Scientific Name
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
Common Name(s)
Black Aeonium, Black Beauty, Black Head, Black Rose, Black Tree Aeonium
Synonym(s)
Aeonium arboreum 'Schwarzkopf', Aeonium arboreum 'Blackhead', Aeonium 'Zwartkop'
Scientific Classification
Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sempervivoideae
Tribe: Aeonieae
Genus: Aeonium
Etymology
The cultivar name "Zwartkop" means "black head" in Dutch. This cultivar is also known by the German name "Schwarzkopf" which also means "black head."
Origin
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is a cultivar of Aeonium arboreum. The exact origin of this cultivar is unknown, but it was discovered in a nursery in Leiden, Netherlands. It was named and described by B. K. Boom in the Dutch journal Succulenta in 1959.
Description
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkopf', also known as Aeonium 'Zwartkop', is a beautiful succulent shrub with long, bare branches with large terminal rosettes of very dark purple, almost black leaves. It can grow up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall, while the rosettes can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
The yellow, star-shaped flowers appear in large conical clusters on stalks that rise from the center of rosettes on mature plants in spring. After blooming, the branches bearing flowers die back to a stem or the ground.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Black Rose does not like hot or dry weather. Therefore, it may go dormant in summer and does not require water except in very dry conditions. In extreme heat, its leaves will curl to prevent excessive water loss. Growing in moist shade will keep it growing, but its true growth season is winter to spring when temperatures are cool, 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C), and damp. In the winter, water whenever the soil has dried out. Test by poking your finger into the soil an inch or 2 (2.5 to 5 cm). Too much moisture or allowing them to sit in wet soil will cause root rot.
Fertilize with water-soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to half-strength monthly from spring to fall.
Spray Black Rose thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil at the first sign of aphids or pests. Repeat this weekly until the pests are gone.
Cultural problems can cause massive damage to Black Roses, including leaf loss. Soggy soil and over-watering are perhaps the most common and serious cultural issues for these succulents. Too much water will drown the roots and may lead to root rot, particularly during cold weather.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Aeonium.
Forms and Hybrids
- Aeonium 'Blushing Beauty'
- Aeonium 'Cyclops'
- Aeonium 'Firecracker'
- Aeonium 'Garnet'
- Aeonium 'Jack Catlin'
- Aeonium 'Plum Purdy'
- Aeonium 'Short Black'
- Aeonium simsii × arboreum 'Zwartkop'
- Aeonium 'Velour'
- Aeonium 'Zwartkin'
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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