Black Rose Aeonium

Aeonium arboreum is a tree-forming succulent from the Canary Islands, best known through the cultivar 'Zwartkop' (Black Rose), which bears dramatically dark purple to near-black rosettes. The striking coloration is most intense in full sun; plants grown in shade develop a more greenish hue. Rosettes reach 10–20 cm across on branching stems that can grow 30–100 cm tall. As a winter-growing plant, A. arboreum is active from autumn through spring and enters dormancy in summer, when the leaves curl inward to reduce water loss. Watering should follow the growing season: regular in cool months, drastically reduced or ceased in summer. Excessive heat and humidity during dormancy are the main hazards. Plants tolerate light frosts down to about 3–5°C. Propagation from stem cuttings, including detached rosettes, is reliable and fast.

Moderate watering