How To Grow & Care For Aeoniums
As succulents have grown in popularity, we have been taking a look at some of the different varieties. I found when I first started to buy succulents they were not labeled, so it was difficult to identify them. Aeoniums are a popular succulent that has a rosette shape. These succulents are similar to Echeveria and Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks). Most Aeoniums originally came from the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain. The Canary Islands have a Mediterranean climate, so these plants have been able to adapt to similar climates around the globe. These plants tend to be drought-tolerant and mildly frost tolerant.
Aeoniums are members of the Crassulaceae family; a family that includes many other succulents that are similar to Aeoniums. Aeoniums differ from other succulents in several ways. One difference is that when grown in ideal conditions the rosette of an Aeonium will be flatter. This is more noticeable when you look at the plant from the side. Aeoniums are also monocarpic, which means that once the rosette flowers it will die. Most Aeoniums form branching shrubs, meaning not all of the rosettes will bloom at once, so you do not lose the entire plant. The blooms of these plants can be used as cut flowers.
Aeoniums come in a wide range of colors, textures, and sizes. A few popular ones include:
Kiwi Aeonium – The leaves in the center are pale yellow and progressively the leaves get greener to the outside of the rosette. The edges of the leaves are red. Yellow flowers bloom in the summer.
Sunburst Aeonium – The green, yellow and creamy white foliage develops coppery red tips in full sun. Pale yellow flowers appear mid-winter to early spring on mature plants.
Zwartkop Aeonium – This tall dark red and green succulent turns almost black when grown in full sun. Clusters of attractive yellow flowers bloom in the spring.
Caring for these plants is relatively easy. If you plant them in containers they will need to be watered more often than ones planted inground. They prefer to be planted in a sunny location in well-drained soil. Aeoniums have a shallowing root system, so they will need to be watered more often than other succulents, so they do not dry out. You can even grow these indoors as long as they are in a sunny location.
While Aeoniums are hardy for zones 9 – 11, they can withstand cold up to around 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit and can handle a little cold snap but not one that lasts a while. If it gets colder, you need to cover them for protection or if they are in a container, bring them indoors. The real growth season for these plants is winter to spring. These plants do not need a lot of fertilizer but do need the feeding done during their growing season, not when the plants go dormant or semi-dormant during the summer.
Aeonium can easily be propagated by stem cuttings. Once you have a cutting, let it dry out for a few days and then set it lightly in moist soil or peat moss. The cutting will root quickly and produce a new plant.
If there are any issues with this plant, it would be root rot and insects. Root rot can be prevented by having well-drained soil and making sure not to overwater. When it comes to insects, succulents are susceptible to mites and scale. You can remedy this issue by using neem oil or horticultural soaps.
If you grow this plant, let us know your experiences.
