Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Sub-Class Rosidae
Order Rosales
Family Crassulaceae
Genus Aeonium
Species Approximately 35
Imagine a flat
artichoke growing on the ends of tree branches -- this is what a lot of the
aeonium species look like (in particular the
arboreum species and it's hybrids).
Aeonium is a genus of
monocarpic,
rosette-forming
crassulaceae, similar in appearance to
jovibarba,
echeveria,
sempervivum, etc. It is a fast-growing
succulent, with waxy leaves forming fairly flat
rosettes.
In situ, some species can form tree-like plants up to six feet tall, though most will grow as smaller
shrubs. The
star-shaped flowers range in colour from golden yellow, pale yellow, pink, red, or white. Seeds are powder-like. Natively, the plant lives in North
Africa and the
Canary Islands.
The most common species seen in cultivation is
arboreum, loved by many for it's funky tree-like form. There are many
hybrid variations which include
variegated (striped) leaves, and striking colours (var.
Schwartzkopf: dark puple-black, var.
Atropurpureum: purple). Such hybrids are NOT naturally occuring.
CONDITIONS PREFERRED:
As with most similar
genera of
crassulaceae, this plant can survive in fairly poor soil, so long as it is well draining. This
genera will not survive temperatures below 41°(
fahrenheit). Strong light is required, particularly for plants which have dark coloured leaves (without strong light, the colour will
fade significantly). Allow soil to dry to the touch between waterings, and avoid getting water on the
rosettes. In hot environments, the plant will require some
shade during the day, else the plants will
scorch. This plant doesn't tolerate high
humidity well.
PROPAGATION:
Tree-forming species can be propagated most easily through
stem cuttings. Cut a branch several inches below a
rosette, and allow the cut to callous. Place the cut end in slightly damp
sand and do not
water for one week. Water
lightly. Once new growth is noted, repot in commercial
cactus/
succulent soil mix. This is a great way of preventing flowering in older rosettes.
New rosettes can also be propagated through leaf cuttings. Remove a young leaf near the center of a rosette, and allow the cut to callous for several hours. Place the leaf, cut-side down) in slightly damp sand. Soon a new rosette will form. Once adequate roots exist, remove the leaf and repot in commercial
cactus/
succulent soil mix.
It is best to pot at the end of
summer, as the plant comes out of its
dormant state.
Only some species will produce offsets.
PRUNING AND GENERAL CARE:
Pruning:
In general, this is a good plant to forget about. Leave it in a bright
sunny location and water very sparingly. Remove any dead leaves from rosettes (particularly in low-growing species, as dead leaves invite
rot and
insects). When a
rosette has flowered, it will
die shortly. In tree-forming species, the whole
branch will
die, and new branches will grow in it's place. Mat-forming species will usually produce offshoots, allowing the plant to propagate itself, thus living on after flowering.
If a plant becomes leggy (long branches), cut off some rosettes and plant them as described above, this will encourage new
branch formation and will discourage
blooming.
Problems:
In the event of an unhealthy plant, the first thing to examine is your watering habits. The most common problem is root rot due to overwatering. If the
soil is too
wet, don't hope it will safely dry out so long as you don't water it for a while. Replace the soil immediately.
One of the most common pests to
houseplants is the mealybug, and your
aeonium may fall prey to this pest. However, due to the tightly packed leaves, more often than not the
mealybugs will attack the
roots. This makes them far less visible than
mealybugs which attack leaf-stem junctions. The symptoms of a root mealybug infestation is slowed or stopped growth (though in summer this is a normal sign of
dormancy). If this occurs without apparent cause, remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots. A white cottony substance on the roots and in the soil is a sure sign of mealybug infestation. Remove all
soil and wash the roots gently. Remove any roots which appear damaged with a sharp
sterile knife or
scissors. Let them dry very throroughly before replanting.