The Aeonium arboreum is a species within the genus of Aeonium, with a number of varieties, that makes a big, bold statement. This whimsical, branching succulent grows tall with large, green plate sized rosettes at the end of each stem. The rosettes are made up of petal shaped leaves and feature a handful of colors depending on the variety!
This guide will provide you with all of the details you need in order to care for your Aeonium arboreum!
Table of contents
Quick Facts
- Mature Size: 4 feet tall with 8 inch rosettes
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Water: Drench and dry waterings; a bit more water requirements that most succulents
- Soil: Well-draining, gritty soil
- Temperature: Grows best when temperatures are in the 50°F’s
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 10
- Propagation: Stem Cuttings
- Flowers: Yellow
Like most other Aeoniums, Aeonium arboreum originates from the Canary Islands. This is a small, Spanish owned archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean off the tip of northwest Africa. These islands are made up of rocky, volcanic soil. The climate is mainly a sub-tropical desert so it is best to grow your Aeonium arboreum with its natural environment in mind!
Aeonium arboreum is a whimsical tall branching bushy succulent. Stems branch out near the ground and can reach up to four feet tall. Each is topped with one single plate sized rosette.
This plant looks even more like it is from straight out of a Dr. Seuss book when it flowers. Each rosette will eventually flower. A long shooting stalk grows from the rosette and produces numerous yellow blooms that form a triangular tree shape.
These succulents are monocarpic, meaning once they flower, the rosette will die. However, don’t let this deter you from growing this beautiful plant! It can take years for each rosette to bloom. At this point, numerous other offsets will also have formed, so you will still have a handful of rosettes that will continue to live. So instead of feeling a sense of dread when you notice a flowering stalk, enjoy this spectacular phenomenon!
Varieties
- Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’: rosettes have a light, lime green center that fades into a deep burgundy red towards the outer portions of the leaves. This burgundy deepens to a near black when exposed to ample sunlight.