Posted by
Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Apr 9, 2016 11:49 AM concerning plant:
Rosette succulents, mostly from the Canary Islands, which may grow a considerable stem before flowering and dying (any branches which do not flower will live on). One species (simsii) flowers laterally instead of terminally. Inflorescences tend to have many flowers, usually yellow or white, packed into a cone shape. They attract bees, ants, and a variety of sucking bugs which can be a source of contagion in the container garden (like other flowering members of the succulent Crassulaceae).
Most Aeoniums follow an annual cycle of growth and dormancy related to the climate of the Canary Islands, which is characterized by winter rainfall and summer drought. They respond poorly to extreme heat but can tolerate extended drought as part of their cycle. They naturalize quite easily in a mild Mediterranean climate like that of coastal Southern California, and may self-seed in the garden.
These plants show a tremendous degree of variation in appearance depending on the season and growth conditions, and can be quite difficult to identify for that reason. They also hybridize freely. Many of the plants in gardens are cultivars (eg. Zwartkop, Sunburst) or hybrids (eg. Blushing Beauty, Cyclops), rather than species.
Recommended reading:
Rudolf Schulz, Aeonium in Habitat & Cultivation
Joël Lodé, Succulent Plants of the Canary Islands
