Aeonium

Aeonium
File:Aeonium undulatum.JPG
Saucer-plant (Aeonium undulatum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Aeonium Webb & Berthel.
Species
About 35, see text

Aeonium (tree houseleek) is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. The name comes from the ancient Greek "aionos" (ageless). While most of them are native to the Canary Islands, some are found in Madeira, Morocco, and in East Africa (for example in the Semien Mountains of Ethiopia).

The rosette leaves are on a basal stem. Low-growing Aeonium species are A. tabuliforme and A. smithii; large species include A. arboreum, A. valverdense and A. holochrysum.

Aeonium are not frost-resistant. They are related to the genera Sempervivum, Aichryson and Monanthes, which is easy to see from their similar flower and inflorescences. Recently, the genus Greenovia has been placed within Aeonium.

Selected species

Aeonium aizoon Aeonium appendiculatum Aeonium arboreum Aeonium aureum Aeonium balsamiferum Aeonium canariense Aeonium castello-paivae Aeonium ciliatum Aeonium cuneatum Aeonium davidbramwellii Aeonium decorum Aeonium glandulosum Aeonium glutinosum Aeonium gomerense Aeonium gorgoneum Aeonium goochiae Aeonium haworthii

Aeonium hierrense Aeonium holochrysum Aeonium leucoblepharum Aeonium lindleyi Aeonium manriqueorum Aeonium nobile Aeonium sedifolium Aeonium simsii Aeonium smithii Aeonium spathulatum Aeonium tabuliforme Aeonium undulatum - saucer plant Aeonium urbicum Aeonium valverdense Aeonium velour

Growth habit

Aeoniums require little water (irrigation every 15 days) and in winter watering can be reduced to up to two months to survive cold conditions. It needs sun or partial shade. In general the green aeoniums prefer some shade - the purple ones like full sun. They will not withstand frost and extreme temperatures. In the summer they must be outside for good growth, and fall safekeeping and care that the ambient temperature is below 10 °C. The aeonium does not require a particular soil but it must be free draining. In sandy soils compacted plant grows best. It grows well in direct ground or in pots. When the plant is located directly on the ground the plants need shelter from the direct sun (especially if they have been indoors for the winter) and frost or low winter temperatures.

Images

• Aeonium-arboreum-'Atropurpu.jpg

  Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum'

• Aeonium aureum (≡ Greenovia. aurea) (Marianne Perdomo) 1.jpg

  Aeonium aureum

• Aeonium castello-paivae.jpg

  Aeonium castello-paivae

• Aeonium decorum P1050445.JPG

  Aeonium decorum

• Aeonium lindleyi P1050450.JPG

  Aeonium lindleyi

• Aeonium nobile.jpg

  Aeonium nobile

• Aeonium simsii P1050451.JPG

  Aeonium simsii

• Aeonium labuliforme.jpg

  Aeonium tabuliforme

• Aeonium tabuliforme x arboreum 'Zwartkop' 2.jpg

  Aeonium tabuliforme × arboreum 'Zwartkop' #2

• Aeonium undulatum 092.JPG

  Aeonium undulatum

• Aeonium valverdense PICT0545.jpg

  Aeonium valverdense

References

• R. Nyffeler, "Aeonium", in Urs Eggli, ed. Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Crassulaceae (Springer, 2003) ISBN 3-540-41965-9