Plant DetailShow Menu

Tree Houseleek Aeonium

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ay-OH-nee-um
Description

Aeonium is the name given to a genus of plants that are native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Madeira and parts of northern Africa. This means that on the whole, they prefer a mild, dry climate. All of the species grow as colorful rosettes of thick, waxy leaves. Some are tall while Aeonium tabuliforme and Aeonium smithii remain compact. As for color, the leaves come in medium green, light green, variegated with white, cream, creamy yellow, bronze purple or dark purple.

Tall growing plants may or may not make simple branches (they branch off only once). Those that branch will not die after blooming so they are most commonly available. Unbranched species must be grown from seed although they can be propagated by taking off a leaf, letting it dry and planting it into very well drained soil. Tall growing forms can be propagated by cutting the stem into lengths then following the same procedure.

They have showy flowers rising out of the rosette. They may form a panicle or make a 'popsicle' at the top of the stem. They are usually white through to yellow in color. The fruits are small and papery. They will split open when ripe.

In North Carolina these succulents must be planted in pots to be brought inside in the winter or treated as annuals. Use them to make a poolside 'desert' landscape in a shallow container. Or plant them in traditional terracotta pots and group them near the front door. The dark varieties are spectacular against a pale background – a fence; blue, silver or grey-leaved plants; white flowers; a top dressing of sand. Try contrasting the rosette with the color of the pot you use – dark pot with a light colored plant; light pot with a dark leaved variety.

When the temperature drops below 40°F, bring the pots inside. Keep them in a temperature above 50°F. Restrict the water to just enough to stop the leaves from shriveling. Remember they love the sun so keep them in a well lit place. Slowly acclimate them to the sunlight before putting them out in the late spring. The leaves can get sunburned.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blushing Beauty'
    tight rosettes, spoon-shaped leaves of light green with splashes of red around the edges
  • 'Carol'
    bright green with hints of red at the tips
  • 'Cyclops'
    grows 3 to 4 feet tall, large rosettes, dense deep red or bronze leaves with a green center
  • 'Emerald Ice'
    small, compact habit with flat rosettes and variegated leaves
  • 'Jack Catlin'
    showy rosettes with bright burgundy red leaves
  • 'Lily Pad'
    fleshy, green, spatulate leaves
  • 'Mardi Gras'
    variegated rosettes of pink to burgundy with a lemon yellow and green center
  • 'Mint Saucer'
    large, light, green rosettes
  • 'Plum Purdy'
    10-inch wide rosettes, initially green and darken to plum with a green center
'Blushing Beauty', 'Carol', 'Cyclops', 'Emerald Ice', 'Jack Catlin', 'Lily Pad', 'Mardi Gras', 'Mint Saucer', 'Plum Purdy'
Tags:
#cultivars#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#specimen#succulent#fleshy leaves#showy leaves#interiorscape#waxy#coarse#hybrids#humidity tolerant#container plant#coastal plant#hsc#hsc-s#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blushing Beauty'
    tight rosettes, spoon-shaped leaves of light green with splashes of red around the edges
  • 'Carol'
    bright green with hints of red at the tips
  • 'Cyclops'
    grows 3 to 4 feet tall, large rosettes, dense deep red or bronze leaves with a green center
  • 'Emerald Ice'
    small, compact habit with flat rosettes and variegated leaves
  • 'Jack Catlin'
    showy rosettes with bright burgundy red leaves
  • 'Lily Pad'
    fleshy, green, spatulate leaves
  • 'Mardi Gras'
    variegated rosettes of pink to burgundy with a lemon yellow and green center
  • 'Mint Saucer'
    large, light, green rosettes
  • 'Plum Purdy'
    10-inch wide rosettes, initially green and darken to plum with a green center
'Blushing Beauty', 'Carol', 'Cyclops', 'Emerald Ice', 'Jack Catlin', 'Lily Pad', 'Mardi Gras', 'Mint Saucer', 'Plum Purdy'
Tags:
#cultivars#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#specimen#succulent#fleshy leaves#showy leaves#interiorscape#waxy#coarse#hybrids#humidity tolerant#container plant#coastal plant#hsc#hsc-s#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Aeonium
    Family:
    Crassulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Leaf Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Madeira, Northern Africa
    Distribution:
    Algeria, Baleares, California, East Aegean Islands, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Juan Fernandez Island, both islands of New Zealand, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain, Tunisia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Clumping
    Creeping
    Erect
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Description:
    A pyramid-shaped panicle of bright yellow flowers. The inflorescence emerges from the center of the rosette, and the rosette will die back after flowering.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Waxy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Rosettes of leaves sit at the top of erect, woody stems. The leaves are usually spatulate and have a sharp, abrupt point at the tip. They vary in length across species. Some have fine hairs and/or red to pink coloring along the margins. Many different colors and patterns exist due to hybridization.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Long, thick central stems that may bend or arch.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Houseplants
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity