Aeonium lancerottense

Aeonium lancerottense is the most abundant aeonium on the island of Lanzarote and one of only two Aeonium species native to this arid, volcanic eastern outpost of the Canary Islands. A densely branching succulent subshrub in the family Crassulaceae (subfamily Sempervivoideae, tribe Aeonieae), it colonizes the dramatic malpaíses — the raw, dark lava fields left by historical eruptions — as well as the rocky cliffs and ravines of the Famara massif, often forming large hemispherical mounds studded with glaucous, red-edged rosettes. Known locally as bejeque de malpaís (“lava-field aeonium”), it shares its island home with the rarer, balsam-scented Aeonium balsamiferum, with which it produces the only natural hybrid possible on Lanzarote: the spectacular Aeonium × balsarottense. In cultivation, Aeonium lancerottense remains uncommon outside specialist collections despite being a tough, attractive, and easily grown plant with distinctive pink-white flowers — a notable departure from the yellow blooms of its section Aeonium relatives.

Taxonomy and Etymology

Aeonium lancerottense (Praeger) Praeger is the accepted name according to POWO (Plants of the World Online). The species was originally described as Sempervivum lancerottense by Robert Lloyd Praeger in Transactions and Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh (29: 207, 1925), and subsequently transferred to Aeonium by the same author in his landmark monograph An Account of the Sempervivum Group (p. 190, 1932).

POWO recognizes a single synonym: the basionym Sempervivum lancerottense Praeger (1925). Cristini’s 2022 revision of the genus (Piante Grasse 42, Supplement) provides the most recent comprehensive taxonomic treatment.

The genus name Aeonium derives from the Greek aionios (“ageless”). The specific epithet lancerottense is a geographical reference to the island of Lanzarote (historically Latinized as Lancerottum or Lancerotta), to which the species is endemic.

Within the genus, Aeonium lancerottense is placed in section Leuconium (Bañares, 2015), which includes woody subshrubs with glaucous, ciliate leaves with reddish margins and whitish to reddish petals. This sectional placement distinguishes it fundamentally from its island neighbor Aeonium balsamiferum, which belongs to section Aeonium and has yellow flowers. Other members of section Leuconium include Aeonium urbicum, Aeonium nobile, Aeonium davidbramwellii, and Aeonium gomerense — all species from the western Canarian islands, making Aeonium lancerottense the sole representative of this section on Lanzarote.

Botanical Description

Aeonium lancerottense forms a compact, densely branched, perennial succulent subshrub typically reaching 50 to 60 centimeters in height and up to 90 centimeters in spread, occasionally forming large hemispherical mounds. The stems are erect to ascending, glabrous, silvery-grey in color, branching freely, and notable for producing adventitious roots — a feature that aids anchorage on unstable lava substrates and facilitates natural vegetative propagation when stems contact the ground.

The leaves are arranged in flattish terminal rosettes measuring 10 to 18 centimeters in diameter, with a phyllotaxis of 8/21 (a distinctive spiral arrangement). Each leaf is obovate-cuneate to oblanceolate-spathulate, fleshy, sessile, up to 9 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide, with a cuspidate (pointed) apex. The leaf surface is glabrous and distinctly glaucous (covered in a waxy, bluish-grey bloom), giving the plant a cool, silvery-green appearance. The leaf margins in the apical half are tinged red and bear fine, barely perceptible denticulations. Under sun stress, the red marginal coloration intensifies, and the entire rosette may take on pinkish or reddish tones.

The inflorescence is broadly conical to dome-shaped, up to 30 centimeters tall and 25 centimeters wide, borne on a strong stalk that can rise up to 60 centimeters above the foliage. The peduncles and pedicels are glabrous. The flowers are 7- to 8-merous, star-shaped, with triangular-lanceolate petals that are whitish with pinkish margins and a more intensely rose-pink interior — a distinctive and attractive flower color that immediately separates this species from the yellow-flowered Aeonium balsamiferum. The calyx is glabrous with triangular sepals. Flowering occurs from March to July, though the timing is strongly conditioned by annual rainfall patterns, and in dry years many plants may not flower at all. Each flowering rosette is monocarpic, but the plant’s profuse branching ensures persistence.

Natural Habitat and Ecology

Aeonium lancerottense is endemic to the island of Lanzarote, where it is locally abundant — by far the most common aeonium on the island. POWO records its native range as northern and central Lanzarote. The core habitat consists of two main landscape types.

The first and most characteristic is the malpaís — the expansive lava fields that cover much of central Lanzarote, particularly those formed by the devastating eruptions of 1730–1736. On these raw, dark basaltic substrates, Aeonium lancerottense is often the pioneer vascular plant, its adventitious roots and ability to establish in rock crevices allowing colonization of surfaces that few other species can exploit. The malpaís of La Geria, Masdache, and the Caldera Quemada area are particularly well-known stations.

