Black rose aeonium - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Black rose aeonium — <em>Aeonium arboreum '<em>Zwartkop</em>'</em>

Description

Black rose aeonium is a show-stopper. Its nearly black foliage and clusters of yellow flowers bring contrast and drama into any garden planting. This plant is not subtle; instead, it can easily become the center of attention in containers, raised planters and in grouped plantings. This is a winter growing plant that puts on a flush of new leaves just ahead of its flowering cycle.

Black rose aeonium grows well in sunny to partially shaded exposures; avoid planting in hot summer sun locations to avoid burning and drying of its leaves. Winter rains are usually sufficient to provide good moisture for robust growth and flowering; little water is needed throughout the rest of the year.

Water Needs

Black rose aeonium is well adapted to all parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months marked by an asterisk (*) when winter rains often provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates Black rose aeonium can grow with varying amounts of water; little supplemental water is needed during summer following the flowering cycle.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

1"-2"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Succulent
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Clumping
Growth Rate: Slow
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.
Water Needs: Low 2
Foliage Color: Purple
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Season: Winter, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Function: Residential spaces, Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Borders

Maintenance

Aeoniums are generally low maintenance. Every few years, if plants become too tall and "leggy" looking for the space, stems can be cut about four inches below the leaves, left in the shade for a few days for the cut to "scab" and be re-rooted back in their desired location after the rest of old stems and roots have been cleared out. Aeoniums will send out new roots from the buried stems. Fall is the ideal time to take on this task because Aeoniums tend not to actively grow in the heat of summer (S).

References