutting.

If this Aeonium ‘O’Carrie’ showed up in your Succly order, congratulations, you have one seriously fun succulent to watch grow.

Snap a pic, tag @Succly, and show us where your O’Carrie lives. Bonus points if it’s showing all its colors! 

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