Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Succulents
Exotic (Canary Islands) | Easy Care | Succulents
Aeoniums are dramatic, architectural succulents that form large, flat rosettes of fleshy leaves on top of branching, woody stems, giving them a tree-like or candelabra appearance.
The range is striking: arboreum has bright green rosettes; Zwartkop (Black Rose) has deep, near-black purple foliage; Sunburst has cream, green and pink variegation; Lily Pad has flat, rounded rosettes; and the Wheels of Imagination and Fascination cultivars add even more colour variation. Unlike most succulents, aeoniums are winter growers. They go dormant in the hottest summer months, when the rosettes close up and the plant can look a bit tired, then they come back to life in autumn and grow through winter and spring. Knowing this saves a lot of unnecessary panic.
30 cm to 1 m depending on variety and age. Zwartkop and arboreum can become substantial over time.
Moderate.
Container, succulent garden, rockery, architectural accent, mixed border. The dark Zwartkop is especially striking alongside silver or pale green plants.
Full sun to semi-shade. The dark varieties like Zwartkop develop their deepest colour in full sun. Some afternoon shade in midsummer is fine.
Well-drained soil. A standard succulent or cactus mix works. They are not as fussy about drainage as some succulents but still do not enjoy waterlogged conditions.
Water regularly through their growing season (autumn through spring) when the soil dries out. In summer, when they are dormant, water very sparingly or not at all. This reverse cycle catches people out.
A light feed in autumn and again in early spring supports their growing cycle.
Remove spent rosettes (each rosette flowers once and then dies, but the plant branches and continues). Trim leggy stems to encourage a bushier shape. Cuttings root easily.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
