Genus Aeonium

The genus Aeonium Webb & Berthel. (Crassulaceae, subfamily Sempervivoideae, tribe Aeonieae) comprises approximately 40 species of succulent subtropical plants, renowned for their ornamental rosettes and often arborescent habit. The generic name derives from the ancient Greek aiônios (αἰώνιος), meaning ‘eternal’ or ‘ageless’, in reference to the longevity of the rosettes (Eggli & Newton, 2004). The genus was formally described by Philip Barker Webb and Sabin Berthelot in 1840 in their Histoire naturelle des Îles Canaries. Many species had previously been described under Sempervivum L. by Linnaeus and his successors.

The genus Greenovia Webb & Berthel. (1843), formerly recognised as distinct on the basis of its cup-shaped closed rosettes and highly polymerous flowers, was merged into Aeonium by Mes (1995) following molecular phylogenetic analyses (chloroplast DNA), confirmed by Mort et al. (2002) and Nyffeler (2003). The four species of the former genus Greenovia now constitute section Greenovia within Aeonium.

Aeonium belongs to the ‘Aeonium clade’ of subfamily Sempervivoideae, which also includes Aichryson Webb & Berthel. (15 species) and Monanthes Haw. (11 species), all essentially Macaronesian. This clade is sister to the Sempervivum clade in recent phylogenetic analyses (Messerschmid et al., 2020). The internal phylogeny of the genus was considerably clarified by the ddRADseq study of Messerschmid et al. (2023, Annals of Botany 131: 697–722), which produced the first fully resolved and dated phylogeny of the genus. The most recent monograph of the genus is that of Cristini (2022, Piante Grasse 42, Supplement: 1–225).

Distribution

The genus Aeonium is an emblematic case of Macaronesian island radiation. Its centre of diversity lies in the Canary Islands, where the vast majority of species are found. A few species extend to Madeira, Cape Verde, and south-western Morocco. Only two species — Aeonium leucoblepharum and Aeonium stuessyi — are African disjuncts, occurring in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan) and the south-western Arabian Peninsula (Yemen). A recently described species, Aeonium lavranosii-newtonii Mellie Lewis (2024), is endemic to Yemen.

In the Canaries, species show a remarkable pattern of island speciation: each island possesses its strict endemics, and intra-island speciation (through ecological isolation between altitudinal zones or slope aspects) is as frequent as inter-island speciation (Messerschmid et al., 2023). Habitats range from arid coastal zones (xerophytic belt, Aeonium balsamiferum) to humid laurel forests (Aeonium canariense, Aeonium cuneatum) and high-mountain zones beneath the pines (Aeonium spathulatum).

Several species, particularly Aeonium arboreum and Aeonium haworthii, have been widely naturalised in Mediterranean regions (Portugal, mainland Spain, France, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece), California, Australia and New Zealand.

Ecology and Biology

Aeonium species are leaf-succulents with leaves arranged in dense, spreading rosettes borne on simple or branched woody stems. Their most characteristic biological trait is rosette-level monocarpy: each rosette flowers only once, then dies. In branching species, only the flowering rosette perishes while the others continue growing. In unbranched, strictly monocarpic species (Aeonium tabuliforme, Aeonium nobile, species of section Greenovia), the death of the rosette means the death of the individual. The sole exception is Aeonium simsii, which can reflower.

The growth ecology follows an inverted Mediterranean rhythm: the active growth period is winter and spring (cool, moist season), while many species enter marked summer dormancy, shedding their lower leaves and partially closing their rosettes. This phenomenon is particularly spectacular in species of section Greenovia, whose rosettes close into a tight cup during summer, protecting the apical meristem with dry leaf sheaths.

Pollination is primarily entomophilous (bees, flies, beetles), the well-developed pyramidal inflorescences producing abundant nectar. Natural hybridisation between sympatric species is frequent in the Canaries and plays an important role in the diversification of the genus (Arango, 2024). The main prezygotic barriers are the geographical separation of populations and differences in flowering time.

Adaptations to Aridity and Photosynthesis

Unlike many Crassulaceae, Aeonium species are not desert plants but rather succulents of Mediterranean to subtropical climates, adapted to episodes of seasonal drought rather than permanent aridity. Their photosynthesis is C3 with a capacity for facultative CAM (CAM cycling) in some species under water stress. This distinguishes them sharply from southern African Crassula, which are often obligate CAM performers.

Their main drought adaptations include: moderate leaf succulence, thick waxy cuticle (sometimes sticky and balsamic, as in Aeonium balsamiferum and Aeonium lindleyi), rosette closure into a ball or cup during summer dormancy, and a remarkable capacity for vegetative reproduction through stem cuttings, enabling rapid recolonisation after disturbance. Species from arid coastal zones (Aeonium balsamiferum, Aeonium lancerottense) develop thicker cuticles and more succulent stems than laurel forest species.

Infrageneric Classification and Species List

The infrageneric classification presented below follows the system of Liu (1989, anatomy and systematics), revised by Mes (1995, molecular sections) and refined by Messerschmid et al. (2023, ddRADseq phylogeny). Nine sections are recognised. The species list integrates POWO (Kew, 2026), Cristini (2022), and recent descriptions (Lewis, 2024; Malkmus-Hussain, 2022).

Section Aeonium

The type section of the genus brings together the best-known arborescent species, with robust, branched stems bearing large terminal rosettes. Flowers are typically golden yellow, grouped in imposing pyramidal inflorescences. This is the most widely cultivated section of the genus. Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel. is the most widespread and polymorphic species, with three recognised subspecies and numerous cultivars (including the famous ‘Zwartkop’ / ‘Schwartzkopf’ with near-black purple foliage). The phylogeny of Messerschmid et al. (2023) divides this section into two main clades (‘Arboreum I’ and ‘Arboreum II’), but the monophyly of the section as a whole remains debated.

Species: 

Section Canariensia Liu

Section Canariensia groups species with very large, flattened rosettes, often subsessile or on a short, stout stem, whose leaves are typically broad, velvety and covered with sticky glandular hairs. These are plants of laurel forests and shaded, humid areas — among the most impressive in the genus. Aeonium canariense (L.) Webb & Berthel. can form rosettes reaching 20 in (50 cm) in diameter, making it one of the largest Crassulaceae in terms of rosette diameter. Five subspecies are recognised for Aeonium canariense. This section is well supported as monophyletic.

Species: Aeonium canariense (L.) Webb & Berthel. (5 subsp.), Aeonium cuneatum Webb & Berthel.

Section Chrysocome (Webb & Berthel.) Liu

Section Chrysocome (from Greek chrysos, gold, and komê, hair) contains a single species, Aeonium spathulatum, which is distinguished by its densely branched, shrubby habit with slender stems bearing small, spatulate rosettes. It is a montane species, growing in the Canarian pine zone and high-mountain areas, from 2,000 to 6,500 ft (600 to 2,000 m) elevation. Its phylogenetic position is unstable across analyses (sometimes sister to section Greenovia, sometimes sister to Aeonium smithii).

Species: Aeonium spathulatum (Hornem.) Praeger.

Section Goochiae Liu

Section Goochiae groups bushy species with small rosettes, often pubescent and viscid, forming dense clumps. The leaves are small, spatulate, and frequently bear glandular hairs giving them a sticky, fragrant quality. This section is supported as monophyletic in all analyses. Species are distributed across Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma.

Species: Aeonium goochiae (Christ.) Praeger, Aeonium lindleyi Webb & Berthel., Aeonium smithii (Sims) Webb & Berthel., Aeonium viscatum Praeger.

Section Greenovia (Webb & Berthel.) T.Mes

Section Greenovia corresponds to the former genus Greenovia Webb & Berthel. (1843). Its members are distinguished from all other Aeonium by their rosettes that close into a tight cup or urn shape during summer dormancy, by their highly polymerous flowers (up to 32 parts per whorl), and by their lack of floral nectaries — a character shared with sections Chrysocome and Petrothamnium. These are strict monocarpic plants with a solitary or rarely caespitose rosette. The section is confirmed as monophyletic in all analyses. Diversification of the section began approximately 2.11 million years ago (Messerschmid et al., 2023).

Species: Aeonium aizoon (Bolle) T.H.M.Mes, Aeonium aureum (C.Sm. ex Hornem.) T.H.M.Mes, Aeonium diplocyclum (Webb ex Bolle) T.H.M.Mes, Aeonium dodrantale (Willd.) T.H.M.Mes.

Section Leuconium A.Berger

Section Leuconium is the most diverse section of the genus. It groups large species, often monocarpic and unbranched, with imposing rosettes borne on a single stem. The leaves are generally large, spatulate to oblanceolate, and the inflorescences are among the most spectacular in the genus. Aeonium nobile (Praeger) Praeger produces remarkable coppery-red inflorescences. Aeonium urbicum (C.Sm. ex Hornem.) Webb & Berthel. can form 20 in (50 cm) rosettes on stems reaching 6.5 ft (2 m). The section includes several recently described or elevated species, such as Aeonium pseudourbicum and Aeonium escobarii.

Species: 

  • Aeonium appendiculatum Bañares, 
  • Aeonium calderense Malkm.-Huss., 
  • Aeonium castello-paivae Bolle, 
  • Aeonium davidbramwelii H.Y.Liu, 
  • Aeonium gomerense (Praeger) Praeger, 
  • Aeonium hierrense (R.P.Murray) Pit. & Proust., 
  • Aeonium nobile (Praeger) Praeger, 
  • Aeonium pseudourbicum Bañares, 
  • Aeonium rubrolineatum Svent., 
  • Aeonium tabuliforme (Haw.) Webb & Berthel., 
  • Aeonium urbicum (C.Sm. ex Hornem.) Webb & Berthel., 
  • Aeonium valverdense (Praeger) Praeger.

Section Patinaria (Webb & Berthel.) Liu

Section Patinaria is endemic to the Madeiran archipelago. It contains a single species, Aeonium glandulosum, characterised by its large, flattened rosettes on short stems, with broadly spatulate leaves and sticky glandular margins. It is a plant of cliffs and walls in the Madeiran laurel forest zone. The colonisation of Madeira by the clade including this section is dated to approximately 2.48 million years ago (Messerschmid et al., 2023).

Species: Aeonium glandulosum (Aiton) Webb & Berthel.

Section Petrothamnium A.Berger

Section Petrothamnium (from Greek petros, stone, and thamnion, small bush) groups densely branched, shrubby species with small rosettes, adapted to rocky substrates. The leaves are small, often thickened and sometimes viscid. Like section Greenovia, species of this section lack floral nectaries. Aeonium sedifolium (Webb ex Bolle) Pit. & Proust., with leaves resembling those of a Sedum, is the most widely cultivated representative.

Species: Aeonium saundersii Bolle, Aeonium sedifolium (Webb ex Bolle) Pit. & Proust.

Section Pittonium (Webb & Berthel.) Liu

Section Pittonium is the second section endemic to the Madeiran archipelago (alongside section Patinaria). It comprises a single species, Aeonium glutinosum, a branched shrub with viscid terminal rosettes, very common on the cliffs and walls of Madeira and the Desertas Islands. It is one of the most iconic plants of the Madeiran flora. The presence of two distinct Aeonium sections on Madeira suggests two independent colonisation events from the Canaries.

Species: Aeonium glutinosum (Aiton) Webb & Berthel.

Extralimital Species (East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula)

Two species of Aeonium are found outside Macaronesia, in East Africa and the south-western Arabian Peninsula, constituting a remarkable biogeographical disjunction. These species are phylogenetically nested within section Aeonium. Aeonium leucoblepharum Webb ex A.Rich. is a rupicolous succulent shrub found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Yemen, between 5,000 and 10,000 ft (1,500 and 3,000 m) elevation. Aeonium stuessyi H.Y.Liu is known from Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, where it often grows as an epiphyte. Aeonium lavranosii-newtonii Mellie Lewis, described in 2024, is endemic to Yemen.

