Distinctively dark purple-leaved Aeonium cultivar which branches and can grow to 3 feet tall or so, plus flowers. Best color in full sun. Like all Aeoniums, this plant is a winter grower (active from fall though spring) and it rests in summer. It demands the absolute maximum amount of natural light to be viable as a house plant (a position right in front of a sunny window) and almost always does better outside, climate permitting.

This plant, whose name means "black head" in Dutch, has been labeled with a variety of misspellings including the name in German. It is a parent of various outstanding hybrids bred and selected by Jack Catlin, including "Cyclops" and "Voodoo" (with undulatum); "Zwartkin" and "Jack Catlin" (with tabuliforme); "Blushing Beauty", "Plum Purdy" and "Velour" (with canariense). "Zwartkop" is also a parent of "Cabernet" (with simsii).

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This plant can become a large spreading bush with multiple branches. May reach heights of 4 ft. under ideal conditions.

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One of the most common parent plants in Aeonium hybrids, including Zwartkop x simsii (bred for cold tolerance, and low growing form), Zwartkop x undulatum (bred for large size), Zwartkop x canariense (bred for large size and low growing growth habit), and Zwartkop x tabuliforme (bred for compact rosette and low growth). Several complex hybrids involving Zwartkop include the patented 'Mardi Gras', 'Bing thing', 'Phoenix Flame', 'Emerald Flame', and numerous other hybrids.
This is perhaps one of the most common Aeoniums in cultivation, the others including A. haworthii, a green arboreum var arboreum form, and the Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum.
Aeonium Zwartkop is a dutch selection from Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum. It was selected and bred throughout multiple generations for solid and dark black color.

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