Black rose aeonium

Sun

Full sun to light shade. Strong light gives the darkest leaves; provide afternoon shade in very hot inland climates and introduce indoor-grown plants to direct sun gradually.

Water

Water thoroughly, then let the soil dry substantially before watering again. Water more regularly during cool-weather growth and sparingly during summer dormancy; never leave the roots standing in water.

Soil

Very free-draining, sandy or gritty soil. In pots, use a cactus mix with added pumice, perlite or coarse grit, and a container with drainage holes.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Mature rosettes may produce large clusters of small yellow flowers in late winter or spring. The flowering rosette and its stem die afterward, but other branches usually survive.

Foliage

Evergreen. Spoon-shaped, glossy burgundy-black leaves form rosettes at the ends of bare, branching stems. Rosette centres may remain green, especially in shade; leaves often close inward and some lower leaves drop during summer dormancy.

Growth

Moderate during cool, mild weather; little growth during hot summer dormancy.

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.8 ft (0.25 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.3 ft (0.41 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.9 ft (0.57 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.4 ft (0.73 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1 m)

About 6 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Use a pot with drainage holes and empty any saucer after watering.
• Adjust watering to growth rather than the calendar: water during cool-weather growth and reduce sharply when rosettes close in summer.
• Feed lightly with a diluted balanced fertiliser once or twice during active growth; do not feed dormant plants.
• Move containers under cover before frost, giving them the brightest practical position and good ventilation.
• Keep damp organic mulch away from the stems; a thin gravel surface dressing is suitable.

Pruning. During active growth, shorten leggy stems just above a leaf scar to encourage branching, retaining some leafy growth on the plant. Remove dead flowering stems and dry leaves, and allow any cuttings to callus before potting.

Late winter

In frost-free conditions, check for fresh growth and resume more regular watering as needed.

Spring

Repot crowded plants into a slightly larger container with fresh, gritty compost; feed lightly once growth is underway.

Late spring

Move overwintered plants outdoors after frost risk has passed, gradually increasing sun exposure.

Summer

Reduce watering if growth stops and rosettes tighten; protect from fierce afternoon sun during heatwaves.

Early autumn

As cooler weather restarts growth, increase watering cautiously and take stem cuttings if wanted.

Late autumn

Bring pots into bright, frost-free shelter before freezing weather and protect outdoor plants from prolonged cold rain.

• Use a single specimen in a simple container beside a sunny doorway, where its branching silhouette can be seen.
• Contrast its dark rosettes with silver foliage, pale gravel and blue-grey succulents in a frost-free dry garden.
• Place it among lower-growing echeverias and stonecrops to add height without dense shade.
• Repeat matching pots along a sheltered terrace for a strong, architectural rhythm.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Contemporary minimal, Modern Mediterranean, Dry gravel garden, Modern courtyard and Small-space.

Plant it with: Echeverias, Blue chalk sticks, Aloes, Agaves and Stonecrops.

Wildlife: Yellow flowers can attract bees and other visiting insects when produced. Plants grown mainly for foliage or kept indoors provide little wildlife value.

• Root or stem rot: prevent with fast drainage and restrained watering, especially during dormancy; salvage healthy stem tips if the base becomes soft.
• Mealybugs: inspect rosette centres and leaf joints, isolate affected pots and treat with a product labelled for mealybugs on succulents.
• Sun scorch: pale or brown patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun; acclimatise plants gradually and provide afternoon shade in extreme heat.
• Frost damage: blackened, collapsing leaves and stems indicate cold injury; move under cover and remove damaged tissue once the extent of injury is clear.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No poisonous part is established, although animal-specific information is limited; it is not an edible plant, and eating it may cause stomach upset.

• Purple tree aeonium (Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum')

  Has the same branching habit, but the leaves are usually reddish-purple rather than nearly black, often with more conspicuous green colouring.

• Velour aeonium (Aeonium 'Velour')

  Usually has broader, softer-looking burgundy leaves and a more conspicuous green centre; 'Zwartkop' has narrower, glossier leaves.

• Black Prince echeveria (Echeveria 'Black Prince')

  Forms low rosettes of thick, pointed triangular leaves rather than spoon-shaped leaves on tall, branching woody stems.

The species name arboreum means tree-like, referring to its woody branching habit, and the Dutch cultivar name 'Zwartkop' means black head, describing the dark rosettes.

Propagation. Take healthy stem cuttings during active growth in spring or autumn. Let the cut ends dry and callus for several days, then insert into a gritty potting mix and water sparingly until rooted. Seed does not reliably preserve this cultivar's dark foliage.

Accepted botanical name

Aeonium arboreum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Canary Is. and Morocco.

Measured

Average height 48 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.