Species: Aeonium lavranosii-newtonii Mellie Lewis, Aeonium leucoblepharum Webb ex A.Rich., Aeonium stuessyi H.Y.Liu.

Aeonium Cultivars: A Categorised Guide

The genus Aeonium has generated a remarkable diversity of cultivars through deliberate hybridisation and the selection of sports (spontaneous mutations, including variegated forms). The most prolific breeder of Aeonium cultivars was the Californian hybridiser Jack Catlin (1920s–2010s), who used Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’, Aeonium undulatum, Aeonium tabuliforme, Aeonium canariense, and Aeonium simsii as core breeding stock and produced many of the named cultivars now in wide circulation. More recently, Asian breeders (notably in China, South Korea, and Thailand) have introduced a wave of new variegated and multicoloured selections, some of which command high prices among collectors.

All Aeonium cultivars must be propagated vegetatively (stem cuttings) to maintain their true-to-type characteristics. Seed-grown offspring will produce variable results, typically reverting toward the wild type.

The cultivar list below is organised by colour group and growth type. Parentage is given where known. Awards (RHS AGM) are noted. Approximately 50 named cultivars are listed; this is not exhaustive — the total number of named forms in the international trade exceeds 200, particularly among recent Asian variegated selections — but it covers all the major cultivars likely to be encountered by collectors and general gardeners.

Dark-Leaved Cultivars (Purple, Burgundy, Near-Black)

The dark-leaved aeoniums are among the most popular succulents in the world. Their deep anthocyanin pigmentation intensifies with sun exposure and creates dramatic landscape contrast.

‘Zwartkop‘ (syn. ‘Schwarzkopf’, ‘Arnold Schwarzkopff’) — Aeonium arboreum cultivar. The benchmark dark aeonium: glossy, near-black rosettes to 20 cm, branching shrub to 90–120 cm. Discovered in a Leiden nursery; described by B.K. Boom in Succulenta (1959). RHS AGM (1993). Needs full sun for darkest colour.

‘Velour’ — Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × Aeonium canariense (Jack Catlin). Very dark burgundy-black, velvety sheen, large rosettes (to 20–25 cm). Similar to ‘Zwartkop’ but broader rosettes with a softer texture inherited from the canariense parent.

var. atropurpureum — Wild dark-leaved form of Aeonium arboreum. Dark maroon-purple, lighter than ‘Zwartkop’, with conspicuous green centres. Shorter stems and smaller heads than ‘Zwartkop’. Often confused with ‘Zwartkop’ in the trade.

‘Garnet’ — Dark red-bronze cultivar, often described as a brighter red than ‘Zwartkop’. Upright, branching. Used as a parent in some of the newer multicoloured hybrids.

‘Black Rose’ — Sometimes treated as distinct from ‘Zwartkop’ (darker, more uniformly black); in practice, the distinction is uncertain and may reflect different growing conditions or clonal selections rather than genuine genetic differences. Functionally interchangeable with ‘Zwartkop’ for most growers.

‘Black Magic’ — A very dark cultivar, sometimes offered as an especially deep-pigmented selection. Similar to ‘Zwartkop’.

Giant Hybrid Cultivars (Large Rosettes, Bold Habit)

Crosses involving Aeonium undulatum (the large, unbranched Gran Canarian species) and Aeonium canariense have produced vigorous hybrids with oversized rosettes and dramatic stature.

‘Cyclops’ — Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × Aeonium undulatum (Jack Catlin). Giant rosettes to 20+ cm in deep bronze-red with a prominent bright green centre — the “cyclops eye” that gives the cultivar its name. Plants reach 90–120 cm. Metallic sheen. Sister seedling of ‘Voodoo’. Released as ISI 95-11.

‘Voodoo’ — Same parentage as ‘Cyclops’ (Jack Catlin). Large rosettes, dark purple-bronze, slightly different colour balance. Less commonly encountered than ‘Cyclops’.

‘Dinner Plate’ — A particularly large-rosette selection of Aeonium undulatum or its hybrids, with flat, broad rosettes.