The second major habitat is the Famara massif in the north of the island, where the species grows on rocky cliffs, ravines (riscos), and slopes in the vicinity of Haría and the Valle de Malpaso, typically at elevations of 200 to 500 meters. The northeast-facing slopes of Famara capture moisture from the trade-wind cloud layer, providing marginally more favorable conditions than the sun-baked interior.

In both habitat types, Aeonium lancerottense frequently co-occurs with Aeonium balsamiferum, though the two species occupy partially distinct ecological niches: Aeonium lancerottense tends to be more abundant on recent lava substrates and at lower to mid-elevations, while Aeonium balsamiferum favors cliff faces and somewhat higher, mistier stations in the Famara range. Where both species grow in proximity, they produce the natural hybrid Aeonium × balsarottense Arango — the only Aeonium hybrid possible on Lanzarote, since these are the island’s only two native species of the genus. This hybrid is rare and spectacular, combining characters of both parents.

Other associated plant species in the Lanzarote malpaís and cliff habitats include Euphorbia balsamifera, Kleinia neriifolia, Aichryson tortuosum subsp. tortuosum, Lavandula canariensis subsp. lancerottensis, and various lichens that pioneer the raw lava surfaces.

The species is also occasionally found growing on old stone walls, in abandoned agricultural terraces, and even epiphytically on palm trunks (Phoenix canariensis) — a testament to its ecological versatility on this resource-poor island.

Aeonium lancerottense is not currently assessed on the IUCN Red List. Its locally abundant status on Lanzarote suggests it is not immediately threatened, though the general pressures on Canarian native flora (tourism development, habitat alteration, introduced species) apply.

Cultivation and Care

Aeonium lancerottense is a robust and undemanding plant in cultivation, well suited to containers, rock gardens, and Mediterranean landscapes. It is suited to USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b. Cold tolerance is comparable to other Lanzarote endemics: brief frosts to approximately −3 °C (27 °F) are tolerated in dry conditions, but the species is not reliably frost-hardy and should be protected in areas with regular freezes. Some specialist growers recommend a minimum sustained temperature of 5 to 10 °C for optimal health.

Exposure. Full sun to light shade. In its native Lanzarote habitat, the species receives intense sun year-round, so bright, open conditions are ideal. In very hot inland climates, light afternoon shade prevents summer stress. Full sun produces the best glaucous coloration and the most vivid red leaf margins.

Substrate. A well-drained mix of approximately 60% mineral aggregate (pumice, perlite, volcanic grit, lava rock) and 40% potting soil. The species’ native substrate consists of raw volcanic rock and lava crevices, so good drainage is paramount. However, like all aeoniums, it appreciates some moisture retention between waterings.

Watering. Winter grower with summer dormancy. Water regularly from autumn through spring, allowing the substrate to dry between waterings. Reduce watering sharply in summer when rosettes contract and close. The species is drought-tolerant once established, reflecting its adaptation to one of the driest environments occupied by any aeonium.

Fertilization. Dilute balanced liquid fertilizer applied two to three times during the active growing season (autumn to spring).

Propagation

Stem cuttings are the standard and most effective method. The adventitious roots that naturally develop along the stems make rooting particularly straightforward: simply detach a branch, allow the cut to callus for a few days, and plant in a well-drained mix. Rooting is rapid, typically within two to three weeks at 18–24 °C.

Offsets from basal branching can be gently separated and replanted.

Seed propagation is possible. The species flowers profusely in favorable years (March–July), producing abundant seed. Surface-sow on moist mineral substrate at 18–24 °C. Note that in collections where Aeonium balsamiferum grows nearby, natural hybridization is possible, and seed-raised plants may not be true to type.

Pests and Diseases

The standard aeonium vulnerabilities apply. Root rot from overwatering during dormancy is the primary threat. Mealybugs and aphids are occasional pests. The glaucous leaf surface provides some natural protection against excessive water loss and solar radiation. Summer rosette contraction is normal dormancy behavior.

Ornamental Interest and Uses

Aeonium lancerottense deserves wider recognition as an ornamental succulent. Its densely branched, hemispherical mounding habit creates a handsome sculptural form, and the cool glaucous-grey foliage with vivid red margins is both subtle and striking. The pink-white flowers are unusual and attractive within the genus, providing a softer palette than the bold yellows of the Aeonium arboreum complex.

In the garden, it works beautifully in rockeries, gravel gardens, and large containers, especially when combined with dark lava rock that evokes its native malpaís. Its ecological association with Aeonium balsamiferum offers the collector an opportunity for a botanically accurate Lanzarote pairing — two species from the same island, same habitat, different sections, different flower colors, different leaf textures.

The species is considered non-toxic and safe around children and pets.

Authority Sites

Bibliography

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  • Praeger, R.L. (1932). An Account of the Sempervivum Group, p. 190. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. [Transfer to Aeonium.]
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