Black Aeonium

Description

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' - 'The Black Aeonium' A truly stunning succulent with flat rosettes of dark, purplish-black leaves, carried at the end of the branches. Often known as Black Rose, the species 'Zwartkop' is the Dutch name for "black head", and that indeed resembles the rosette. Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' is not like many others of theAeonium with more typical grey-green to greenish foliage and it will take on this deep purple black colouring with plenty of bright light and looks gloss/waxy when light strikes it.

This Black Aeonium makes a wonderful color and texture accent in your succulent collection, rock garden or out on a sunny patio or windowsill. It’s hard-wired for intense light to retain its dark color; give it hours of direct sunlight, or the brightest spot in the house. Without it, it’ll begin to gradually shift color back to green and the stems will begin to grow spindly and reach. Outdoors, it likes a sunny location on the patio or a garden bed with excellent drainage during the warmer months, and a bright windowsill indoors.

The Black Aeonium would appeal to anyone that is familiar with basic succulent care, that you tend to underwater, not over water. It’s not hard once you have a decent rhythm, but maybe not the easiest for someone that’s still in a houseplant schedule habit. It would make a great centrepiece or unique talking-point succulent to add to anyone’s current succulent collection, simply due to the distinct colour.

Key features

• Unique dark purple to almost black leaf rosettes – a real departure from usual green succulents. 
• This is a tidy, slow growing form at the moment, good for tiny pots and restricted spaces.
• Needs infrequent watering once established, in line with typical succulent care.
• Colour intensity is directly tied to light exposure, so it rewards a bright, sunny spot.
• Suits both sunny outdoor spots and bright indoor windowsills.
• Low water needs make it relatively forgiving of missed waterings, though not of overwatering.
• Unusual form makes it a popular choice for collectors of succulent plants or as a gift plant.
• This plant has not been noted as toxic according to the ASPCA. Like with any plant, you’ll still want to keep them away from a chew-happy pet.

Care at a glance

Product specifications

What's in the box

• 1 × Live Black Aeonium plant
• 1 × Nursery pot (Bare-rooted/Pot: Optional)
• Potting mix
• Basic care guide

Important notes

• Color intensity of purple-black & size of flower head can slightly vary from specimen to specimen, as these are natural live products and not a photo.
• Some leaf softening or mild loss after the plants are received is to be expected as the plant requires some adjustment time before being established in its permanent location.
• Slowly bring the plant out into direct, bright sun as this sudden exposure on a previously sheltered plant can burn the leaves.
• Keep it in a shaded spot for a long time, the leaves will gradually become paler and the stems will extend, move it into the light in order to get the dark color.
• A susceptible to being over-watered. You’ll always want to let it thoroughly dry between waterings and watering needs will have to be decreased during hot summer weather.
• The plant is not classified as being toxic to humans or pets but as a good rule of thumb, any plant should be kept out of reach of curious chewers.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why has my Black Aeonium become green and no longer dark purple?

A: Plant colour is very much light related, and if your plant is receiving too little strong light and not enough direct sunlight the rosettes will start to become green. Put it in your brightest light conditions, and provided the plant is otherwise healthy, you should find the rosettes darken again with new growth.

Q: How often should I water the plant? 

A: Water your plant when the top inch of soil becomes completely dry. There isn't a schedule when it comes to watering your succulent; instead, rely on its leaves, as it's where this succulent stores its water. Water this succulent much less in summer since this plant may experience a time of semi-dormancy.

Q: Can I keep it indoors year-round?

A: Yes, but you need to keep it in the sunniest possible position that you have – a sunny window is ideal! Plants grown indoors without the full force of the sun outdoors will grow far more slowly and won't develop as intense a color. 

Q: How much sun will it take?

A: It tolerates a number of hours of direct sun and is grown outdoors in a bright light to maintain good color. If you have an indoor plant that you’re placing outdoors in the sun, it may take a week or two to adjust – be sure to acclimate it over this time frame so that the foliage does not burn.

Q: How fast does it grow, and when should I repot it? 

A: This is a slow-to-moderately growing plant. Repot it every two to three years, or even more frequently if the rosette has clearly outgrown its current container, into a well-draining cactus and succulent potting soil mix with a pot just one size larger than the present pot.

Q: Is this plant safe to have around pets? 

A: Aeonium isn’t identified by ASPCA as harmful for dogs, cats or additional home pets, but keeping plants distant from the reach of your pets, that will gnaw leaves is usually a sensible precaution. Should your pet take large quantities of vegetation then begin looking uncomfortable, contact your vet.