Variegated Cultivars (Cream, White, Yellow Margins or Splashes)

Variegated aeoniums are among the most ornamental and commercially valuable forms. Variegation is typically marginal (cream or yellow edges) or medial (longitudinal streaks). Stability varies; some cultivars are highly stable, while others produce occasional all-green or all-cream reversions.

‘Sunburst’ (syn. ‘Copper Pinwheel’) — Large variegated cultivar, possibly a sport of Aeonium davidbramwellii or a hybrid. Rosettes to 30+ cm, cream-and-green variegated leaves with pink to copper margins in sun. Branching shrub to 60–90 cm. One of the most widely grown variegated succulents. RHS AGM.

‘Kiwi’ — Aeonium haworthii cultivar (syn. Aeonium haworthii ‘Dream Color’). Compact, freely branching, with small rosettes (5–8 cm) of green, cream-yellow, and pink-edged leaves in three distinct zones. Extremely popular; one of the most widely sold aeoniums worldwide.

‘Emerald Ice’ — A green-and-cream variegated cultivar with compact, upright growth. Rosettes to 15 cm. Often used as a parent in multicoloured hybrid breeding programmes.

‘Albovariegatum’ — Aeonium arboreum sport with white (cream) margined green leaves. Large, tree-like habit to 90 cm. Variegation moderately unstable; may produce extra-variegated or all-green branches.

‘Luteovariegatum’ — Aeonium arboreum sport with yellow (golden) margined green leaves. Similar habit to ‘Albovariegatum’.

‘Lily Pad’ — A cultivar with rounded, smooth, light-green leaves forming a notably flat, plate-like rosette, superficially resembling a water lily pad. Compact, branching.

‘Suncup’ — Aeonium castello-paivae f. variegata. Compact clumps of small rosettes with cream-and-green splashed leaves, pink-edged in sun. Also erroneously sold as ‘Abbey Brook’ and Aeonium torulosum.

‘Mint Saucer’ — A green variegated cultivar with a saucer-shaped rosette habit.

Multicolour and “Carnival” Cultivars (Red, Pink, Cream, Green)

A wave of multicoloured aeoniums has emerged since the 2010s, combining anthocyanin pigmentation (red, pink, bronze) with variegation (cream, yellow) to produce leaves striped, zoned, or suffused with three to four colours simultaneously. Many originated from deliberate crosses between dark cultivars (‘Zwartkop’, ‘Garnet’) and variegated forms (‘Sunburst’, ‘Emerald Ice’, ‘Kiwi’). Colour expression is highly dependent on light, temperature, and stress level.

‘Mardi Gras’ — Multicoloured cultivar with rosettes displaying green, cream, pink, and red in variable patterns. Medium-sized, branching. An Altman Plants introduction. One of the first widely available multicolour aeoniums.

‘Fiesta’ — Altman Plants patented introduction. Compact rosettes with bright pink, green, and cream variegation. Similar colour palette to ‘Mardi Gras’ but more compact.

‘Blushing Beauty’ — Aeonium canariense × Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ (Jack Catlin). Medium-sized rosettes that transition through green, rose-pink, and reddish-bronze depending on season and sun exposure. Characterised by a pronounced fragrance. RHS AGM.

‘Plum Purdy’ — Aeonium canariense × Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ (Jack Catlin). Sister seedling of ‘Blushing Beauty’. Rosettes with plum-purple colouration, less variegated than ‘Blushing Beauty’.

‘Pink Witch’ — A pink-toned hybrid of complex parentage, producing rosettes with striking pink and green zonation. Originated from Asian breeding programmes.

‘Medusa’ — A stable, multicoloured cultivar with pink, green, and cream variegation. Named for its sinuous, branching habit with colourful rosette “heads.” One of the more stable recent introductions.

‘Carnival’ — A trade name applied to several multicoloured selections (sometimes a group rather than a single cultivar). Pink, ruby, cream, and green striped rosettes; parentage likely includes ‘Zwartkop’ or ‘Garnet’ × variegated forms. Marketed by Altman Plants.

‘Ink Painting’ (syn. ‘Ecstasy’?) — An Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ variegated sport with unstable cream-and-purple variegation. Striking but unpredictable. Popular in Asian collector circles.

