Aeonium
( ay - OH - nee - um )
At-A-Glance Information
Aeonium is a genus of perennial succulents that needs full sun in cooler climates and moderate water. They are commonly called Tree Houseleeks, and most are native Africa and the Mediterranean. Rosettes of fleshy leaves are held at the end of branches. These go dormant in summertime to conserve water, but with the right conditions will grow again in cooler temperatures. They prefer climates that are dry and mild. Many species of Aeonium are monocarpic, meaning they will die after producing their flower stalk (though most usually will branch or offset prior to death).
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Aeonium Species and Varietals
The genus Aeonium includes 35 species of succulent plants and is a member of the plant family Crassulaceae. It gets its name from the Greek word for ageless: 'aionios'. Aeonium grows best in zones 15-17 and 20-24. See the descriptions below for more information on growing each species. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Aeonium arboreum (Tree Aeonium, Tree Houseleek, Irish Rose) Grows to 3 feet tall and wide, each branch tip producing a 6-8 inch wide bright green rosette. Yellow flowers bloom in long clusters. Varieties include 'Atropurpureum' (with magenta and green rosettes), 'Zwartkop' (sometimes called 'Black Rose Aeonium', with very dark purple rosettes up to 10 inches across), and 'Variegatum' (with variegated foliage). |
Aeonium balsamiferum (Bejeque Farrobo) Native to the Canary Islands, these plants form shrubs with sticky foliage. Individual rosettes reach 8 inches in diameter, and have light green to greyish-green succulent leaves. Stems are fleshy and plants can reach between 3 and 4 feet tall at maturity. Flowers are light yellow and bloom at the end of stems that rise above foliage. |
Aeonium canariense These plants form a dense mounds of 18-inch wide rosettes that stay close to the ground on short stems. Flowering stems can reach up to 28 inches tall when plants are in bloom. Leaves are light green and can be either fuzzy or smooth. Tips of mature leaves are salmon-colored. Flowers are pale green to white. |
Aeonium decorum This compact species is busy and rounded, getting to 1 foot high and just as wide. Rosettes sprout at the end of branches and are about 2 inches in diameter. Leaves are pale green and tinted red, with red edges. Flowers are pink. Variety 'Kiwi' has tricolored leaves; they are light green with pale variegation and have bright red edges; flowers are pale yellow. |
Aeonium glutinosum This succulent sub-shrub can reach up to 24 inches tall when mature, and hold rosettes that are typically between 8 and 9 inches in diameter. Leaves are yellow-green and succulent. Flowering stems are very sticky, and hold yellow flowers for several months of the year. This species is endemic to the Madeira Archipelago. |
Aeonium hawarothii (Haworth's Aeonium, Pinwheel) This species has a free-branching habit and is a bit shrubby-looking. Reaches 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide, Leaves are bluish green with red edges. Rosettes are about 2-3 inches wide. Flowers are cream-colored. This plant is more cold-hardy than most species in the genus. 'Variegatum' and 'Kiwi' have leaves with white striping, and 'Bicolor' has leaves edged in carmine-red. |
Aeonium nobile Gets to 2 feet tall and wide. Stems are unbranched and hold green leaves that are tinted red when mature. Rosettes produce a large, flat-topped cluster of red flowers on a thick red stem. The plant will die after it blooms, but does produce many seeds. Flowers are bright red. This species is native to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. |
Aeonium 'Sunburst' This is a showy plant boasting 12-inch rosettes with leaves that are green with light yellow or cream variegation. Leaves are edged with red. Gets to about 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Flowers are cream-colored. Does not do well with pruning. Variety 'Starbust' is similar, but with less yellow in the leaf variegation. |
Aeonium tabuliforme (Flat-Topped Aeonium, Saucer Plant) Stems are unbranched in this species, and hold flat rosettes up to 18 inches across. Leaves are light green and hairy and are perfectly symmetrical. After a few years, the plant will produce a single 1-2 foot stalk of yellow flowers, and then die. Cultivar 'Variegata' produces dark green leaves with white edges. |
Caring for Aeonium
Aeonium should be planted in soil that is well-draining and in a sunny location. They do fantastic as potted plants, and prefer temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not allow the soil to completely dry out, as Aeonium do not have extensive root systems. Adding a light layer of mulch around the base of your plant will help with this goal. On the other hand, the plants do not do well when sitting in water, either, so make sure the soil is well-draining. Fertilize just once a year in springtime when new growth is beginning to sprout. The best fertilizer for Aeonium is a balanced water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. If you are growing your Aeonium in a container, it will need to be repotted once every two to three years.
Propagation
The best way to propagate Aeonium is by cutting in springtime. To propagate your Aeonium, you will need a clean, sharp knife or garden shears, rooting hormone (optional) and a pot filled with half regular potting soil and half cactus or succulent potting mix. When you have gathered your materials, follow the directions below to propagate your plant:
- Use your clean, sharp garden shears or knife to cut off a younger stem piece that has a rosette. Place this cutting on its side and leave it in a dry, warm, shaded spot for at least three days. This will cause the root end to heal and form a harder callous. Doing this helps the plant avoid root rot when it gets planted in potting mix.
- Fill your pot with the potting mix described above, and then place the calloused end of your cutting into the soil. You can dip your cutting in rooting hormone before planting to speed up the rooting time, though this is not necessary. Push down until the cutting can stay upright without assistance. Place the pot in a spot that receives bright, indirect light and water lightly once a week. Do not allow the soil to become too moist or dry out completely.
- Your cutting should grow roots in about two weeks, whether or not it is placed in potting medium or provided with rooting hormone. To check for roots, lightly tug on the plant. If it resists, you have roots.
Problems and Pests
Aeoniums are susceptible to the following issues and pests. For more information on how to eradicate these problems, see the links below.
- Root Rot
- Insects
- Mites
- Scale
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Ants
Gallery
Videos
All About Growing Aeoniums!
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Caring for Aeonium
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 135 and 136, Aeonium
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