Overview of Aeonium
Aeonium is a group of about 35 species of small to medium-sized subtropical succulents in the family Crassulaceae that are native to parts of northern Africa and nearby islands including the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands and Madeira. The names of types offered as garden specimens are often confused and inaccurate. A. arboreum is a Moroccan species that was probably used to develop many of the most commonly available ornamental types. Most of those sold in nurseries as Aeonium arboreum are actually hybrids, different from the few natural populations left on the Atlantic Moroccan coast. True species can be obtained from specialist nurseries.
These plants are grown primarily for their attractive rosettes of succulent, waxy leaves. The leaves may be solid green, green variegated with creamy yellow, bronzy-purple, or dark purple. Mature plants of A. arboretum and related hybrids grow about 3 feet tall. As the plants grow new leaves, older leaves eventually die and fall off, leaving a clump of leaves at the end of naked stems on old plants. The terminal rosettes can be cut off and replanted to keep the plant smaller and also delay blooming. Other species, such as A. tabuliforme and A. smithii do not develop long stems, so they remain compact. Other species of Aeonium vary in size (ranging in height from 1½ to 6 feet), branching pattern, and color.
Mature rosettes produce flower stalks about 8 inches long with conical clusters of flowers at the end of the stem in winter. The small, star-shaped flowers may be creamy white, yellowish, golden, pink or red, depending on the species or cultivar. Papery seed pods may eventually develop. In all species, the rosettes die after blooming. Therefore, a branching species will continue to grow after flowering, while single-headed species can only be propagated by seeds. All of the unbranched species are less common in cultivation because they must be grown from seed.
The dramatic architectural shape of aeoniums makes them excellent specimens to contrast with many other plants. The dark-leaved types make a strong visual statement and look striking against a pale wall or fence or mixed with plants with blue or silver foliage. They are most impressive in areas where they can be grown outside year round but they can be used effectively as bedding plants and in containers.
Using Aeonium
Aeonium does best in warm, dry climates and will not survive Midwestern winters outside. However, they are very suitable for container culture, so can easily be preserved by bringing them indoors before nighttime temperatures fall below 40 °F. They make good subjects for dish gardens and can be suitable as houseplants if very bright light conditions are available. Even though aeoniums need direct sunlight, be cautious about moving plants kept in the house for the winter abruptly into full sun outdoors for the summer. Gradually acclimate the plants to higher light intensity when transitioning outside to prevent sunburn.
Grow aeoniums in a high porosity, very well-drained soil. Outdoors, raised beds may be helpful to provide the drainage needed. For containers, a commercial cactus mix or high porosity soilless mixes are suitable. To amend a standard potting mix to increase porosity, mix mix it 50:50 with perlite or pumice
When plants become pot bound, repot when new growth begins, transplanting to a slightly larger pot.
In their native habitat these plants would grow in spring and fall and go dormant during the hot, dry summer and mild, wet winter. In our very different climate, however, they will continue to grow throughout the summer. Water deeply during the growing season, allow the growing medium to dry thoroughly between waterings. Gradually reduce watering at the end of the season. During the winter months, keep under cool temperatures (50 °F) and restrict water to just enough to keep the foliage from shriveling.
Propagating Aeonium
These plants can be propagated from seed, division (for those types that produce offsets or side rosettes), and cuttings. Take cuttings in spring through summer. Cut off a rosette and let it harden off for three days or more. Place the hardened cutting directly into sharp sand or a well-drained soilless mix to root.
Cultivars of Aeonium
Some commonly offered species and cultivars include:
- Aeonium arboreum the type species has shiny green, spatulate leaves, which in strong light often appear overlaid with coppery tones. This species is quite variable.
- Aeonium arboreum ‘Albovariegatum’ has white margined leaves.
- A. arboreum ‘Atropurpureum’ has dark purplish-red leaves when grown in full sun (green in lower light). The plant grows up to three feet tall and produces yellow flowers from late winter to spring on mature rosettes.
- Aeonium arboreum ‘Luteovariegatum’ has green leaves with narrow to wide light yellow margins, and some pink tints with age.
- A. arboreum ‘Schwartzkopf’ (also listed as ‘Zwartkop’ and various other spellings) has glossy leaves so dark purple they appear nearly black. The color remains throughout the winter if kept in bright light, although the new growth is greener. Leaf blades tend to be spoon-shaped and narrower than ‘Atropurpureum.’ This branching shrub grows up to three feet high and produces yellow flowers in summer, but it remains much smaller in pots.
- A. canariense native to Tenerife, Canary Islands, has short stemmed rosettes of somewhat sticky green leaves with dense white hairs on both surfaces. The rosettes grow up to 20 inches in diameter before producing large pyramids of yellow flowers. This plant produces offsets.
- A. decorum is a multi-branched type with red-edged leaves and pink flowers. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall with rosettes 2½ inches wide.
- A. decorum ‘Sunburst’ is variegated in shades of light green, creamy yellow, and pink. This variety is probably a hybrid with A. arboreum.
- A. tabuliforme produces large, flat, dinner plate-sized rosettes. The rounded, soft-green leaves overlap to form a swirled effect.The plants a foot or more across, but only a few inches high. It flowers after three years and does not produce offsets, so it must be propagated by seed. Unlike other types, it needs protection from hot sun.
- A. undulatum bears bright glossy green, 8 to 12 inch diameter rosettes atop a thick stem with few branches. Grows up to 3 feet tall.
Author: Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin—Madison
Reviewers: Bruce Spangenberg, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, Allen R. Pyle, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW—Madison Extension
Revised: May 2026
