Tree roofleek, Tree aeonium
Aeonium arboreum · Crassulaceae
📷 H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around tree roofleek, tree aeonium and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fleshy and arranged in rosettes
- Flowering
- June to July, yellow flowers in clusters
- Adult size
- 90 cm in height, bushy habit
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Sensitive to cold, protect below 5°C
- Origin
- Canary Islands
- Soil type
- Well-draining, rocky or sandy
- Maintenance
- Very easy, ideal for beginners
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Pot cultivation recommended outside mild climates: easier to control humidity and can be moved. In soil, ensure drainage with 5 cm gravel underneath.
The common mistake
Don't plant in regularly moist beds: it rots at the collar with no recovery possible.
The pro's trick
Keep the red-black foliage; this pigment indicates normal moderate water stress and maximum beauty.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during growth (spring-summer), then reduce drastically in autumn and winter. Let the substrate dry out completely between waterings. In winter, light monthly watering is more than sufficient. Avoid standing water at all costs, as it causes root rot.
Light and Exposure
Place your Aeonium in full sun to achieve beautiful coloration and a compact structure. Indoors, position it near a very bright window facing south or west. Insufficient light causes stretching and weakens the plant.
Substrate and Drainage
Use a specific succulent potting mix or prepare your own: 60% regular potting soil, 40% coarse sand or pumice. Drainage is crucial: roots rot quickly in compact or moisture-retaining soil. Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring.
Fertilization
Apply a highly diluted fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents once or twice in spring and early summer. Reduce or stop completely in autumn and winter. Over-fertilizing causes weak growth and reduces the plant's cold hardiness.
Pruning and Cleaning
Aeonium doesn't require regular pruning, but you can remove faded or dead leaves to maintain its appearance. After flowering, the main rosette may naturally decline or die back, which is normal: remove it and let the lateral rosettes develop.
Diseases and Pests
Watch for mealybugs and rot caused by excessive moisture. Ensure good air circulation and appropriate watering to prevent fungal issues. If infestation occurs, isolate the plant and treat with mild solutions based on soap or alcohol.
Overwintering
In temperate climates, bring the plant indoors before the first frost or protect it with frost cloth. Maintain a cool, dry environment in winter, ideally above 5°C. Significantly reduce watering during this dormant period.
Did you know?
Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' (the 'Black Rose' variety) is famous for its leaves turning intense dark purple under optimal sunlight, creating a spectacular contrast in succulent gardens. This color transformation fascinates both collectors and landscapers, though the black hue is primarily a protective mechanism for the plant against intense UV rays.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.