‘Scarlet Ink’ — A further selection from the ‘Ink Painting’ lineage with intensified red coloration.

‘Wonderland’ — Complex parentage (‘Mardi Gras’ → ‘Ink Painting’ → ‘Scarlet Ink’ → ‘Wonderland’). Bright multicoloured rosettes.

Jack Catlin Hybrids (Named Aeonium tabuliforme and Aeonium simsii Crosses)

Jack Catlin’s breeding programme explored unusual crosses involving the flat-rosette Aeonium tabuliforme and the polycarpic Aeonium simsii, producing distinctive cultivars unlike standard tree aeoniums.

‘Jack Catlin’ — Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × Aeonium tabuliforme (Jack Catlin). Compact, low-growing rosettes, dark burgundy-green, flatter and more open than typical arboreum hybrids. Distinctive and relatively rare.

‘Zwartkin’ — Same parentage as ‘Jack Catlin’ (arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × tabuliforme), a different selection. Compact, low, dark rosettes.

‘Cabernet’ — Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ × Aeonium simsii (Jack Catlin). Compact, clumping, with dark rosettes inheriting the low habit of simsii and the dark colour of ‘Zwartkop’.

‘Ballerina’ — A Jack Catlin hybrid with undulating, ruffled leaf margins, creating a frilly rosette shape. Parentage uncertain.

Green and Pastel Cultivars

Not all aeonium cultivars are dark or variegated. Several green or soft-toned selections are valued for their form, texture, or unusual growth habit.

‘Jolly Green’ — A green cultivar of Canary Islands origin. Compact, spreading habit, medium rosettes. Fresh green colour.

‘Irish Bouquet’ — A densely branching form with compact, bright green rosettes, creating a “bouquet” effect. Likely a selection of Aeonium arboreum.

‘Tip Top’ — A compact, bright green cultivar with neatly formed rosettes. Low-growing.

‘Green Platters’ — Large, flat, green rosettes on stout stems. Possibly a selection of Aeonium undulatum or a hybrid.

‘Castello Crested’ — Aeonium castello-paivae f. cristata. A cristate (crested) form producing fan-shaped, wavy growth instead of normal rosettes. A collector’s curiosity.

Compact and Miniature Cultivars

Small-growing cultivars suited to container culture, dish gardens, and miniature arrangements.

‘Kiwi’ — (Also listed under Variegated.) Aeonium haworthii cultivar. Compact, freely branching, small tricolour rosettes. Perhaps the single most widely sold aeonium worldwide.

‘Suncup’ — (Also listed under Variegated.) Aeonium castello-paivae f. variegata. Small clumping rosettes, cream-and-green.

‘Lemon and Lime’ — A small, variegated cultivar with yellow-green and cream foliage. Compact and branching.

‘Pinwheel’ — A common name applied to several compact, branching cultivars, particularly Aeonium haworthii and its selections.

“Mountain Rose” and Section Greenovia Selections

The former genus Greenovia (now section Greenovia of Aeonium) has produced a wave of collector interest, particularly in Asia, for its dramatic cup-closing dormancy behaviour. While these are technically species rather than cultivars, selected forms and unnamed clonal selections circulate in the trade.

‘Mountain Rose’ — A trade name applied broadly to Aeonium dodrantale (syn. Greenovia dodrentalis) and sometimes to Aeonium aureum. Not a true cultivar name but widely used in retail. The tight, rosebud-like dormant rosettes are the main selling point.

‘El Hierro’ — A particularly compact form of Aeonium dodrantale from El Hierro, selected for its tight, symmetrical dormancy cups.

‘Rose Succulent’ — A generic retail trade name for any of the cup-forming ex-Greenovia species.

Intergeneric Hybrids (× Semponium)

Recent breeding has produced crosses between Aeonium and the related genus Sempervivum (Sempervivoideae), creating the intergeneric hybrid genus × Semponium.

× Semponium ‘Sienna’ — Sempervivum ‘Green Ice’ × Aeonium ‘Ice Warrior’. A compact, rosette-forming intergeneric hybrid combining features of both parent genera.

