Native to South Africa, the bunny ears succulent has been gaining in popularity over the past few years after going viral in Japan for its “kawaii” (extremely cute) quality. This plant makes a fun addition to your spring or Easter decor, but it can be hard to find. Getting your hands on an already-growing bunny succulent isn’t easy because this plant is relatively rare despite its popularity online. If you do find it for sale, it’s usually in seed form (from $4, Etsy). Some listings for seeds show these succulents growing bright blue or purple, but green is their only natural color. While you can start your plants from seed, be prepared for a long wait. When starting with seeds, it can take up to five years before you’ll get a plant with the coveted rabbit-like look. Use a potting mix made for succulents with super-good drainage. Once established, a bunny ear succulent can grow up to eight inches tall. The long “ears” eventually give way to white blooms with yellow centers that resemble tansy or boltonia flowers. This plant needs regular watering and bright, indirect light. Unlike other succulent varieties that go dormant in the winter, bunny succulents do most of their growing during the colder months and go dormant in the summer. Because of this, they can tolerate cold weather better than many other succulents. However, you still shouldn’t leave them outside in freezing temperatures. While you’re waiting for your bunny succulent seeds to grow, you can get a jump on the rabbit theme with a drought-tolerant bunny ear cactus ($25, Etsy). This plant is more common than bunny succulents, so it’s easier to find potted ones for sale. This cute cactus grows long, flat pads that look a little like rabbit ears, and it doesn’t have sharp spines. Place it in a spot with bright light and water it whenever the soil feels dry. Adding either a bunny ear succulent or bunny ear cactus (or both!) to your houseplant collection will certainly up the cuteness factor. If you’re looking for other rare succulents to grow, you can also find varieties in fun colors like pink and nearly black. One of the best parts of growing succulents is that most need similar care, so if you’ve mastered common varieties like echeverias and hens and chicks, don’t be afraid to branch out into more unusual plants!
