Aeonium Plant Care Guide: How to Grow Aeoniums

Aeonium is a genus that includes approximately 35 species of plants that belong to the Crassulaceae family, which also includes echeveria plants. These succulent plants are native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Morocco. Unlike most succulents, such as agave and aloe, aeoniums are not drought resistant, due to their shallow root systems. Aeoniums are generally monocarpic, which means they perish after flowering.

Aeonium plants have thick leaves that grow in rosettes of varying shapes that range from compact, rose-like rosettes to wide-spreading rosettes with oblong leaves that stretch as wide as dinner plates. Some of the most popular types include:

1. 1. Noble aeonium (Aeonium nobile): The noble aeonium is easily identifiable by its large rosettes of fleshy, yellow-green to red-brown leaves. The leaves of this succulent grow up to two inches in length and one inch in width, and the entire rosette can reach up to 15 inches in diameter. The plant takes several years to mature, at which point it produces a large inflorescence that blooms small, red, star-shaped flowers.
2. 2. Green pinwheel (Aeonium decorum): Recognizable for its thick, dark-green rosettes that reach four inches in diameter, the green pinwheel can grow up to two feet tall. The leaves are often variegated along the edges and reach approximately two inches long. This plant flowers in late spring and summer, blooming small, star-shaped white or pink flowers.
3. 3. Aeonium leucoblepharum: This multibranched succulent is known for its rosettes of pointed leaves with thick stripes down the center of the leaves. Often variegated along the margins, these leaves can grow up to five inches long. Though occasionally red, the Aeonium leucoblepharum typically blooms yellow flowers with seven to ten petals.
4. 4. Tree houseleek (Aeonium arboreum): The tree houseleek is a popular aeonium with thick, waxy rosettes of leaves that form at the top stems that reach three feet tall in containers or six feet tall in a garden. In late winter to early spring, the tree houseleek forms racemes of yellow flowers and thrives in containers or rock gardens. After flowering, the rosettes die.
5. 5. Purple rose (Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum): Also called purple aeonium, the purple rose has stems that reach up to three feet tall and form rosettes of dark purple leaves when grown in bright light. This drought-tolerant plant blooms bright yellow flowers in spring
6. 6. Black rose (Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'): The black rose is recognizable for its clumps of brown stems that hold terminal rosettes that range in color from dark purple to black and reach up to eight inches in diameter. This plant flowers in summer, forming star-shaped, yellow flowers in conical clusters.
7. 7. Copper pinwheel (Aeonium 'Sunburst'): Also known as the copper pinwheel, this branching aeonium has large, fleshy, variegated rosettes that grow up to 16 inches in diameter. The green leaves have yellow variegation with copper-colored tips that give the plant its name. The copper pinwheel is monocarpic, so after its star-shaped white flowers bloom, the plant dies.
8. 8. Kiwi aeonium (Aeonium haworthii ‘Dream Color’): The kiwi aeonium is a flashy plant that forms rosettes of vibrantly colored leaves. The plant grows up to three feet tall and wide, with variegated rosettes that can reach up to five inches in diameter. The leaves are easily recognizable for the rose-colored bands that form along their edges. Its yellow, star-shaped flowers bloom in summer.

If planted in the proper environment, aeoniums require very little maintenance.

• Provide your outdoor aeonium with full sun to partial shade. Aeonium plants generally thrive in warm weather with lots of direct sunlight. Keep in mind that part shade might be necessary during especially hot summers, or if you are planting in desert conditions.
• Choose a pot with sufficient drainage. Aeonium plants thrive in containers because they need little soil. If planting in a container or pot, choose one with drainage holes, which help prevent root rot caused by standing water. (Plant to repot your aeonium plant every two to three years with fresh potting soil.)
• Use a regular potting mix. While most succulents do well when planted in cactus potting mix, aeonium plants require more moisture. Use regular potting mix and amend with perlite.
• Fertilize your plant during the growing season. In the winter months, feed your plant with a half-strength balanced fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize your aeonium when it is dormant in the summer months.
• Give your aeonium plenty of water during the winter months. Aeonium plants require more water than most types of succulents. In the wintertime, water the plant when the first two inches of the soil are dry. Do not overwater, as too much moisture will lead to root rot. During the summer, your aeonium does not need to be watered, as it is dormant during these months.
• Aeoniums do best in a Mediterranean climate. The growing season for aeonium is winter to spring, so the plants grow in a cooler, damper environment than most other succulents––approximately 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. While the plants can grow year-round, aeoniums often go into dormancy in the summer months and do not require watering except in extreme heat. Do not be alarmed if their leaves begin to curl in the summer months––this is a mechanism to prevent excessive water loss.

Aeoniums are easy to propagate from cuttings. Follow these three steps to grow new aeonium plants:

1. 1. Cut: Use a sterilized knife to cut a piece of stem with an attached leaf rosette.
2. 2. Dry: Allow the cut end to dry out for several days by placing it in a shady spot.
3. 3. Plant: Place the severed end of your succulent cutting into regular potting soil amended with perlite so that it stands upright. Choose a location that receives indirect, bright light.
4. 4. Water: Lightly water the new plant until it roots, then allow the top two inches of potting soil to dry out between waterings.

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