× Semponium ‘Destiny’ — Winner of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show “Chelsea Plant of the Year” 2022. A striking intergeneric cross with excellent vigour and ornamental appeal.

× Semponium ‘Rubin’ — A red-toned intergeneric selection.

Other Notable Named Cultivars

‘Ice Warrior’ — A grey-green to icy blue-toned cultivar. Used as a parent in × Semponium breeding.

‘Urbicum Meridionale’ — Strictly a variety of Aeonium urbicum (var. meridionale Bañares), not a cultivar, but occasionally sold under this name. Distinguished by pink-white flowers and puberulent leaves.

‘Bronze Medal’ — A compact cultivar with bronze-tinted foliage.

‘Carol’ — Bright green rosettes with hints of red at the tips. Medium-sized.

‘Leucocystum’ — A leucocystic (white-spotted or speckled) form of ‘Sunburst’ or Aeonium davidbramwellii, in which patches of leaf tissue lack chlorophyll. A curiosity, not widely grown.

‘Mesa Verde’ — Compact, bright green rosettes, mounding habit.

RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) Holders

The following Aeonium taxa have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit after formal trials:

  • Aeonium haworthii — species AGM
  • Aeonium haworthii ‘Variegatum’ — AGM
  • Aeonium tabuliforme — species AGM
  • Aeonium undulatum — species AGM
  • Aeonium ‘Blushing Beauty’ — AGM
  • Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ — AGM
  • Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ — AGM (1993)

A Note on Nomenclatural Confusion

The Aeonium cultivar landscape is complicated by widespread mislabelling, synonymy, and the proliferation of unnamed or poorly documented Asian selections. As the Wisconsin Extension Horticulture notes, “The names of types offered as garden specimens are often confused and inaccurate.” Most plants sold as Aeonium arboreum in the nursery trade are actually hybrids. True species should be sourced from specialist nurseries with documented provenance.

When purchasing cultivars, prefer suppliers who cite parentage and origin. Be cautious of extremely rare, high-priced named variegates from online platforms, as variegation stability and true-to-name accuracy are not always guaranteed.

Major Botanical Collections for Aeonium

Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo (Jardín Canario), Gran Canaria, Spain. The world’s largest living collection of Aeonium, with nearly all species in cultivation. The reference collection for Canarian endemic flora.

Jardín de Aclimatación de La Orotava, Tenerife, Spain. Historic collection of Canarian plants founded in 1788, with a rich holding of Macaronesian Crassulaceae.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K), United Kingdom. Historic collections including the type specimens of Webb & Berthelot. Herbarium and POWO database serving as the global reference.

National Plant Collection of Aeonium, Clun, Shropshire, United Kingdom. National Plant Heritage collection held by Mellie Lewis, specialist of the genus and author of Aeonium lavranosii-newtonii.

Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich, Switzerland. Important living collection of Crassulaceae, including numerous Aeonium species and cultivars.

Jardin Exotique de Monaco. Remarkable Mediterranean collection of Aeonium grown under optimal conditions, with mature specimens of considerable size.

Jardim Botânico da Madeira, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Reference collection for the endemic Madeiran species (Aeonium glandulosum, Aeonium glutinosum).

Authority Sites and Online Resources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/…

International Crassulaceae Network (ICN) — Aeonium
https://www.crassulaceae.ch/de/…

Banco de Datos de Biodiversidad de Canarias
https://www.biodiversidadcanarias.es/

iNaturalist — Aeonium observations
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47909-Aeonium

World of Succulents — Aeonium
https://worldofsucculents.com/genera/aeonium/

LLIFLE — Encyclopedia of Living Forms
https://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/…

GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility
https://www.gbif.org/

Red List of Spanish Vascular Flora (Atlas y Libro Rojo)
https://www.miteco.gob.es/

Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/

Bibliography

Arango, O. (2024). Principles governing F1 hybridization in the genera Aeonium and Greenovia in La Gomera, Canary Islands. Willdenowia, 53: 257–268.

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