Scientific Name
Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel
Common Name(s)
Tree Aeonium, Thickleaf Aeonium, Pinwheel Desert Rose, Fisiulera, Tree Anemone, Houseleek Tree, Irish Rose
Synonym(s)
Sempervivum arboreum, Aeonium korneliuslemsii
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Aeonieae
Genus: Aeonium
Description
Aeonium arboreum is a succulent shrub with rosettes of glossy green leaves arranged at the end of the branches. Leaves are thick, fleshy, and spoon-shaped. They are up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and up to 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) wide. Flowers are small, star-shaped, yellow, and appear clustered in conical to ovate racemes from late winter through early spring. Flower stems emerge from the center of the rosettes. The rosette dies after flowering.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Tree Aeonium grows best in full sun during the cooler months and when grown in coastal areas. When grown inland or during the summer, provide this succulent with afternoon or partial shade. Avoid placing Tree Aeoniums in sites with western sun exposures.
Though Tree Aeoniums tolerate various soil types as long as they're well-drained, it prefers light, porous soil. Therefore, you may want to amend your planting site with sand and limestone chips. For container gardening, plant Tree Aeonium in a moderately moist medium with excellent drainage.
This drought-tolerant plant hates water around its roots, so avoid excessive watering. In the wild, these succulents go dormant in summer, so water sparingly during the hotter months, allowing plants to dry out between waterings. In the winter, reduce watering to once per month.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for a Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum).
Origin
This species is native to the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria). It occurs at elevations between 650 and 3,950 feet (200 and 1200 m).
Varieties, Forms, and Cultivars
- Aeonium arboreum var. rubrolineatum
- Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum'
- Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum Cristatum'
- Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkopf'
Links
- Back to genus Aeonium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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