Aeonium: Succulents for Drama and Vertical Appeal
Aeonium, sometimes called tree houseleeks, is a wonderful group of rosette-forming succulents that have the added appeal of growing atop woody trunks into architecturally beautiful branching sculptures. Young plants look a lot like an Echeveria but over time Aeonium will rise upon their stems to provide height in mixed containers or become a dramatic specimen all on their own. They will often branch with time. Some species branch so much that they can form domed shrubs. Others branch more sparingly and can look like Dr. Seuss crossing a succulent with a tree!
A dramatic urn with Aeonium ‘Zwarkop’ which turns near-black when in bright sun especially here in this pot in California. In less intense light this cultivar will be a rich, warm burgundy.
Most of the 35 or so species hail from the Canary Islands with additional species found in Madeira, Cape Verde, and northern and East Africa. They are hardy to zone 9 so can take some frost but will need to come indoors as houseplants or greenhouse specimens for the winter. In some of Canada’s zone 9 gardens, such as on the Gulf Islands or in Victoria, BC, there have been reports of Aeonium surviving outside over the winter in protected situations with good drainage.
An amazing urn centred with Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ that rises through a bed of hen and chicks (Sempervivum).
Much selection and hybridizing has been done with Aeonium giving us many wonderful cultivars which offer unusual forms, variegation, and bold dramatic colours. At Phoenix Perennials, we love our Aeonium and offer many different species at your nursery and via mail order, many of them quite rare and special.
At Phoenix Perennials, our offerings spans over 5000 different plants available for in-person shopping at our garden centre and plant nursery in Richmond, British Columbia. Additionally, we annually offer more than 2500 different plants for mail-order shipping across Canada. Stay connected with our diverse offerings by signing up for our E-Newsletter and Alerts – your key to staying informed about our mail order and pre-order launches. Happy gardening!
