Aeonium aureum – Succulent plants

Aeonium aureum is an attractive, succulent perennial that forms clumps up to 40 cm wide. The leaves are simple, pale apple-green and arranged in rosettes up to 25 cm in diameter. They flush out in winter and close up in tight, rounded balls in the summer months. It is a monocarpic plant with the central plants maturing in 3 to 4 years before sending up a stiff erect inflorescence of bright yellow flowers. Aeonium aureum also is known as Greenovia aurea.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Aeonium

Scientific Name: Aeonium aureum (C. Sm. ex Hornem.) T. Mes
Synonyms: Sempervivum aureum (basionym), Greenovia aurea, Greenovia ferrea, Greenovia polypharmica, Greenovia rupifraga
Common Names: Green Rose Buds

 

How to grow and maintain Aeonium aureum:

Light:
It thrives best in full sunlight to part sunlight in a sheltered spot, but the bright light enhances the rich hues of the darker Aeoniums.

Soil:
It grows well in humus-rich, moist but well-drained, any good potting mix soil.

Temperature:
It prefers ideal temperatures of 65ºF – 75ºF / 18ºC – 24ºC and no lower than 50ºF / 10ºC.

Water:
Water moderately but consistently during the growing season, Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Allow the top one inch of soil to dry out between waterings. During the winter reduce watering to a minimum.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize your plant once every 2 weeks during the active growth period with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not feed while dormant.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by seed or by stem cuttings. Sow seed at 19-24ºC in spring. Take cuttings of rosettes in the spring and kept at 18ºC and barely moist until rooted.

Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest or disease problems. Slugs can do some damage and the occasional bird may take a bite.