Plants
Aeonium
Aeonium arboreum · Crassulaceae
Aeonium looks like a flower that never fades: perfectly layered leaf rosettes on woody stems, in the cultivar ‚Schwarzkopf‘ a dramatic near-black red. As a Canary Islands native it ticks differently from other succulents — it grows in the cool half of the year and rests in high summer. Know that rhythm and this sculptural rosette tree will give you pleasure for years.
- Light
- Full sun to bright; in shade the rosettes etiolate and dark cultivars turn green.
- Watering
- Moderate during growth (autumn to spring), very sparing during summer dormancy.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Aeonium arboreum
The best-known species is Aeonium arboreum, the tree aeonium, whose cultivars range from fresh green via ‚Atropurpureum‘ to the near-black ‚Schwarzkopf‘ (also ‚Zwartkop‘). Alongside it are plate-flat species such as Aeonium tabuliforme and variegated selections like ‚Kiwi‘. The dark cultivars only colour up properly in full sun — in shade they revert to green.
The key thing to understand: aeoniums are winter growers. They put on growth in the mild Canary winter and switch to rest in hot summer, tightening their rosettes and shedding lower leaves. Much of their care makes sense once you know this — summer leaf drop is usually dormancy, not an emergency.
Ideally it lives in two quarters: outdoors from May to October in a sunny, rain-sheltered spot on a balcony or terrace, and bright and cool at 5 to 15 degrees indoors in winter. Aeonium tolerates no frost, and it answers permanently warm, dark living rooms with etiolated, loose rosettes.
Water moderately during the growing period and very sparingly during summer rest. Like all stonecrop relatives, aeonium rots in waterlogged soil; a lean mineral substrate and a pot with a drainage hole are essential. Older rosettes may flower after years — a large yellow flower pyramid, after which the flowering rosette dies.
In styling terms aeonium is a soloist: a single multi-headed specimen in a plain terracotta or concrete pot reads like a small sculpture and needs no companions. In succulent arrangements we use it as the high point above flatter rosettes such as echeverias.
Is Aeonium toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Aeoniums are considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children and do not appear on the common toxicity lists. As with all ornamentals: not meant for eating, and larger amounts can upset the stomach.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Place in full sun to very bright light; dark cultivars need sun for their colour.
- 02Water moderately from autumn to spring, only in sips during summer rest.
- 03Overwinter bright and cool at 5–15 degrees; never expose to frost.
- 04Use a free-draining, mineral succulent substrate.
- 05Move it outdoors to a rain-sheltered spot from May to October.
- 06Shedding lower leaves in summer is normal — do not respond by watering more.
Frequently asked
- Why does my aeonium drop leaves in summer?
- In most cases it is natural summer dormancy: aeoniums hail from the Canaries, grow in the cool season and rest in heat. They tighten their rosettes and shed lower leaves. Water only very sparingly now — more water tends to make things worse.
- Is aeonium hardy?
- No. It briefly tolerates temperatures just above zero but no frost. From October bring it indoors to a bright, cool spot at 5 to 15 degrees — an unheated stairwell or a cool bedroom window is ideal.
- Is aeonium toxic to cats?
- No, aeoniums are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs — unlike some other stonecrop relatives such as the jade plant. For pet households after a sculptural succulent, aeonium is a good choice.
- How do I propagate an aeonium?
- Via head cuttings: cut a rosette with a few centimetres of stem, let the cut surface dry for several days and stick it into dry succulent substrate. Cuttings root most reliably in autumn, at the start of the growing period.