What Is the Aeonium Plant?

Description

• All aeoniums form tightly grouped rosettes of fleshy, flattened leaves with narrow stalks and wide tips. Some species grow close to the ground, while others form trunks and branches, growing over 4 feet tall. They produce flower stalks with lots of tiny white, yellow, pink or red flowers. Some aeoniums die after flowering; others lose only the rosettes that flower and produce new ones every year.

Origins

• Aeoniums are native to North Africa and the adjacent Canary, Madeira and Cape Verde Islands. This region is known as Macaronesia. There are also 2 species of aeonium native to East Africa. Aeoniums are found in a wide range of habitats within their range, from coastal plains to high-altitude cliffs.

Indoor Growing

• Aeoniums thrive on a south-facing windowsill that receives direct sunshine. Plant them in free-draining compost formulated for succulents and use a heavy clay pot to prevent toppling. Water during the winter and spring growing season when the top inch of soil is dry. Fertilize every 2 months with a liquid fertilizer formulated for cactus. Withhold fertilizer during the summer dormant period and apply only enough water to prevent the leaves from shriveling.

Outdoor Growing

• Plant aeoniums outdoors in a sunny or lightly shaded location with free-draining soil. They are frost tender and vulnerable to rot if grown in waterlogged soil. Keep their soil barely moist when they enter dormancy. In frost-prone areas, grow aeoniums in containers and bring them indoors during the winter before temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Propagation

• Propagate aeoniums vegetatively by removing individual rosettes with a sharp, sterile knife. Allow the cut surface to dry for at least 3 days and plant in free-draining compost. Place the cutting on a bright windowsill and keep the soil moist. Do not fertilize until new growth appears. Sow dust-like aeonium seeds onto the surface of damp sand and keep it barely moist until the seedlings appear, about 10 days. Many aeonium species hybridize freely, and seed may not grow true to type, especially if you cultivate more than 1 species.