Aeonium PALMENSE

Aeonium PALMENSE - La Palma aeonium, Aeonium palmense, Aeonium canariense 'Palmense'.

Aeonium is a large genus of succulents that develop as compact shrubs or herbaceous plants. The genus comprises about 40 perennial, highly ornamental indoor plants in the family Crassulaceae. These are true long-lived plants that can grace room interiors for decades. As with all succulents, aeonium is characterized by fleshy, water-storing leaves and shoots. The stems are stout, erect, branching or growing singly, gradually becoming woody and displaying marks from fallen old leaves that resemble scars. Some species of aeonium develop striking aerial roots. The height of these plants ranges from a modest 10-15 cm (4-6 in) to nearly 1 m (3.3 ft). Moreover, in different species the stems can either be pronounced, resembling woody plants, or almost completely concealed beneath squat rosettes of leaves.

Fleshy leaves are always sessile, tapering toward the base, resembling petals or rhombuses in shape. A sparse pubescence or an entirely glossy surface combines with margins adorned with fine white cilia or small denticles. The leaves assemble into very dense, flower-like rosettes, arranged imbricately in an intricate pattern. The rosettes range in diameter from several centimeters to almost 1 m (3.3 ft), but are always located at the ends of the stems. Leaf coloration varies from ordinary light green to various reddish, brown, and purple hues, most often distributed unevenly across the leaf blade. Under indoor conditions, aeonium blooms very rarely. Pyramidal racemes of bright yellow inflorescences are very showy and long-lasting. But the absence of flowering also has an advantage. Species that produce a single rosette of leaves most often die after flowering.

Aeonium palmense is a shrub and is a variety of Aeonium canariense. Large cup-shaped rosettes up to 40 cm (16 in) in diameter bear fleshy and slightly oblong spoon-shaped, yellowish-green leaves about 15 cm (6 in) long and 7-8 cm (2.8-3.1 in) wide, sticky and with a pleasant balsamic aroma in full sunlight. The inflorescences are large, cylindrical, about 45-60 cm (18-24 in) long and 15-30 cm (6-12 in) wide. The flowers are 1.75-2 cm (0.7-0.8 in) wide, lemon-yellow.

Propagated by seeds year-round in a sandy substrate. Seeds are sown superficially, moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

Special notes: Seeds are small!

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In winter, cool maintenance is desirable. At low air humidity, the plant can withstand quite a significant drop in temperature. At other times, normal room temperature is required. The plants need a sunny location all year round, needing shading only from the very brightest rays of the sun. In winter, they should be kept in a very brightly lit spot, which helps maintain leaf coloration.

During growth, water as the soil dries out. During the winter dormancy period, watering intensity is reduced. Stagnation of water, which should be avoided even in summer, is even more dangerous during the cold season, as it can cause rot and lead to the demise of the plant. In spring and autumn, feed once every 2 weeks with cactus fertilizer. Repotting is carried out in spring or autumn once every 2 years. Use a soil consisting of 1/3 peat, 1/3 fertile loam, and 1/3 sand, pH around 6.5. Damaged parts and withered inflorescences must be removed.